Page 40 of Playboy Boss

“You crazy kids should have lunch. But just an hour, yeah?” Konrad couldn’t believe the words came out of his mouth. Scottie looked like she’d been run over by a bus. You fucking idiot.

“Sure, that sounds good, Jeff.”

Her legs open, him centered between her. His mouth over her nipple, sucking until her moans rolled down his ear. Her sweet smell wafting off her as he buried himself inside her.

No. Fuck no. He couldn’t continue this way. Scottie couldn’t be just another woman to objectify. She was not like the others.

“Great!” Jeff beamed again and pivoted on his heels, leaving them in painful silence.

Konrad didn’t know where to go from there. He must’ve looked like a complete asshole to Scottie. After they’d had sex not even twelve hours ago, he’d already pushed her in another man’s arms. It looked horrible. And, it was not at all what he wanted her to conclude about him. But how could he reconcile his need to be someone different? Someone who wouldn’t use women anymore?

“You needed to talk to me in your office?” she asked, her voice huskier than before.

The game to gain his control dissipated. He only wanted to soothe Scottie. “Yes. We need to talk.”

He walked into his office, briefcase in hand. Thoughts abounded, though none were clear. Fabian’s damn engagement had really screwed up Konrad’s flow. He’d been moving along so nicely, but now nothing about what he felt was nice.

Konrad sat, his gaze fixed on Scottie. God, she was so beautiful. Her eyes were downcast. She looked sad, which made him feel like utter shit. He focused on the gold brooch pinned to the right of her V-shaped neckline.

“That’s an unusual brooch.” He’d zeroed in on it, avoiding what he needed to say.

She looked up at him, her mouth opening as the light bounced off her shiny lips. “It was my great-grandmother’s.”

He also deciphered a man stretched out, muscles rippling from his back, and wings of a bird sprouting forth. Though it was an interesting pin, it wasn’t what he was truly interested in. However, it balanced his focus and slowed the emotions that bubbled under the surface.

“Fascinating.” Konrad watched her slim hand reach up to touch the pin. “Heirlooms keep us connected to our family. Our past.” Not that he wanted anything from his past. Or family for that matter. His father had proven consistently that family wasn’t important. Family was a burden, only necessary for inheritance. He’d certainly inherited the belief for years that marriage hurt and, in his mother’s case, was the death of people.

Scottie’s eyes glistened. “Yes.”

They were silent again. He wished the silence would stop between them. He wished he could say what he felt, that she could say what she felt.

Scottie interrupted his thoughts, the soft voice replaced by indignation. “Why did you tell me to accept lunch with Jeff?”

Could he really tell her the truth? He’d barely been able to tell himself the truth. “Because why not? You need to eat, don’t you?”

Her cheeks blazed nearly as red as her dress, and her lips pressed into a straight line. “Because of last night. Here, on your desk. You remember that, don’t you?”

He began slowly. Even. Too even, maybe. “Of course I remember last night. I won’t forget it. But, it can’t happen again. I’m not a guy you want to get involved with. You were right to stop our kiss at EaDo. It was a mistake.”

Her fingers tightened over the chair arms, but she didn’t say a word.

“I acted unprofessionally. I acted on impulse. And, I admit, I was wrong. I made a mistake. Like you did. Right?” He raked his fingers through his hair. Damn, it was hard to say this to her because he wanted to do it again. He wanted to act on impulse with her. He wanted her to get involved with him. “You’re too sweet a girl to want to get involved with a guy like me.”

“What about Anisette and Tamsin and Pilar? Are they not too sweet to get involved with a guy like you?” Her voice cracked.

“Scottie…” He hung his head for a moment.

“No.” She stood. “You’re absolutely right. Last night was a huge mistake. I’m sorry I started it by kissing you. But I know nothing can happen again.”

A heavy weight fell on his chest. He wanted to kiss her again. “Can we get past this?”

“Already over it.” She turned and strode to the closed door, stopping before she opened it.

“Scottie,” he called to her, not wanting her to leave his office that way. She turned back to him, her face solemn. It devastated him. He paused a moment before he could say another word. “You’re nothing like Anisette and Tamsin and Pilar.”

Her lip trembled, and he thought she might cry. She didn’t though. Nodding, she opened the door and walked out without a glance back. He dropped his hands on his desk.

That was not how he wanted the conversation to go. The look on her face made him want to go to her, comfort her. Make her know how he really felt.

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