And because I can see she’s not as unaffected by me as her words suggest. I move closer, pinning her against the door. She wets her lips, nervous and more. I smile down at her, hearing her breath quicken, watching her skin flush.
My voice is soft and taunting. “I didn’t get what I thought I was getting, and in any case, my hooker didn’t get paid, did she? That’s unacceptable to me, Rachel. I always pay my debts.”
“Maybe your hooker decided to make it a charity case.”
That makes me laugh. “I’m sure I don’t strike you as someone who needs charity.”
“Well then.” Her eyes challenge mine. “Back to my original question: why are you here?”
I inhale, drawing in her sweet scent. “Maybe…” I murmur, bringing my face close to hers. “Maybe I want to fuck you again.”
Her chest rises as she sucks in a gulp of air through parted lips. I wanted to shock her, and it’s clear I have.
“If that’s why you’re here,” she says evenly, “you’re wasting your time. Jessica could walk into this hallway any moment,” she continues. “So, if you don’t want her to come in and find us like this, I think you’d better let me go.”
I smile down at her, knowing she’s already mine, despite her words. “I couldn’t care less about Jessica finding us,” I murmur, “and I never waste my time.”
Placing my arm around her waist, I lift her away from the door, ignoring her shocked gasp as I set her down. “I always get what I want, Rachel,” I say softly, and then I reach behind her and open the door, walking away without another word.
Chapter 7
I’m not naturally inclined to patience, but it’s a habit I’ve learned, for my business and for my life. When you’ve done your homework and put all the pieces in place, all you can do is wait.
And now I’m waiting.
At the head of the conference table in my office, I listen as Alex argues with two other lawyers from our legal department about the finer points of the agreement we have with Evans Sinclair. I let them hash it out. It’s what I pay them for.
“We’ve got him tied up. If he tries to slander Landon or the company, we’ll have him in court before the end of the day.”
“If he really wants to slander us, he’ll have succeeded, whether or not we tie him up in litigation.”
“And he’ll pay through the nose for that—”
“He’s rich.”
“Not nearly rich enough.”
I glance at my watch and rise to my feet. “Gentlemen, it’s time you took this discussion to your own offices.”
They gather their papers. Alex is the last to leave. “I really wouldn’t worry about Evans Sinclair,” he says.
“I’m not worried.” Evans is like a dissatisfied gnat, and once I focus on him, the buzzing will stop. For now, he is harmless. I return to my seat and study the papers in front of me, a few contracts, schedules, correspondence…most of which I already know by heart.
Alex leaves. In a few moments, Rachel will be here. Jessica has offered her the feature on the Gold Dust, and it entails a trip to San Francisco.
With me.
I rise from my seat and walk toward the door, then stop and return to the conference table. I remove my jacket and drape it on my chair, and then I wait.
I hear my fingers tapping on the glass surface and realize I’m nervous.
It makes no sense. She’s just one woman.
A woman I can’t stop thinking about.
A woman I’m about to offer a very indecent proposition.
Because of how much I want her.