Fletcher let out a groan and tried to focus.
His chef left his meals either in the oven or refrigerator with reheat instructions. Tonight, it was oven baked salmon with green vegetables and charred lemon.
“I hope you like salmon,” he said, sliding the meal into the oven.
“Or we’re ordering a pizza?”
“Or I’m calling the chef back to make us something else.” He turned to find her leaning on the Italian marble and oak center island.
“The luxury of the rich and famous.”
“Infamous.”
“New York’s Playboy,” she corrected.
“Does that bother you?” he asked, stepping into her space, and taking the wine out of her hand, dropping it on the island behind her.
“That I’m your latest plaything?”
He frowned. “That’s not what this is.”
Wasn’t it?
If it wasn’t, then what was it? The expression on Olivia’s face said she was wondering the same thing.
“Is it not?”
“No. Not at all. I don’t spend weekends with the women I... date.”
Regret crossed her face as she shook her head. “Sorry Fletcher, that was unfair. I guess I should know better, given I work with media. I know half of it is just gossip.”
Well, perhaps twenty-five percent.
He wasn’tnota playboy and made little effort to be discreet. He’d never had a reason to. Fletcher had no intention of ever getting married. He couldn’t think of a reason why he’d want to. Dufort Hotels didn’t require it of him. There was no financial driver and, frankly, his dick was pretty satisfied with the way things were.
Now, as he held Olivia in his arms, he suddenly cared.
He wasn’t ashamed of his healthy sex life, but he did care that she thought he considered her just another one of the women he bedded.
He most definitely did not.
Lying to her, though, was not on the cards.
Fletcher intended to tell her the truth.
“You need to know that most of itistrue. Some of it is complete garbage.” He brushed his thumb over the edge of her eyebrow. “Being with you is different. It’s important to me that you know that.”
“Don’t do that.”
“What?”
“Don’t you dare let me fall for you, Fletcher Dufort.” She shook her head. “We have two days together and then we go back to our lives. Back to being colleagues.”
He frowned.
“Jesus. Most women hint,poorly, at a marriage proposal after drink two. Yet all you do is push me away.”
Olivia tilted her head at him and gave him a sly smile. “Well, consider this your lucky weekend.” Then her smile faded. “Anyway, you know why, so let’s just keep some boundaries in place.”