Her heart skipped a beat. She’d sensed his strong presence before she’d even seen him.
With one hand in his pocket and the other holding a glass of whiskey, he chatted with Dez, the Mr. Muscles guy from Sullivan’s, and a lanky fellow. Colton hadn’t shaved. The dark whiskers gave him a rough, edgy appearance. That shadow would leave red marks if he dragged his mouth over her face, down her neck, her breasts, her stomach, and between her legs. She would feel the raw burn, a sweet, painful reminder, long after he’d ravaged her.
She trembled at the thought. Though the room temperature was comfortable, she wished she’d worn a wrap. Bare shoulders made her feel vulnerable.
Aside from the obvious quality and expense, there was nothing special about his duds. A brown suit paired with a white dress shirt, and a vibrant tie bursting with reds, oranges and yellows. Yet on Colton the material lay against his steel frame as if it was an extension of him. A suit of armor designed to enhance, not distract. He had the ability to demand attention simply by existing.
Their eyes met in a fiery exchange of lust and need, but something unexplainable flowed between them. As he strolled toward her, heat bubbled off him with the ferocity of a lava-spewing volcano.
His hard body, angled face and those shadowed eyes, the windows to his mysterious soul, had her body thrumming in all the right places. The closer he got the faster her heart galloped. Had someone turned up the thermostat?
“Ladies.” Colton pecked Taylor and Red on their cheeks.
Her body tensed in anticipation. But he didn’t take her hand or kiss her cheek. Instead he slid his free hand back into his pocket. Had he done that on purpose? Maybe he was getting the message or trying to provoke a reaction. Well, he wasn’t getting one. His hair was one hot mess and she bit the insides of her cheeks to keep from smiling. The man lived with a house full of females. Could no one tame his unruly mop?
His eyes grew cold and a shudder ran through her. “Brigit, your dress is festive.”
Ohmygod, he thinks I look like a Christmas tree.
An attractive woman with short blonde hair sidled next to him. Her canary yellow gown left little to the imagination. Brigit recognized the sturdy employee from the Mitus website where leadership posted their bios.
“Vanessa, have you met Brigit?” Colton asked.
Ignoring Brigit, Vanessa kept her attention glued to Colton. “Handsome as always.” Wrapping her hand around his arm, she leaned close, forcing his obligatory kiss on her cheek. The warmth drained from her face when she addressed Brigit. “I’m Colton’s staff manager, Vanessa Ellison.”
“Vanessa’s a wealth of knowledge about all things Mitus Conglomerate,” he said. “She’s put up with me longer than anyone else.”
Vanessa’s shrill cackle pierced Brigit’s eardrums and she hid her grimace behind her wine glass.
“I understand you’re interested in the accountant position,” Vanessa said when she’d gotten her shrieks under control.
Accountant?“Not exactly,” Brigit replied. “One of my firm’s partners volunteered me.”
Vanessa glanced at Colton, but his attention was diverted when a young man appeared with a glass of red wine balanced on a small silver platter.
Colton placed his empty lowball glass on the tray but didn’t take the goblet. “Shane, I’ll have wine with dinner.”
“Would you like another whiskey?” the attendant asked.
“No, thanks.” Colton shifted his attention to Brigit. “Shane is a recent culinary school graduate who’s been spoiling the staff with his sinful chocolate pastries.”
Shane beamed, his bright blue eyes standing out against his flushed face. Although his hair appeared combed, the wavy ends jutted every which way, giving him a disheveled appearance. He puffed his chest. “Thank you, Colton. Dinner is ready.”
Colton extended his arm, offering Brigit an escort. Rather than placing her hand in the crook of his elbow, she wrapped her fingers around the muscular curve of his bicep.
Big and hard. Her insides melted a little. It had been too long since she’d laid hands on a man. And she’d never touched one who felt like this. Tightening her grip, she peeked at him through her lashes. Although he didn’t look at her, his eyes turned stormy and sexy as hell.
The dining room’s focal point was an impressive cherry table that spanned the length of the room, with twenty upholstered chairs outlined in a rich cherry border. Another stately room made cozy with a wood ceiling, and burnt cinnamon walls accented by dark wood wainscoting. In contrast, the white china, with its thick gold border, was simple yet tasteful.
Another sensational room in Colton’s castle.
As he escorted her past the grand china cabinet, she stopped. “These tea sets are exquisite. What an unusual collection.”
“Passed down from my grandmother. Each boasts a unique design. Which is your favorite?”
As she examined the sets, she tried ignoring his intense gaze boring into her. After a pregnant pause, she removed her hand from his bicep and pointed. “That one.”
“Why?”
