Page 11 of The Rebel

The lines on his forehead became more pronounced. “What did you do before?”

“I owned several boutiques in LA.” I pulled at the bottom hem of my dress, trying to lengthen it past my knees. “I had been a design major in college. Not long after I graduated, I realized it was easier to sell the clothes than make them myself. I started with one shop in West Hollywood, and by the time I sold the business, I had four locations.”

“Amazing.”

“What would have been much more amazing was if I had grown the brand internationally, like I’d intended. But, no, I got persuaded to join the family business, and now, I know they’ll never let me go.”

“I can understand why.”

I focused on his eyes, trying to read them. “Why do you say that?”

“Because if you worked for me, I wouldn’t let you go either.”

I laughed. “Cooper, are you offering me a job?”

His grin was so tantalizing; it made me smile.

“That’s not what I’m offering you.”

“What is it for you, then? The promise of the most mind-blowing orgasms? A tryst in Canada that I’ll never forget?”

“Yes, and fuck yes.” He eyed me down, so slowly. “I’ll have that dress off you within a second of walking through your door.”

“Yes, that.” I rubbed my thumb over the glass. “You make things sound so easy.”

“Aren’t they?”

I adjusted my position, turning more toward the bar. “I suppose … if I was ready to say yes.”

“And you’re not?”

Before I could reply, his phone vibrated on the bar top.

I pointed at it even though I couldn’t see the screen. “You’d better get that. Something tells me it’s important.”

“It can wait.”

“Even if it’s your assistant, wanting to see if she should book you a hotel she found?”

He lifted his cell into his hand and read the message on the screen.

Since his stare was finally elsewhere, I took the moment to really study what he had on. The richness of his dark gray jacket with its collar popped high and the light-gray sweater he wore underneath. The contrast of colors worked so well with his skin tone, and the texture of both fabrics was the sexiest combination.

His gaze gradually lifted to mine. One that, after a few seconds passed, was even more powerful than before.

“She found one, didn’t she?” I inquired.

“Did you want her to?”

I laughed.

God, he was good with words.

“Didyouwant her to?” I shot back.

“I think you know the answer to that.”

He returned the phone to the bar and crossed his arms over his chest, the pull of the fabric showing just how large those arms were.

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