Letting a man as powerful as Cole claw his way under my skin.
But truthfully, he did that a long time ago. It’s his face I see in my deepest dreams. His face at the forefront of my mind when I wake up.
‘One date,’ I whisper. ‘Just so we can discuss how we’re going to move forward with… things.’
His lips curl up a split second before they land on mine, warm, firm and soft at the same time. He parts my mouth with his tongue, conquering and claiming. My brain screams at me to stop him, but my body begs me to throw myself athim. Being back in his arms feels like the most natural thing in the world. His hand drifts to the base of my spine as he presses himself harder against me—and I melt into him.
The sensation is overwhelming. Just like my sense of smell, every single other one of my senses is heightened. His hands roam lower, over my backside, and I moan into his mouth, pushing my needy nipples against his chest. Heat floods my core and lower.
He pulls away all too soon. ‘Dinner tomorrow night. I’ll pick you up.’ He presses another tiny kiss on my tingling lips.
I snatch up my bag and strut towards the office door before he can steal any more of my senses. This was categorically not how this was supposed to go.
‘Where are you running off to now?’ he purrs, darting across the room and leaning his back against the door, effectively trapping me in his office.
‘Back to work.’ I eye him warily. ‘Remember that business I mentioned?’
‘Yes, but you’re working for me for the next three months.’ His eyes twinkle. ‘Come on, I’ll give you a tour of the casino.’
I bite my lower lip.
‘You do still want this contract, Zara?’ His eyebrows furrow.
Of course I fucking want it.
I wanted it before I knew it would mean spending the next three months with the insanely hot American who knows how to pleasure my body in ways that I didn’t even know were possible until I met him. But given he impregnated me, I feel utterly conflicted over how much time I should be spending with him, more so, because of how insistent he is on being part of my baby’s life, and because I can’t think straight in his proximity—clearly or I wouldn’t have let him kiss me.
I resigned myself to doing it alone. And now he’s offering another option—insisting on it, in fact. And I don’t know Cole Hartmann well, but I don’t doubt he can be persuasive.
His interest in me and our baby thrills me as much as alarms me.
I need time to get my head around it. And I can’t do that while I’m thinking about givinghimhead.
‘You know, if this project goes well, I’d love Beckett Deluxe Design to redesign my other casinos too.’ A grin lifts his lips. He’s dangling the carrot, and what a fucking carrot.
‘You don’t play fair.’ I rest a hand on my hip.
‘I never claimed to.’ He gestures for me to follow, and even though every inch of me knows I should run—not walk—straight out of this skyscraper of testosterone and terrible decisions… I follow him out the door.
Tate and Felstead flank the exit, both of them inspecting me from head to toe. Nico exhales a breath of relief and swipes a hand over his forehead. My PA is a tad dramatic. Mind you, this is more drama than we’ve ever had in.. maybe ever.
At least it will be when this all gets out.
‘You okay?’ Tate murmurs, his wide eyes swim with shock as they home in on Cole. Felstead is the only person here who has no idea Cole is my baby daddy. And that’s the way it has to stay. I refuse to let it get back to Killian and the others until I’m ready—which may very well be never.
‘Fine.’ I nod, forcing a bright smile as I prise the iPad from Nico’s fingers. ‘I’ll take this. Mr Hartmann is going to show me around.’
‘So we’re doing this?’ He glances between Cole and me with an expression of surprise.
I have no idea if he’s referring to the project or the baby, but given both are non-negotiable, yes, we are doing this.
‘Yes.’ I fire him a warning look, silently begging him to be discreet in front of Felstead.
‘Shouldn’t I come on the tour with you?’ Nico cocks his head, firing Cole a look of distrust.
‘I’ll take pictures.’ I hold up the iPad. ‘Wait out front,’ I tell all of them. I have no idea how to be around Cole, and the last thing I want is an audience while I’m trying to figure it out.
Felstead folds his arms over his chest and glares at Cole. Clearly, he doesn’t approve of my taking this contract, but I don’t pay him for approval. I pay him for protection.
