And whatever she wants—or rather, what she doesn’t yet know she wants.
“What woman doesn’t want to appear a little dangerous?” she says.
I look into her warm brown eyes, which seem at odds with her squared shoulders and crossed arms. “You don’t seem dangerous so much as someone who likes to be in charge.”
“Doesn’t everyone?”
My lips quiver. Just a touch, but I feel it all through my body. She amuses me, but even more, she turns me on.
“I guess it depends on whether you’re horizontal,” I reply.
She blushes along her cheeks and neck. Damn. It’s like she lit a match inside me. Still, I’ve embarrassed her. Should I apologize?
No way. I’m not even slightly sorry.
She draws in a deep breath and clears her throat. “What can I help you with?”
“I’m Braden Black. I’m here to see Addison.”
“She’s in her office. Did you have an appointment?”
“No. She’s an old friend.”
“Of course. I’ll tell her you’re here.”
“No need.” After what Addison pulled on my receptionist today, I’m not feeling the least bit accommodating. I cock my head toward the closed door. “She in there?”
The assistant nods. “Yeah.”
I walk toward Addison’s private office, discreetly adjusting my burgeoning erection.
“You can’t,” she says.
“Sure I can. Watch me.” I approach the closed door.
Before I knock, however, the door opens.
“Skye, can you—” Addison’s lips curve downward into an angry frown. “What the hell are you doing here?”
Addison Ames was always a spitfire, always determined to get what she wants, no matter the cost. A spoiled brat, this one. But she won’t get away with treating my employees badly. I’m sure she feels I deserve her wrath, but my people decidedly do not. My past with Addie no longer angers me, but the present? She won’t get away with bullying anyone around me.
“Thought I’d come over to tell you if you ever bully my r
eceptionist again, I’ll make sure every one of your followers knows the truth about you.”
“Truth about me? Are you kidding? I’m not the one with something to hide, Braden.”
“You have a lot more to hide than a hatred of coffee,” I say.
“And what about you? You want your business associates to know—”
“Enough!”
My voice booms through the office as rage swirls through me like a tornado. She wants to threaten me? Bring it on. She’ll go down in the dust.
Fortunately, my command seems to stop her.
I can’t help looking over my shoulder at her assistant, who’s stopped what she’s doing as well.