“Don’t play coy.”
“I’m not the one talking in circles.”
I resist the urge to stomp my foot while simultaneously trying not to become distracted by his upper body. All I can think about is the glimpse of that sexy trail of hair leading to the unmistakable outline of his impressive bulge.
He isthatbig.
Glaring at him, I retort, “Don’t taunt me by saying ‘good girl’ unless you’d like me to return the favor and call you a good boy. Pretty sure you’d hate it.”
“Try me,” he baits, lips tilting up.
I don’t fall for it. “Why can’t you behave professionally?”
“Is that what you were doing when you were eye fucking me seconds ago?”
“I was not!”
“Prove it.”
“How about you take my word for it?”
“Afraid of dares or that your lie will be caught?”
“Forget it. I didn’t come here for your silly games.” Turning around, I head for the door. He doesn’t stop me. Halfway there, it hits me. I screech to a halt.
Diabolical fucking man.
This is what he wanted.
Getting rid of me.
I’m proven correct when I whirl around and he’s no longer standing in the doorway. Marching toward the walk-in closet, I barrel inside. He’s buttoning up a new shirt, hiding his chiseled muscles. A mercy because I risk losing my train of thought at the view.
“Nice try.”
His bored gaze meets mine in the mirror. Reaching for a matching tie, he loops it underneath his collar and then ties it up methodically. Grabbing his jacket, he shrugs it on and takes a step toward me. “Fifteen minutes are up. Set up an appointment with Erika.”
“No.” I block his path when he tries to walk past. The haughty glare he shoots at me would make a grown man cower. Brimming with adrenaline, I’m not intimidated by him. “You’ve put her up to keep me away from you.”
“I’m too busy to concoct ways to avoid you.”
“It’s not my career or reputation hanging in the balance. Yet, I’m the only one who’s worried. If you wanted a publicist for show, then you should’ve gone with someone else.” Softening my voice, I say, “I care about my clients and fixing their problems. I want to help you, too, Nathan.”
“Is that the only reason?”
“What other reason will I have?” He inches closer until our left hands graze. The small contact kicks my pulse into overdrive.
“Perhaps you care because we fucked once and it has left you with a little crush on me. It’s not a wild guess considering your history of lack of hookups. It was plastered all over your face that I was your first.”
A tiny gasp slips past my lips. I back away a little to control my breathing. His hand snakes forward and captures my wrist, yanking me close.
“Is that why you chased me to my office despite assuming I want to be left alone, angel?” he taunts.
“Youkeep bringing up our one-night stand, not me. Maybe it’s you who is crushing on me and can’t stand to be in the same room with me. Hell, you even flew halfway across the country to run from me.”
A dangerous light flashes in his gray eyes.
Hot pulsing tension stretches like a rubber band for the longest seconds. Did I hit a nerve? Wait… Is there some truth to my taunt?
