Then I frowned. What if Mr. Penthouse Living had one of those portable air compressors tucked away somewhere?
Nah. This was a guy who probably paid people to change his light bulbs.
Dusting off my hands, I grinned. Phase one: complete.
Time for phase two.
I pulled out my phone and dialed the number to the person I’d been conversing with earlier.
“Sparkle Car Rentals,” a man answered.
“Hello. This is Dakota again. I just want to make sure that car will be here right on time.” I smiled at their response. “Great. Thank you!”
Twenty minutes later, I was perched at the kitchen island, scrolling through my phone like I hadn’t just orchestrated the most satisfying revenge plot of the century. When Axel strode in, all sharp angles and predatory grace, it took every ounce of self-control not to cackle like a Disney villain.
He was dressed for his investor meeting in a charcoal suit that hugged his shoulders and tapered perfectly to his narrow waist. The crisp white shirt underneath was open at the collar, revealing a tantalizing glimpse of the tattoos I knew sprawled across his chest. He looked like sin, wrapped in Italian wool, and my traitorous body responded accordingly.
“Trying to make your pathetic life look perfect again?” he snarled, nodding at my phone.
Yeah. The whole kiss with Mathew had turned up his iceberg status.
I didn’t look up. “You really need new material, Axel. That insult was stale the second time you used it.”
He grabbed his keys from the counter, all business. “Stay here. Don’t go out. Don’t talk to Mathew.”
Oh boy. The smidgen of guilt I’d felt earlier? Yeah, that was officially dead and buried.
“Good luck today, darling.” I flashed him my most innocent smile.
His eyes narrowed. “What are you up to?”
“What could I possibly be up to?” I blinked at him with wide-eyed innocence.
“So help me, Dakota, if you do anything to jeopardize this meeting …” Even when he was threatening me, his voice did things to me that it absolutely shouldn’t.
“I would never do that.” Not technically a lie. I wouldn’t ruin his meeting. I’d just … bedazzle his commute.
“I’m serious. If you?—”
“Relax.” I stood, deliberately slow, letting my body stretch in a way that I knew would draw his attention. Sure enough, his eyes tracked the movement, lingering on the curve of my hips in my fitted jeans before snapping back to my face. “Actually, I went out of my way to help you today.”
“What the hell does that mean?”
“Well, unfortunately, your tires are flat.”
If looks could kill, I’d be six feet under. Steam was practically radiating from his ears.
“But”—I held up a finger—“don’t panic. I knew how important this meeting was, so I took the liberty of arranging a rental car. Used that emergency credit card you keep inthe kitchen drawer.” I patted his chest, letting my palm linger against the solid warmth of him for just a beat too long, until his heart thundered beneath my hand. While I worked massively hard to pretend mine wasn’t mirroring his. “You’re welcome.”
“You didwhat?”
“The rental guy is waiting downstairs by your parking spot. Just needs to see your driver’s license and a signature.” I checked my phone again, barely containing my glee. The way Axel was staring at me, like he was caught between strangling me and doing something much more interesting with his hands, was almost as satisfying as the prank itself. “You should probably hurry. Traffic’s going to be murder.”
Axel stepped closer into my space, his presence overwhelming. The silence between us vibrated with something that was part fury, part something much more dangerous. “If you’re playing games …”
I stepped closer, too, refusing to be intimidated, until my breasts pressed against his chest with each breath I took. “Go ahead. Finish that threat.”
I dare you.
