As Hot As It Gets Read Online Free

open and reveal to the world just how hedonistic she was feeling. But rather than being put off by the inclement weather, the guests she’d seen so far at Escapade seemed to be having a good time regardless. Knowing the laid-back crowd Mason’s resorts attracted, she could imagine people coming outdoors for the storm rather than retreating.
    In her room, Claire took off the raincoat, dried her hair and dug around in her suitcase for clothes. In her sex-crazed stupor, she’d managed to pack mostly lingerie and nothing suited for curling up in her room alone.
    But curling up in her room alone was the last thing Claire felt like doing right now, anyway, so she grabbed her trusty little black dress with the crisscrossing spaghetti straps and tugged it on without bothering to put on a bra. She slipped into a pair of panties and decided to head for the bar she’d spotted earlier. From there, she’d think about finding some dinner. After Mason’s rejection of her offer, she needed a little distraction to get herself thinking creatively about how to solve her problem.
    She opened the door to her room and was stopped in her tracks by none other than the control-freak himself, standing in the doorway with his hand poised to knock. His physical appearance always made her catch her breath, and now was no exception.
    With his dark good looks, his sensual green eyes and his made-for-pleasure body, it was easy to see why she’d been driven to unrealistic fantasies about him. When he kept his mouth shut, he was a total hottie.
    â€œDid you change your mind?” she asked, forcing herself to sound like she didn’t care one way or the other.
    â€œNo, but I thought we should talk.”
    â€œSlamming your door in my face isn’t exactly the best way to start a conversation.”
    â€œNeither is stripping naked.”
    â€œI think my method was the friendlier of the two.”
    â€œI apologize. Now can I come in?”
    Claire had to admit, she was intrigued by this turn of events. “I was just about to go out, but I suppose you can come in for a few minutes.”
    There—casual as she pleased. She didn’t sound like a desperate hormonal female at all.
    She stepped aside and Mason entered the room, filling it instantly with his overbearing masculine presence.
    â€œI’m hoping we can call a truce and part ways as friends. I feel bad about the way things have gone between us, if for no other reason than our mutual friendship with Lucy.”
    Claire thought of their first date—utter disaster—and their subsequent encounters—disasters every one. There was no denying she was partly to blame, especially if it meant she might get Mason into bed at last. “Okay, truce. I don’t know if we can be friends, but we can at least be people who don’t hurl sharp objects at each other.”
    He nodded, a smile playing on his lips. “I think I can live with that.”
    â€œNice resort you’ve got here.”
    â€œThanks. It’s great to finally see it up and running.”
    â€œMust have been years of work getting this place built.”
    Mason gave her a pointed look, as if he were fully aware of her buttering him up for ulterior purposes.
    â€œIt was worth it,” he finally said. “There’s a strong market for upscale resorts.”
    â€œExactly.”
    He ran one hand through his hair and made a move toward the door. “I should be going,” he said.
    Claire calculated her next move. Clearly he wasn’t going to just fall into bed with her, but then again, he might still be persuaded if she found the right enticement.
    â€œBeing at a place like this alone—it’s a little odd, you know?”
    â€œLots of singles come here to meet other people.”
    â€œBut I don’t want to meet just anyone.”
    â€œI’m sure you have no problem finding men.”
    Claire closed the distance between them. How far