‘Funny.’ I stick my tongue out at him. ‘I need you to do one more thing before you clock off tonight.’ I reach for my lipstick from my handbag and apply it slowly.
‘Slavedriver,’ Nico moans. ‘Go on, what is it?’
‘I need you to pen an advert for the Irish Times for me.’ I toss my lipstick back in the bag and snap it closed. ‘I’ll dictate; you type.’
He drops back into the seat at his desk, fingers flying over the keyboard. ‘Go on.’ His attention is firmly focussed on his screen.
‘Okay, pull up the “place an ad” section.’
‘Done,’ he affirms, ten seconds later.
‘Okay, type,PA wanted for deluxe interior design company. Absolutely no assholes may apply. Successful candidate will be seen and not heard, obey all orders, and will absolutely never make fun of the boss.’
Nico’s head spins round so fast he’s in danger of giving himself whiplash. ‘Bitch!’ he snorts. ‘It’s a good job I love you,’ he huffs.
‘Ditto, my darling, ditto.’ I stand, squeeze his bicep, and glance towards the front sash windows, where a ridiculously large limo is double parked on the street outside.
‘Are you absolutely sure Cole has a massive cock?’ Nico asks.
‘Certain.’ I smirk, ‘But I get why you might wonder.’
‘Call me later. I want ALL the details, okay?’ Nico begs.
‘Sure.’ I drop a kiss on his cheek as I pass by him.
‘Unless you can’t talk because you have a mouthful of American sausage.’ He wiggles his eyebrows at me.
I flip him the birdy over my shoulder as Tate and Felstead greet me at the office doors. ‘I don’t like it,’ Felstead complains.
‘It’s work,’ I snap. ‘I suggest if you want to remain on my detail, you keep your likes and dislikes to yourself. You’re here to protect me, not provide me with your opinions.’
Tate fires him a warning look. ‘If it suits you, I’ll accompany you in Mr Hartmann’s vehicle and Felstead can follow behind in the SUV.’
I turn to Tate. We’ve been through so much together in the past couple of years. He knows Cole won’t hurt me. He trusted him to help him protect me at the resort, he’s hardly likely to turn on me now that I’m carrying his child.
‘It doesn’t suit.’ I eye him levelly. ‘Follow with Felstead. Cole and I have some catching up to do. It would be easier if we could do it in private.’
Cole chooses this moment to slide out of the back of the limo. In a fitted black tuxedo that hugs his torso like a second skin—he looks fucking delectable. His pale blue eyes flare with fire as they lock on mine. ‘Zara,’ he says breathily. His gaze drops unashamedly to my mouth. Then to my ridiculously enlarged breasts. To my stomach, then over my thighs, all the way to my peep toe Louboutin’s, and then up again.
‘I’ll take care of her from here,’ he says to Tate with a nod. Two suited security guards exit the front of the limo as if to reinforce his point.
Tate assesses the three men for a long beat. Finally, he seems satisfied. ‘We’ll follow behind. Where are we going?’
‘The Shelbourne Hotel.’ Cole’s eyes drift from Tate back to me. ‘Then to my place.’
Laughter rolls from my tongue. ‘Cocky, aren’t you?’
‘Confident, sweetheart, remember?’ He winks.
Felstead scowls as he stalks towards the SUV.
Cole presses his palm to the base of my spine and ushers me into the limo. Tingles fire in every direction, and chemistry crackles between us like bolts of lightning. The way this evening is starting, I can’t rule out going back to his place. The hormones have me horny as hell, or maybe that’s just his sheer proximity. Masculinity exudes from every inch of him, and I am absolutely here for it.
Inside the limo, soft golden lighting glows from recessed strips along the ceiling. The seats are upholstered in a buttery-soft cream leather stitched with a subtle gold thread. A full bar stretches along one wall, stocked with crystal decanters and Macallan. Pah. I’m going to have to convert him to Becketts Gold. Opposite, an entertainment screen runs the entire length of the partition—sleek, black, and unmistakably expensive.
But it’s the scent that undoes me.
Cedar combined with Cole’s familiar cologne—unique, masculine and utterly enticing. A million memories of him in my bed rush through my head as he climbs in behind me and the door clicks closed.
