“At first glance, it’s a simple white cup. But a town bursting with color has been painted in magnificent detail on the inside. With each sip of tea, the magic is slowly revealed. Everything happens beneath the surface.” Refusing to get pulled into the rip current of his penetrating stare, she fixed her attention on the china. Then, his hand glided across her bare back between her shoulders, leaving an eruption of fireworks in its wake.
For years, all she’d wanted to do was scream at him for what he’d taken. As he caressed her skin, the only thing she could think of screaming wasmore. Her body tingled, tantalized by the sensual way he touched her. His hand trailed down her back, separated from her heated skin by the thin layer of black cloth.
Hypersensitive nipples strained against the silky material, hungry to feel his hands, his mouth. A sexual need sent blood racing to her core. Had he touched herthere, she would have shattered. Her heart pounded too fast and too loud.
Breathe. Nice and easy.
She didn’t want him to know the effect he was having on her, but she might as well have been holding a sign flashingorgasm-ready. His hand came to rest on the small of her back, above the curve of her ass. Another tectonic shift. Her core throbbed. His heat seeped through the clingy material, setting her skin on fire.
Though wrong, she wanted him in the absolute worst way.
“I will never look at that teacup set the same,” he murmured, stepping close.
Shifting her gaze from the cabinet to the man, she found her breath and her voice. “Having an open mind makes life exciting.” She spoke softly. “It keeps the magic alive.” As soon as their eyes met, her senses took over. She inhaled his musky scent. Her fingertips itched to stroke his sexy, unshaved scruff. And then she heard it. A low growl shot out from the back of his throat. Her panties grew damp. Damn him. Damn her for reacting this way.
He held her gaze for several seconds while the air crackled between them. Then, he leaned close and whispered. “You will not defy me.”
With her free hand, she gripped her hip. “Oh, is that so? I’ll assume you’re referring to my wardrobe selection.”
“My employees do as I tell them.”
“I wore the necklace. Consider it a compromise.”
“That’s not a win.”
“I disagree. Everyone wins with compromise.”
With a guiding hand on her back, he escorted her to the far end of the long table and pulled out the chair.
She turned to face him. “Don’t assume I’m naïve Little Red Riding Hood skipping through the forest to Grandmother’s house. You, however, are—”
“The big, bad wolf.” He gave her a devilish smile.
Her blood pressure spiked.Yes, you are.
He seated her, then left to dine at the complete opposite end. Gazing at her across the lengthy table, he raised his wine glass in a silent toast. Was he keeping his distance on purpose or making a point by placing her in the opposing power position?
To be cordial, she raised her glass, though her middle finger itched to salute him. Without question, he was the most infuriating man she’devermet. By standing her ground, she was proving a pointandtormenting him.
Who knew payback could be so much fun?
11
THE BIG BAD WOLF
Brigit had no wayof knowing whether the staff always ate like royalty, but the sumptuous five-course dinner gave her pause for thought.C’mon, it was only food. No, I eat food. That was culinary perfection.
Immediately following after-dinner liqueurs and specialty coffees, Taylor whisked Brigit into an elevator with several other staffers, but no Colton. As the doors opened to a large room in the lower level, they were greeted with the twang of a country singer determined to win back his long-lost love. Mr. Muscles sat behind the DJ console, spinning tunes with Zoe, Colton’s personal shopper.
Unlike the elaborate style upstairs, the only furnishings were two sofas and a smattering of chairs in the far corner. A wooden dance floor took up most of the space and a rotating disco ball dangled from the ceiling.
What held her attention were two stunning seventeenth century French tapestries clinging to adjacent walls. On closer examination, the artwork featured nudes in various sexual positions. Brigit dropped her gaze, not because the scenes were graphic, but because she hadn’t had sex in a long time. Staring in envy didn’t seem like polite party etiquette.
Shane offered a tray of crystal flutes filled with champagne. Though she loved her bubbly, Brigit declined. Time to sober up. While Red and Ryan Catalano—the lanky fellow from earlier—bantered about the pros and cons of protein supplement shakes, Taylor and Dez weighed in.
Brigit’s first impressions of the staff had been positive. Most everyone made her feel welcome and encouraged her to take the position, but she assumed their controlling boss had something to do with that. And Seth had been right. The magnificent home was one of a kind. If she didn’t have her own agenda, she would have given serious consideration to accepting the position, even with Colton’s demanding personality.
Just then, Colton walked in and Brigit’s heart did that annoying little flippy-thing. Beyond his dashing looks and magnetic presence, she was drawn to him in a way she couldn’t explain.
