Page 7 of Seductive Hearts

I waited until Natalie left us alone before releasing a high-pitched whistle. “Damn.”

Rose’s head snapped around to level a fiery glare my way. “What?” she challenged in a tight voice.

Shrugging, I replied, “There I was, thinking you were only bitchy toward me. I’m disappointed.”

“We don’t pay people to hang around and socialize.” She got up and went to the cart, keeping her back to me. Did she think that would hide the rapid way her shoulders rose and fell? “Feel free to help yourself.”

If she knew I was staring at her ass when she said it, she would’ve chosen different words. I would’ve liked very much to help myself to that juicy peach. There was something about a woman in a suit that did things to me a naked woman had never come close to. It just so happened the woman in question excited more than my dick, though he got that excited too, so much so that I had to look away or else risk showing off a hard-on when I got up to get my food.

I should tell her to get it for me. The idea made me snicker before she turned around and hit me with an angry stare. “What’s so funny?” she demanded.

Damn, she was wound tight. Nothing a nice, long fuck wouldn’t take care of, but I wasn’t about to suggest it and end up with a bottle of sparkling water poured over my head. “Are you always ready to bite somebody’s head off?” I asked rather than propositioning her.

Now, I knew one way to get rid of a semi in a hurry. Being glared at like my head would look better on a spike in the middle of Central Park did the trick.

Her cheeks went pink before she turned back to her desk. “No. I mean, forget it,” she mumbled as she sat. I couldn’t get a read on her any more than I could understand why it mattered either way. She insisted on acting like she had something to prove, though I couldn’t imagine what.

I got up and grabbed a sandwich without bothering to check what kind it was. I could eat just about anything. That morning, I had skipped breakfast which wasn’t uncommon since I was rarely awake.

But today, I had to get up on time like a good boy, like Daddy’s little soldier, and my empty stomach reminded me of the change in my schedule. “I have an idea,” I suggested while unwrapping what turned out to be a turkey and Swiss on rye. “Why don’t we talk about the project?”

“Wow.” She widened her eyes. “That’s actually a sensible suggestion.”

I had always liked Ari and didn’t want to ruin our relationship. But enough was enough.

“Drop the attitude.” I turned around, glad to be quick enough to watch her mouth fall open. “I might not be anybody’s idea of a great businessman. I don’t want to be. But something tells me we’re not going to get anywhere if all you do is put me down, criticize me for chatting with one of your employees, and threaten me with getting moved off the project.”

By the time she cleared her throat, I was seated again, my plate on her desk and a napkin across my lap. “Maybe you’re right,” she agreed, her voice devoid of smug superiority. I’m way too uptight over this project. It means a lot to me that it goes off without a hitch. It’s my big shot at something real.”

For the first time since we laid eyes on each other in Ari’s office, she was being honest—no barbs, no snark, no judgment. The ice queen had been replaced by someone real and vulnerable. Though I couldn’t relate to wanting to work, I could respect how serious she was.

“We’ll get it right,” I promised. The words fell out of my mouth before I could stop them. Not that I cared about her project as much as I cared about getting her to ease up.

“Thank you.” She bit her lip before picking up her fork and stabbing at the lettuce in her bowl. “Before we go any further with project talk, be honest with me. I was honest with you.”

She wanted honesty? I was honestly turned on by the way she licked a bit of dressing off the corner of her mouth, but something told me that wasn’t the sort she was looking for. “About what?” I asked, shifting in my chair thanks to the discomfort caused by the tightness in my boxer briefs.

My strength started waning, and we had been alone for fifteen minutes. How was I supposed to survive a month with her?

“Why are you doing this?” she asked. “And does it have something to do with the little fight that hit the tabloids this morning? International Model Has A Public Brawl With Billionaire’s Playboy Son?” She was enjoying this, trying not to grin before taking a mouthful of greens and grilled chicken.

“It wasn’t a brawl,” I muttered. “She got pissed off, threw a drink in my face, and we screamed at each other. I don’t think that qualifies as a brawl.”

“It does if the media knows certain last names will be clickbait,” she pointed out with a hint of sympathy and understanding. In that way, she reminded me of her brother. Noah would bust my balls over something like this, but he would then take my side the way she seemed to be doing.

The last thing I wanted to think about while lusting after Rose was her older brother, so I pushed all thoughts of him aside in favor of watching her eat. She did it with gusto, refusing to waste time by picking slowly at her food. She was someone who didn’t waste time pretending much of anything.

It was almost refreshing.

“Is there something on my face?” I only realized I’d been ogling her openly once she started patting her chin and lips. “Something wrong?”

“I zoned out,” I replied, and it wasn’t a lie. “You look… great. Perfect.”

Her lips parted so she could take in a short breath. “Oh. Thank you,” she whispered. “You don’t have to say that. You already have the job, remember?” A shaky laugh punctuated the statement, but her gaze was unflinching.

Those eyes of hers. I couldn’t get enough of their brilliance.

“A comment like that won’t get me fired, will it?” I asked to break the tension. It would get me nowhere, pursuing the invisible third party sitting between us—an all-consuming desire. Damn, I need to get laid. I had a job to do, not to mention the thought of Noah reminding me of our friendship. He’d kick my ass in a heartbeat if he knew a fraction of what was going through my head when I looked at her.

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