His full-bodied laugh took me by surprise. It filled the room and caught Roxiee’s attention from her desk.
“Wait, wait, wait,” he crowed.“Youexpect me to play byyourrules, when you didn’t play bymine?”
When I refused to answer, he shook his head and huffed through his nose. “You’ve got balls, Boss Lady, I’ll give you that. And nerve.”
Boss Lady was more tolerable than mamacita, so I let that one slide for now.
“No one’s challenged you before?”
“Oh, they have plenty. They just don’t normally get away with it.”
I let a smile tug at my mouth. “Like I said, you’re inmyworld now, Rafael.”
Heat entered his eyes, and I shifted subtly in my seat, knowing I had put it there. He looked me over with the same blatant hunger he wore two nights ago—again not bothering to hide it.
When he kicked up one leg and sat his ankle on the opposite knee, my eyes couldn’t help but run the length of his outstretched arms draping across the back of the couch. My attention was pulled back to his cocky grin when more smooth words filled the air.
“Well, then, let’s talk business, baby girl.”
Chapter 8
-Greer-
An hour later, I was no closer to understanding Rafael despite him disclosing a handful of minor indiscretions from his past. There were two obvious sides to him; the successful entrepreneur and the cocky law-breaker.
Despite that, one thing was clear; Rafael Ortiz hadn’t lived an easy life. Success hadn’t come easy, whereas women and money had. However, regardless of everything he’d told me, I still felt as though he was holding something back.
I took a moment to sip from my bottled water, then pushed to my feet. Walking across the room to my desk, I set the voice recorder down while contemplating our entire conversation. He’d spoken candidly about his early twenties and the rough patch he went through, and didn’t seem bitter about the experiences that had hardened him. Either that, or he wore his mask well.
Without warning, warmth spread across my back, and I justknewthat Rafael had stepped close. My breath paused when his fingers brushed my waist, and words laden with sex appeal murmured against my ear.
“Business is done, mamacita, so that means we can focus on the pleasure.”
Bolts of lust wove my spine as his hand suggestively skimmed across the curve of my hip. His tantalizing cologne made a lasting impression; one that had me weak-kneed and tight-chested.
“Thought you may have forgotten.”
Rafael laughed quietly. “I don’t forget shit. Not when it comes to something I want.”
I looked over my shoulder and raised my brows. “Unfortunately for you, Mr. Ortiz, I’m not easily won over. And you don’t intimidate me, so you can quit the glower.”
His narrowed eyes grew stormy as he tilted his head back a fraction. “Ishouldintimidate you. Though, I’m glad I don’t.”
His fingertips grazed the zip on the back of my skirt, teasing a bodily response I couldn’t control. Smug satisfaction laced his low-chuckle, and it was the timely reminder I needed to take back control.
I stepped out of his reach and rounded on him once I was a safe distance away. “I’m not your play-thing. You’re my client, and the success of Colton’s foundation relies on us not messing this up for him.”
“I’ll play your game, Boss Lady. But once we’re out of these four walls, I don’t give a fuck who your invoice is being sent to.” The bite to Rafael’s voice contrasted his sensual touch a minute ago, and the sudden change shocked me.
As if to prove some kind of point, he brushed past despite the expansive space of my office, and strode out the door. He left my heart pounding, my panties a little damp, and a whole lot of questions running through my head.
Roxiee rushed in as soon as Rafael disappeared from sight. “He left in a hurry. And, girl, you look hella flustered.” She eyed me with a coy smile on her dark-pink lips. “He got to you, didn’t he?”
“Depends what you mean bygot to me,Rox. If you mean, got under my skin, then yes, he did,” I snapped while looking myself over in the mirror.
My cheeks held a rosy glow as if I’d been standing in the midday for a minute too long, and I was unimpressed that Rafael Ortiz had put it there.
Rox folded her arms under her boobs and arched one perfect eyebrow. “He’s going to be a problem, isn’t he?”