Chapter Six
Charlotte Mitchell
The sound of his voice tickles me in all the right places. It’s rough and scratchy but somehow slides over me like warm water. Blonde wavy hair is styled in a messy fashion, and a five-o’clock shadow graces the hard edges of his face along with that square jaw to just below those high cheekbones.
Even though it’s fall, his skin has a natural golden glow. It’s a beautiful contrast to the color of his hair and his piercing, bright blue eyes that certainly never miss anything. I know this because I swear to God he stares into my soul while holding eye contact with me.
He screams sin with his expensive leather jacket, faded black jeans that have holes just above the knee, and Converse shoes. Under his jacket is a tight-fitted white shirt that accentuates every single muscle I’d love to see for myself.
This is the kind of man who only lives in my wetdreams, and yet he stands before me, involved in an operation that I’m starting to realize I can’t fully understand. At least, in this moment, while he waits for me to say something. Do something. Anything. And because I don’t and I only gape at him openly, his lips twitch in what can only be agitation. Or maybe it’s the beginning of a smirk.
I let loose a breath real slow because, with any luck, this guy is just here to witness my interview . . . or whatever this is. Chances are I’ll never see him again.
Somehow, that comforts me. I clear my throat to disrupt my obvious ogling and say, “Nice to meet you both,” as confidently as I can.
Andre’s face widens like one of those ridiculous cartoon, wanna-be baddies, and he releases his steepled fingers. He gestures to the seat directly across from him. The man holding my elbow lets me go, and keenly aware of Nix studying my every move, I step up to the chair, pull it out, and gingerly take a seat.
I spare a glance at Nix, and we hold each other’s gaze for a split second, and in that split second, I swallow thickly. He’s intimidating, dangerous, and yet, all it does is turn me on. I can tell right now, without even knowing him, that getting too close to him will burn me in ways I cannot even fathom. I mentally make it a point, because of my interest in his appearance and the alpha vibes he gives off, to steer clear of him if I ever run into him in this business again. He’ll only get me into trouble, I just know it.
When I look away, Nix says, “Eyes on me. He’s only here for show.”
A shiver crawls down my spine as his voice caresses me in ways no other man’s voice ever has. I scowl anyway because, the way this is set up, Andre looks to be the one to be in charge. “I thought –”
“You thought wrong,” Nix interrupts, but it’s not in a chiding way. It’s just a matter-of-fact tone.
“It’s true,” Andre grumbles, disappointment coloring his words. “As much as I’d like to have you in more ways than one, it’s Nix you’re here to see.”
Shit.Will Nix be my boss? My stomach sinks a little because staying away from him just went out the window. With a little hope, maybe – just maybe – he’ll hand me to someone else, but I know that’s a fool's dream. Already, I can tell that Nix likes to handle things himself. Andre may be in the business suit, but it’s clear Nix holds the power in this room. Hell, probably any room he walks into.
So what is Andre? Is he the head guy? No, that can’t be. Nix would have a better chance of being the head guy than Andre, but deep down, I know that neither of them is. They’re just pawns in the grand scheme of things because there’s no way that I’d meet the head of this dual operation on the first night.
I look back and forth between them, ignoring the tingle between my thighs as Nix’s eyes bore into mine, exposing every secret that I’ve built up for myself. “Okay. So what do you need to know about me? How does this work?”
Andre leans back in his seat and crosses a leg over the other to rest his ankle on his knee, and then he flourishes his hand at Nix to take chargein a rich person sort of way.
“You can leave,” Nix says to him in warning.
“Not a chance in hell,” Andre responds sweetly.
His eyes narrow, and my attention ping-pongs between the two of them as they begin their battle of wills. “I have no need for you here.”
Andre shrugs, crinkling his suit for a second. “I’ll stay just the same.”
I’ll give him credit, Nix may be annoyed with it, but hehas enough patience to let him stay, even though every vibe he gives off right now is basically telling Andre to fuck off.
Nix turns his focus back to me. “Where’s your phone?”
“Excuse me?” I blink a few times.
He looks behind me and nods to the man who ushered me in. “Give him your phone.”
“Why?” My tone is a little defensive because my life is on that phone. I don’t know these men, and I sure as hell don’t want them looking through my life, especially when it has so many things on there that could give me away.
Fuck.I should have left it at home.
Panic settles in my gut when the man holds out his hand, waiting for me to give in to the order.
“Any time you walk through that door, love, you’ll be passing over any belongings that could possibly listen in or record,” Andre says lovingly.
