She gives me a weak smile. “He’s an important partner on the port project.”
“Not that important,” I grumble.
Her phone chimes on the table next to her. She blanches.
Got him.
She reaches for it. I’m faster.
“Give it back,” Mandy demands.
I hold it above my head while she jumps around, trying to grab it. “It’s him, isn’t it?”
“No. Give it back—that’s not yours.”
She grabs onto my arm while I swipe at the text message that’s appeared on the lock screen.
Lauren:You should just sell your virginity online.
I’m so shocked that I let her wrestle the phone out of my hand. “You’rea virgin?”
“No, I’m not a virgin,” she hisses, lowering her voice. “Gosh, Salinger. Why are you so obsessed with my private life?”
She grabs her tablet and hurries out of the conference room.
I follow her to the stairwell, admiring the view as she walks up the steps in front of me, the curve of her legs above the black heels, the hourglass figure. There’s a cutout at the back of the dress, too, above her shoulder blades. I want to press my mouth to it.
“I’m not obsessed with you. I’m simply appalled that you have no sense of self-preservation. You’re driving a hunk of junk that’s literally disintegrating around you, and you refuse all of my offers for protection in some misguided belief that crystals and that corgi are going to protect you.”
She pauses at the top of the stairs, one hand on the railing.
I stand on the step right below her, too close to be appropriate for a CEO and his assistant, but I’d already carried her into my home and also saw her hard pink nipples through one of my wet T-shirts, so aren’t we beyond that at this point?
“You know,” she says, low and slow, just like I want to fuck her, “if you spent this energy on the port contract, you might have it by now.” She quickly rushes out of the stairwell.
“There they are,” Jess announces as we approach my office.
Aaron’s standing by Mandy’s desk. The insurance COO’s eyes slide right down Mandy’s dress and back up to her face.
She gives him a shy smile. “Hi, Aaron—nice to see you again.”
“Likewise.”
Asshole.
I grab his arm. “Stop distracting my assistant. Let’s go.” I lean over Mandy. “Don’t,” I warn her in a low voice, “leave here without me.”
The restaurant is crowded,but we have a private room.
“So, you like Seattle so much, you extended your stay.”
Aaron’s face is neutral. “I’m concerned about this port contract.”
“You don’t have to take the contract,” I remind him, sitting across from him at the table. I’m not begging anyone for anything.
“Who else are you going to bring in?” He spreads his hands.
I scowl.
