The man is sinfully handsome, and his voice skating over my ear sends a shiver down my spine. I can tell by my body's reaction to him that it would be so easy for me to fall for him.
But then I remember the woman I just saw storming out of his office. I don't know what the story is there, and I don't really care, but there's no way I'm going to allow myself to get involved with a man who has a woman storming out of his office like she has a right to be that angry with him. What if she's his girlfriend—or better yet, his wife? Or maybe one of many lovers?
Somehow I summon the strength to place my hands on his chest—a very hard and firm chest, I might add—and push him back.
"Look, I'm not your ruby, and I'm not interested, okay?"
His eyes register surprise at the force of my push as he stumbles back a few steps.
I take the opportunity to hurry to the door.
"Sophie, wait!" he calls after me, but I'm already out the door and closing it behind me.
I race down the stairs and over to the bar to find Vera like the hounds of hell are nipping at my heels.
I don't know what it is about Axe, but he makes my body feel funny things, and all I can think to do is put as much distance as possible between me and the predator who looks like he wants to devour me whole.
I glance back over my shoulder and relax when I realize I haven't been followed. At the same time, I feel a sharp stab of something that feels suspiciously like disappointment.
I shake my head and order a shot.
What the hell is wrong with me?
two
Axe
I'm so shocked at Sophie's outright refusal to have anything to do with me that I stand there gaping after her like an idiot for a second. I guess I'm a cocky bastard, but it never entered my mind that she would just turn me down so completely. I mean, that's not something I've ever really had to deal with before. On the contrary, women usually throw themselves at me tediously.
Like the one who just left here. I run a hand over my face just thinking about it.
Lila has been trying to get with me ever since I hired her. Hell, I'm thinking about firing her if she doesn't get with the program and back off. I just told her as much when she came up here while I was waiting for Sophie.
I was already on pins and needles in anticipation of meeting the little redhead, so I lost my cool and blew up on my employee when she came at me with her unwanted advances yet again.
How many times do you have to tell a woman you don't anything to do with her before she gets the hint?
I push all thoughts of Lila out of my mind. I can deal with her shit later.
I call after Sophie, but she's already closed the door and is making her way back into the throng of people.
I move to follow her but stop myself, passing a weary hand over my eyes in frustration.
I let out a completely unamused chuckle. It's ironic as hell that I have women throwing themselves at me left and right, yet the one woman I want made it clear she wants absolutely nothing to do with me. Yeah, that would be my luck.
Fuck me.
My lips draw into a thin line when I think of how I handled my first impression with Sophie. I obviously came on too strong, but I'm not a total idiot either. I didn't get where I am today without being able to read people. And I know I didn't imagine Sophie's reaction to me, the way her breath quickened at my nearness and the way a shiver seemed to run down her spine.
I felt her attraction to me. I saw the way her eyes widened when I placed my fingers on her rose petal soft skin. She felt that zap of electricity between us too.
I don't know why she's denying this thing between us, but I've never been a man who gives up on something he wants easily.
And what I want is Sophie Smith.
I straighten and harden my jaw with determination.
I'm not going to be thrown off that easily. I restrained myself from following her just now and making a scene chasing after a woman on the opening night of my club, but that doesn't mean I'm giving up so easily.