Seriously? That was the best opening line he could come up with? Closing his eyes, he lightly banged the back of his head against the arm of the couch.
“Ah, it’s going. Is everything all right?”
“Yeah.” Maybe he should just be honest. Chicks loved it when a guy was open and vulnerable, right? “I, ah, just wanted to hear your voice.”
“Oh.” The word was more of a sigh and he grinned up at the ceiling.
Bingo.
“How was your day? Anything interesting going on in the world of finance?”
“I wouldn’t know, as apparently I’m an idiot and the degree on my wall is just a pretty paper I had printed up and not the product of six years worth of education.”
He swallowed a laugh at her obvious irritation. “Bad day at the office?”
Another sigh, though this one was nearly a growl. “Not entirely. I just have a client who’s being difficult and seems to think that because he downloaded some app on his phone, he knows more about the stock market than the woman he’s paying to oversee his investments.”
“Then why is he paying you?”
“I have no earthly idea. I’m considering cutting him loose.”
“Really? You can afford to just get rid of clients?” As soon as the question left his mouth, he winced. “Don’t answer that. You know what you’re doing and I shouldn’t have asked.”
“I appreciate that. But yes, I’m at a point I can afford to be choosy. Just ask your agent,” she added, and he could practically hear her grinning through the phone.
“Mary did threaten me with bodily harm if I missed our meeting yesterday. Sorry you had a rough day, kitten.”
“It’s all right. I came home and poured myself a very large glass of wine and did a little online retail therapy. I’m feeling decidedly better than I was two hours ago.”
“Good. So… what are you wearing?”
“Do you want the truth or an image to jerk off to when we get off the phone?” She gasped, as though she was shocked by her own words. “Oh my god. Forget I just said that. I can’t believe I said that. No more wine for me.”
“No, no, pour yourself another glass. I like the honesty.”
“I’m sure you do. Which is why I’m changing the topic now. How was your day? Off day, right?”
“Right.” It pleased him, probably to a ridiculous degree, that she knew his schedule. “Had a quick practice this morning, ran some errands. I was trying to brush up for the Houston series starting tomorrow but I kept getting distracted.”
“By what?”
“You.”
“Me?” Surprise turned her voice to a squeak. “I wasn’t even texting you.”
“I know. Your silence was very distracting, kitten.”
“Was it?” The squeak disappeared, and her tone turned thoughtful. “I guess it was naughty of me to keep you waiting like that.” Her voice went a little breathless, and he couldn’t help but grin.
“It was. You know what naughty girls get, kitten?”
“What?”
“They get their pretty little panties pulled down, and then they get spanked on their bare bottoms until they’re kicking and begging and promising to be good forever.”
His answer was met with a long pause, broken only by the sound of her slightly ragged breathing. “What if they don’t want that?”
“Depends. Are they being honest about not wanting it?”