She seemed happy to do that, but said, “Charlie, I keep telling you that you need to have fun. Let someone else do the work. Take a vacation. Take your young lady with you.”
“Mama, you know it’s not that simple. And I don’t see your son Sal slowing down either.”
Mama huffed and started muttering things in Italian. “Salvatore is just like you. How am I ever going to have a grandson to rock if all he does is work?” She threw her hands up in the air and walked away muttering all over again.
Charles turned back to Rosslyn and said, “Good, now she’ll be calling and nagging him instead of me.”
Rosslyn’s eyes widened. “That’s horrible. You just threw your friend under the bus.”
“Sal’s done it to me more times than I can count.”
“Oh, Charlie. I guess you’re really not that stuffy after all,” she teased.
“Keep it up and I’ll show you just how wild I can be,” Charles warned.
Oh I bet you can get wilder than I can imagine.Once again, her mind went where it shouldn’t. She had no intentions of having sex with this man, but those dark eyes of his and his sexy husky voice were teasing. That tall muscular physique didn’t hurt either. Why was it that what you know you shouldn’t do, was always the most tempting? And doing Charles would definitely be a sweet escape from my reality.
But she couldn’t afford to drift too far into the wonderful world of fantasy. It would only add a complication she couldn’t allow right now. But a date here and there, what harm could come of that?
Teasing she said, “I’m not worried. I’m sure Mama will keep you in check.”
Charles let out a soft growl. “Unfortunately, that’s true.”
Gareth had provided Charles with some information, but Rosslyn was forthcoming with much of it herself. But if Gareth hadn’t told him she actually worked for Maxwell, he never would’ve been lingering around that area. Normally he stayed as far away from the Grayson Corp building as he could. Even at the event on Sunday, they didn’t speak. Maxwell was no fool, he knew Charles despised him. Hopefully that was all he knew.
What Charles didn’t understand was what the hell possessed him to take Rosslyn to Mama’s. The sole purpose of being that close was to see what she knew. Learning she was Maxwell’s personal assistant was like hitting the jackpot. If anyone knew stuff, she would. But why would someone who appeared to be so damn nice work for such an asshole? Someone like Maxwell probably hired her thinking he could get a little extra something on the side. After spending a little time with her, Charles didn’t think that was the case. And Mama was a good judge of character too. If Mama thought for a second Rosslyn was some little tart, as she called them, she never would’ve been so warm and friendly.
But just because Rosslyn wasn’t Maxwell’s lover, didn’t mean her loyalty didn’t lie with that guy. He signed her paychecks after all. Rosslyn spoke about a lot of things on their drive back into the city. Not once did she mention work or Maxwell. Heck, she even had the taxi driver let her off down the street from Grayson Corp. Did she not want him to know where she worked? Because if so, it was too late.
At least he didn’t need to work on accidently bumping into her again. She gave him her cell phone number, which would save a hell of a lot of time. And since they were going out Friday, it gave Charles some time to think of something other than her.
Like that was really going to happen. That was two days away and the scent of her perfume lingering in the taxi was still driving him crazy. He found her . . . intoxicating. It was very difficult not to ask her why she worked there and, hell, even offer her a job at Lawson Steel. Until he knew exactly what was going on, he’d only allow himself to get so close. For all he knew, she was the enemy.
“So you’re really taking her out?” Gareth asked. “Like on a date?”
“Not a date. This is business. You know that.”
Gareth laughed. “Those are the famous last words of every man before he falls. You might be able to fool the others, but I know you, Charles. Business doesn’t involved wining and dining someone. Besides, you already have what you want. You know she works for him.”
Don’t remind me.Charles didn’t care who worked for Maxwell. So why did it bother him that Rosslyn did? Probably the same reason it went up his ass that they had lunch together or were at the event together. Charles was attracted to her. But that wouldn’t, or at least shouldn’t, cloud his judgment.
Gareth was starting to piss him off. “Don’t you have something better to do?”
“Most definitely, but nothing half as fun as giving you shit,” Gareth said. “Besides, what good is it to confide in me if you don’t want my help to keep you on track?”
“Is this what you call help? Because right now all I hear is you flapping your lips with nothing useful coming out.” Charles knew he could trust Gareth, as he could all his brothers. But Gareth was usually easier to talk to. Today, that wasn’t the case. He almost wished it was Dylan he’d called. Which reminded him. “Have you spoken to Dylan lately?”
“How do you define lately?”
“Since Monday.”
“No. I spoke to Dad and he said Dylan was upset. I figured the two of you were going at it again, and I wanted to stay out of it. Let me guess, you told him no and he’s not taking that lying down.”
“That pretty much sums it up. But there is more. He knows what I’m doing.”
“You mean regarding Maxwell?” Gareth asked.
“Yes.”