“I’m leaving.”
“You can try.” I nod toward the keypad next to the door.
“This isn’t funny. This is kidnapping.”
I laugh. “Call it whatever you want. You showed up at my club after I came into the shelter you work at. Who looks like the crazy one?”
“Officer, thank you for coming. She won’t stop harassing me.”
She shoves at my chest. “Fuck you.”
“I mean, I’m game if you are.” I grin and she scowls at me.
“Keep looking at me like that, sweetheart. It really does it for me.”
“Fine. If I prove I’m not wearing a wire, can I leave?”
“We’ll see.”
She chews on her bottom lip, giving a tug with her teeth.
“Need some help?”
“No.” She shakes her head and lifts her shirt up and undoes her jeans.
Fuck me, she’s got a hot body. Her belly isn’t flat, but it’s not fat. Her tits look even better than I imagined. Ruby has curves in all the right places. A true hourglass figure. She has no clue how sexy and tempting she is.
Fuck me, the things I’d do to her.
“May I?”
“Suit yourself.” She scrunches up her nose as I run a hand over her back and down her chest. “Satisfied?” the word comes out breathless yet sultry.
“Not quite.” I yank her jeans to her ankles and run my hands up her thighs. I smirk at the dainty pink bow on the front of her white cotton panties. I want to rip it off with my teeth.
I step away before I make good on the fantasy playing in my mind. Images of shoving her down on my desk and taking her from behind flash through my head.
I clear my throat. “Fix your clothes. We have an arrangement to discuss.”
I can’t tell if it’s irritation or disappointment flickering behind her eyes when I don’t do any of the filthy things running through my mind.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Ruby
I jerk my pants back up. Confusion is wreaking havoc on my nervous system. I’m turned on and pissed off. “Arrangement? I did what you asked. I’m not here to gather more information on you.” I don’t know if I want to slap Theo or kiss him. I should be running out the door screaming, but my feet stay rooted in place as he pours himself a drink.
“This has to be transactional and benefit us both. We have to be on equal footing. I know where you work. Now you know where I do. You know something I’ve done, and now I need you to do something the equivalent of that to make this fair.”
I gulp. “What do you mean, something equal?” He can’t mean what I think he means. There’s no way.
“You’ve inserted yourself into my business. That means you’re going to become part of my family. That’s the only way this works.”
“I didn’t come looking for you. You sought me ought, bud.”
“Bud?”
“What do you want from me?”
