“No. Mr. Barrick, I…”
“That’s all right. I’m sure we’ll think of something.”
The laughter in his voice spurred her into action. “Listen to me, Austin Barrick. If you think for one second I’m going to let you use me as the evening entertainment for you and your baseball buddies, you’ve got another thing coming. I’m sure you all find it hilarious to trick a woman into thinking you’re interested in her, but I can assure you, I do not find it the least bit amusing.”
There was a beat of silence before he replied. “What the hell are you talking about, woman?”
Red colored her vision, and she squeezed the handset so tight it was a wonder it didn’t snap in half. “I’m talking about rich, entitled assholes who think it’s funny to use the fat, gullible, desperate girl to get their jollies. Who think the world owes them something just because they can hit a ball with a stick and run around in circles.That’swhat the hell I’m talking about, Mr. Barrick.”
“Are you finished, Katherine?”
There was a darkness in his voice that had her heart slamming into her ribcage. “Yes.”
“Good. Let’s get something straight. I have every intention of using you for my own entertainment, but not in the way you seem to think. I still haven’t quite figured out what exactly you’ve cooked up in that brain of yours, but I don’t think it’s complimentary of either yourself or me. And the entertainment I have in mind damn sure won’t be shared with any of my—what did you call them? Right.” His bark of laughter lacked any trace of humor. “My baseball buddies.”
During his scolding—because there was no doubt in her mind it was exactly that—heat infused her cheeks. Was he trying to tell her… no. There was no way a man like Austin Barrick was interested in herthat way.
“Also,” he continued, his voice taking on even more of an edge. “I may be a rich, entitled asshole, but I’ve never hurt a woman just for the hell of it. Not emotionally, anyway.”
“Well, I…”
“I’m not finished,” he snapped. “The next time I hear you put yourself down like that, you won’t sit right the rest of the night. I don’t put up with that kind of talk.”
“What?” she squeaked. It was like a line out of the books she kept hidden on her Kindle, but he couldn’t possibly be talking aboutthat.
“I didn’t stutter.” The statement came from her doorway, not the phone speaker, and she dropped the handset with a shriek.
Behind him, a frantic-looking Donna peeked over his shoulder. “I tried to stop him, but he wouldn’t listen. Do you want me to call security?”
Calling for help would be the smart thing to do, judging by the thunderous look on her intruder’s face, but she shook her head. “No. And you can go home, Donna. I’ll be fine.”
Donna’s expression turned mutinous. “Kit, I am not leaving you alone with this man.”
Again, that would be the smart, rational thing to do. Despite his prominence in the sports world, she didn’t know a damn thing about him as a person. He wouldn’t be the first pro athlete with a hidden dark side. And hadn’t she caught a glimpse of that darkness in him just now?
Still, something in him pulled at her. As stupid as it may have been, she sent Donna what she hoped was a reassuring smile. “Mr. Barrick and I have dinner plans.”
“Oh.” Frowning, Donna looked from her to Austin and back again. “Well. If you’re sure.”
“I’m sure. I’ll see you in the morning.”
Still looking uncertain, Donna backed away and turned to head down the hall.
Taking a step forward, Austin let the door to the office swing shut behind him as he slowly stalked his way across the room. “Care to explain that phone call?”
“Not particularly,” she replied with as much dignity as she could muster while facing off with the man who she was fairly certain had just threatened to spank her. Dignity was particularly hard to hold on to when she could feel her arousal soaking through her sensible panties. Did he somehow know that he’d just tapped into one of her most secret, unspoken fantasies?
“It wasn’t really a request, Katherine.”
“You’re very bossy, you know that?”
One of his eyebrows lifted and her core quivered in response. “I do. Stop trying to change the subject. What the hell was that all about?”
Now that the heat of the moment had passed, embarrassment was creeping in. “I apologize. It was uncalled for.”
With a low, throaty growl, he reached across the desk and captured her chin between his fingers, forcing her to look straight at him. “It was absolutely uncalled for, little girl. But I would still like an explanation. Now.”
Little girl. The phrase shot an arrow of heat straight to her core even as it pissed her off. Gathering her indignation around her, she jerked her chin from his grasp and sent him her best icy glare. “I don’t owe you anything, Mr. Barrick.”