“I know that.” She sounds bratty and annoyed, giving her young age away.
Just to clarify, I say, “I don’t fraternize with staff.” Or clients. When it comes to work, I am professional, and that’s what makes me the top sports agent in North America.
“Why are you telling me this?” she mumbles.
I ignore her question and instead say, “It’s in your contract that there are to be no relationships between staff members or clients.” I’m annoyed that I have to remind her of that and have this conversation.
She rolls her eyes and sighs like I am wasting her time. “I know that, Leon.”
“Good, then may I remind you to never ask me out on a date again or add yourself as my plus one. I am your boss. You work for me. Is that clear?”
She drops her head and slips one of the straps of her backpack onto her shoulder. “Crystal. And relax, you’re not even my type.” When she lifts her chin, she shoots me a fake smile, but her sharp tone gives her away.
I know she’s lying and desperately trying to cover her tracks. She’s made it more than evident on numerous occasions that she’s attracted to me.
“Are we done then, Leon?”
“Yes, you may leave.”
“Great.” Quicker than a blink, she pushes her chair back, gets to her feet, and rushes toward the front door. “See you when you get back from vacation,” she calls out, then mutters something under her breath that sounds a lot likeI hope you both get sunstroke,which makes me laugh.
A salty Sutton is a nasty one. She’s like a fucking Gremlin once you rile her up: don’t feed after midnight.
But she’s great at her job, and I’d be lost without her.
“Keep your phone on, and I’ll let you know if we need those dresses.” I pay her twenty-four seven for emergencies and hiccups.
“Yeah, yeah.” I can almost imagine her giving me the stink-eye, the loud bang of the door telling me she’s gone.
Like a magnet, my eyes are drawn to Erika, who is still tanning outside, looking the happiest I have seen her in years.
Knowing I’m the reason she feels good fills my chest with pride.
As if sensing me, she looks my way, pushing her sunglasses onto her head. When she focuses on me, squinting to see better, her lips curve into a sensual smile—the one made just for me—before she signals me to join her.
Time to spend some quality time with my girl.
My girl.
Will I ever get used to that?
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Erika
With Leon’s meeting finished, I’m impatiently waiting for him to join me. I sit on the edge of the pool, my legs dangling in the water, soaking up the sun’s warmth like a butterfly spreading its wings on a summer day. I arch my neck back and let out a contented sigh, and that’s when I sense Leon.
My excitement soars higher than a rocket as I turn to look at him. Wearing only a shocking pair of neon yellow swimming trunks, blood rushes through my veins at lightning speed, and my pulse races ten times faster. With a body like his, there’s no doubt in my mind that he was made for fucking all night long, and I can’t wait to experience that.
“Jesus,” I mumble under my breath as every delicious inch of his hard chest, arms, and ridged abs seems to dance and ripple under the scorching sun.
I’ve never seen such a handsome, scrumptious brute of a man before, and my hungry eyes devour every millimeter of him. I’m ravenous.
No words pass between us as he smirks, before lining his toes along the edge of the pool and diving into the slightlyheated, pale blue water with the precision of an arrow in flight. Seamless, fluid, and deliberate.
As he resurfaces, he runs his strong hands through his drenched hair, pushing it away from his forehead and then dragging his hands down his face to clear the water from his eyes.
Slowly, he moves toward me through the water, his powerful presence approaching silently with the focused intensity of a hunter on the prowl.
