Page 53 of Playboy Boss

A number he didn’t recognize had texted him hours ago when he was at Uchi. He must have deleted Jenny’s number when he’d deleted her from his rotation.

He’d missed a couple of texts from earlier in the evening when he’d arrived at the restaurant.

Unknown: Are you seriously acting like you don’t know me?

Unknown: Is she one of your women? Does she know how many you have?

The last text message had been minutes ago when the doorbell rang. This was his worst nightmare.

Unknown: Can we talk? Are you home?

Furious, he moved his fingers over the keyboard.

Me: I don’t know how you found out where I live, but if you don’t leave immediately, I’ll call the authorities.

Cell phone in hand, he stormed through his bedroom, down the corridor, and through the long living room until he reached the door. Peering through the peephole, he didn’t see anyone. His heart calmed, but he was still furious. How could he be so reckless? This wasn’t what he wanted. It especially wasn’t what he wanted Scottie to see.

“Was that one of your women?” Scottie’s voice came from behind.

He closed his eyes, his heart falling. Fuck. He turned, meeting her hardened gaze. How could he answer her?

“Will I have to send another bouquet of flowers on Monday?” Her words crushed him.

I’m such an asshole.

“It’s not what you think.” It was absolutely what she thought. And more. He scrubbed his face. “She’s someone I had a fling with earlier this year. That’s all. I haven’t seen her since.”

Scottie crossed her arms over her chest, spinning on her heels back through the living room with him following behind her until they reached the bedroom again.

“I don’t know who you are, Konrad.” She collected her clothes. “I see the Konrad who I swear makes me feel like I am the only person in the world, and then I see the other Konrad who has a different woman every day. Women who show up at his house unannounced. Women I have to send flowers to.”

He reached for her, though she pushed his hands away. He let out a sound of frustration. “You are the only person in the world right now.”

“Right now.” Her anger flashed through her ever-changing eyes.

“That’s not what I meant.” Dammit. He kept screwing up, saying the wrong thing. This was not his game. He had no idea how to get her back to where she was before the doorbell rang, when they’d been comforting each other, and he was thinking how much he liked her in his bed.

In a flash, she was dressing and walking across the massive bedroom again.

“Wait, Scottie.” He followed her, completely naked and not giving a shit. “Don’t leave. Talk to me. Please.”

She turned, her face flushed. “I can’t help how attracted I am to you, Konrad.”

“And I can’t help how much I am attracted to you.” The sweet feel of relief was on the wings, waiting to return. He needed to know she’d still want him when he could do this better, when he knew how to treat her the way she deserved.

“But I also know what I get with you.” She waved her hands in exasperation. “I can’t do this. Every time I think about who we are, I know this is too much for me. It affects me in a way you don’t understand.”

“Then tell me,” he pleaded, which sounded so odd. He’d never seen this side of himself. “I want to understand.”

Her teeth worried over her bottom lip and for a brief moment, he thought she was going to tell him. Instead, she shook her head. “I can’t fall for someone like you. I’ll hate myself.”

She turned, dashing from his room and through the living room and in the direction of the exit.

“Wait. Let me at least drive you back to the office if you’re not going to stay.” She’d left her car there.

“No. I’ll order a car.” She bumped her leg on the white leather sectional on the way to the door. He followed her, his wide stride keeping up with her fast legs with no problem.

“Be careful, love. Don’t hurt yourself.”

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