Excerpt of Betting on Julia by Nina Croft

He’d turned to go, but he swung back and held out his free hand. “I’m Sebastian. Sebastian Crane.”

She tightened the belt of her robe and shuffled closer, eyeing the outstretched hand as though it might suddenly wrap itself around her throat and squeeze.

“I don’t bite,” he teased.

Something flashed in her eyes and was gone. She slid her much-smaller palm against his and there was that little shiver of sensation again. Ignoring it, his fingers tightened around hers. Her hand was hot, and he couldn’t help wondering what it would feel like wrapped around other places. Like his…

He shook his head and tugged free, only narrowly resisting rubbing his palm down jeans. He needed to focus here.

“And you are?” he asked.

“I’m Julia. Julia Melville.”

“Hello, Julia.”

She tightened the robe a little bit more. Was she naked under there? All soft pink-and-white skin. He was guessing so. The robe revealed most of her legs, and her feet were bare, her toes curling into the carpet. The material clung to her breasts, outlining the full shape, the nipples pressed against the fabric. Yeah, she was naked, and his cock twitched in his jeans. What the hell was going on?

Shoving his hands in his pockets, he hunched over a little and forced a smile. “I’m new in town. I don’t know anyone yet. Maybe you could take pity on me, let me buy you a meal, and you can show me around.”

Actually, the only place he wanted her to show him was her bedroom. Shit, maybe he needed to get out of there and rethink his plan.

She shifted from foot to foot, appearing a little uncertain, which was sort of endearing. For a second, she looked like she was going to say yes. Her gaze searched his face, and he was pretty sure she liked what she saw. Then she seemed to give herself a little shake and resolve hardened her eyes “No,” she said.

“No?”

“I don’t…I don’t date.”

“You’re seeing someone else?”

Her rosebud mouth pursed. “Er…no. It’s more of an…ethical thing.” “Ethical?” What the hell did that mean? Had she taken up religion? His research hadn’t found that out.

“Maybe ethical isn’t the right word.” Her gaze wandered around the room for a few seconds before settling on the phone clasped in her hand. “I have a girlfriend,” she said.

His eyes widened. “You mean a girlfriend?”

A big beaming smile lit up her face as if he’d been really bright. “Yes.”

She was a lesbian? That hadn’t shown up in the research either.

She took another step and gripped the edge of the door. “Nice to meet you, Sebastian. Now I have things to do. Important things.”

And she slammed the door in his face.