I couldn’t help fantasizing about how his body would feel on mine. How, if he leaned any closer and touched me, I might forget who he was and give in.
“Would you like me to buy you a bottle?” His deep voice made me look up.
“A bottle of what?”
“My cologne,” he said, smirking. “That way you won’t have to keep wondering what it would smell like if I leaned any closer to you…”
My cheeks burned, and I kept my gaze straight ahead.
Ding!
The elevator sounded, and I swear the doors were trying to embarrass me further by opening at an inch per hour.
When they finally gave way, Mr. Hudson cleared his throat.
“This is the only stop, Miss Sterling,” he said. “You can get off now.”
Nodding, I stepped into a marbled hallway and was lured to keep walking toward the panoramic windows that gave a stunning view of New York’s skyline.
“Wow.” I couldn’t help but say, “I would never leave if I lived here…”
“I’m sure you wouldn’t.” Mr. Hudson walked up behind me. “Thankfully, this one isn’t for sale.”
“For the record, I’m really sorry about what I did,” I said. “Like, using a luxury for personal reasons was wrong, and I’ll never do it again.”
“Are we talking about the shower part or the promising potential customers things you weren’t supposed to offer part?”
“Um, just that first one.”
“Oh?” He narrowed his eyes. “I think you mean both.”
“Yes. Sorry for both…”
“Since you seem to be on edge, let’s just handle this unfortunate situation now.” He pointed to a cream chaise, but I didn’t move to sit.
“I’d like to lay out your punishment,” he said. “It’s a more than fair way for you to pay me back for all the damages you caused.”
“Whatdamages?”
“Let me finish.” He held up his hand. “Lucky for you, the man you sell properties under is one of the most generous men in this city.”
Since when?I bit my tongue.
“He’s decided not to press charges in exchange for your help with a project he’s pursuing,” he said. “How does that sound?”
“Sounds like he’s suddenly speaking in the third person.”
“You have one strike of sarcasm left with me…” He moved closer. “When I was looking through your background, I noticed you worked for a hometown candidate who was running for mayor. Is this true?”
“Yes.” I nodded. “I was his campaign manager.”
“And somehow you helped him win, despite his sordid past and dating history, yes?”
“Yes.”
“Why aren’t you still working under him now?”
Because he lied about hiring me and left me hanging out to dry. And he still owes me a month’s worth of salary…
