Lucas was no fool and he happened to be an acquaintance of Lindle since his foundation hosted various events and donated to the Police Community Relations Initiative to help troubled youth.
“I…I’m fine really,” she stammered, dropping her gaze to the desk.
Lucas moved in closer and casually pulled up a chair opposite her. “No. You’re not. Don’t lie to me, Maxine.” His tone was more curt than he intended.
“You’re here for a business arrangement, I gather.” Maxine looked up to meet his gaze once again.
Lucas noted the dark circles under her eyes yet he could still see beauty beyond the fatigue. She looked weary, no doubt, yet so innocent and harmless.
“Are you trying to brush me off, Miss Summers?” Lucas arched a brow.
“Yes.” Maxine cocked a brow and a grin touched the corner of her lips.
He liked that. Oh, those lips of hers. When would he get his chance to taste them? he wondered. Was she trying to be brave all of a sudden? Well, this was certainly a charmer. Often women flocked to him, played at his feet and sucked up to him. But no, not this one. She couldn’t care less about his name or who he was or what he had. She treated him like any ordinary Joe on the street.
Good.
Maxine was a breath of fresh air. His grandfather was right about sending him personally to help her with her software program. It would take his mind off his own troubles and he would enjoy her heartwarming company. She could try to be as mean to him all she wanted but he could see something in her eyes, hear it in her tone of voice. She wasn’t about to admit it, he gathered, but he knew when a woman was interested in him. But he knew she had other pressing matters on her mind.
“We’ll talk business in a moment,” Lucas stated. He tried to avoid grinning in amusement. She was a feisty one, wasn’t she? God, this woman was causing a sexual reaction inside him right now. If only she’d known how much he wanted to take her, right across her desk.
“If you know anything about me,” he continued, leaning forward with his elbows resting on his knees, “people come first with me, not business. And right now, Maxine, your well-being is my business.” His tone was cool and to the point.
Maxine trembled inside. Butterflies exploded in her belly and there was that weak, giddy feeling again. Oh, his voice resonated through her body. Maxine had to get a hold of herself. After all, Lucas was in the midst of a scandal that highlighted his womanizing ways.
Wait a minute. Did he just say my well-being was his business? Oh, my God! The thought both thrilled and terrified Maxine simultaneously. Lucas Romero was interested in her personally? In her well-being? Maxine had never really had any man want to stand up for her like that. Especially not a man so important and larger than life like Lucas Romero.
What had she done to deserve the honor of his…honor?
She had better watch out, though. The last thing she needed was more trouble. And Lucas Romero was the epitome of trouble with a capital T. But oh, he was so irresistible. How could she not want to be around him? Oh, why did things have to be so complicated?
Her eyes drank in his magnificent form. Lucas was very tall. He must've been way over six feet maybe six-four she guessed. And he had the most beautiful dark, smooth skin she’d ever seen on a man. He filled out nicely in his suit with his broad shoulders.
She could tell he was muscular and heard that he worked out at the gym quite often as much as his cousin and brothers. Okay, so she admitted to herself that at times she would stalk him online by simply reading the news articles about him, admiring his photos.
The man was photogenic, yes. But oh, he was so much better looking in person. He was GQ or Sports Illustrated cover material. And that lovely boyish grin on his face and the dimpled impression in his cheek when he smiled. He was quite a charmer. He sure knew how to ring her magic bell. He made her want to scream out, “Seduce me.”
His lips looked so kissable. Man, she could really use the touch of his lips on her right now. She wondered what his strong arms would feel like around her body. Heck, she wondered what he would be like in bed.
Okay, her thoughts were all over the place. She really had to round them up and get them out of the naughty gutter soon or she would say something that could make this morning’s debacle in the papers seem like a quiet day at the press.