Page 41 of Playboy Boss

A couple of hours later, he walked out to her cube. He hated the fact that she would have lunch with Jeff. Worse, he hated that he practically forced her to be alone with Jeff. God, if Jeff kissed Scottie, he’d be beyond pissed. The thought made Konrad crazy, and he wanted to cancel their lunch plans.

Scottie turned almost immediately to face Konrad. “Yes?”

“I need you to send a dozen roses.”

She didn’t hide her eye-roll well. Or her exasperation. “Another?”

“Yes.” His stern boss countenance made her straighten. “To Anisette. I want the card to read, ‘Congratulations on your engagement.’”

Her eyes grew wide, but she didn’t allow her face to betray her further. With a neutral tone, she said, “I will order them immediately. Anything else?”

“That is all.”

Another hour later, Konrad was at Hugo’s restaurant, glancing down at his watch. He’d worn the Rolex again, not the Richard Mille, which was his favorite. He’d misplaced it.

“Would you care for a drink while you wait on your party?” the waitress asked, taking him from his thoughts.

“Sure. I’ll take a scotch, neat.” He gazed up and her full lips curled in a smile. Normally, he’d have a thought about them. Have a quick fantasy of what her lips could do to him, but he didn’t. He felt nothing.

She waited, her lips straightening out. “I’ll be right back.”

“Mother fucker, I’ll be damned.” Dallas approached just as the waitress left. “I worried you wouldn’t show up like you didn’t last night.”

“Keep it down, Halman. This is a classy place, for fuck’s sake.” Konrad stood, shaking hands with his friend. “You just missed the waitress.”

“Damn. Is she hot?” Dallas sat, pushing up his rolled sleeves. The guy hated wearing suits. Konrad knew rancher’s dirty jeans and boots were more his style.

Konrad laughed. Typical question. Maybe she was hot, but Konrad was too keyed up to notice. “You can find out for yourself, mate. Here she comes again.”

The small brunette waitress arrived with a smile on her face but not Konrad’s drink in her hand. “Hello. Would you like to start with a cocktail?”

“Sure, sweetheart.” Dallas’s east Texas accent grew thicker. Such a move. Konrad rolled his eyes. “I’ll have a Gentleman Jack on the rocks.”

She nodded, reveling in Dallas’s appreciation of her.

Konrad interjected. “Don’t be fooled, love. This bloke is not a gentleman at all.”

Her cheeks blazed red. “I’ll back right back, gentlemen.” She winked at Dallas.

They watched her walk away, though it looked like Dallas was enjoying the view way more than Konrad.

“You’re such an animal.”

A beaming Dallas faced Konrad. “And you’re not?” He placed his cell phone on the table next to his sweating glass of water.

Konrad hated that he couldn’t disagree. He had been an animal with women for over a decade. A complete dog. He shook his head. Dallas still might be worse. “Not as bad as you, mien Freund.”

Their eyes met. “I’ll take that as a bet.”

“Stakes?”

Dallas tossed a paper napkin toward Konrad. “Write down all the names of the women you’ve hooked up with this month. The one with the most loses. And pays for lunch.”

Konrad thought for a moment, counting briefly until the number passed the fingers on one hand. He leaned back, flicking away the napkin. “Nope. A gentleman doesn’t kiss and tell.”

Dallas threw his head back and laughed. “I’ll remember that next time I see one.”

Could Konrad really do this? He was compelled to go along with the bet. What was the worst that could happen? He’d either confirm that Dallas was a bigger dog, or he’d face what he’d been avoiding. If he really wanted to turn over a new leaf, he’d have to face it.

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