Page 68 of Playboy Boss

Chapter Twenty-Four

Midnight came. Curled up in Konrad’s arms, Scottie didn’t expect to feel so comfortable. They were completely different people than they were a week ago.

He stroked her shoulder, eliciting a steady stream of sensations running along her spine.

“Why are you catering?” A smile curled his lips. “You are quite bad at it.”

She smacked his arm. “I am not!”

He leaned down to kiss her.

When it was over, she was in such a pure place of emotions, she couldn’t lie. “I know. I’m the worst.”

He brushed his fingers through her tangled hair. “So, why are you then?”

Scottie grew silent, though the urge to tell him bubbled inside her. If anyone had purchased her grandmother’s brooch before she could, she’d be devastated.“Just to help out Tara.”

A pause drew out between her words and his. “You’re not a good liar, Schatzi.”

Not at all. And especially not then. She didn’t respond.

“Scottie?”

Obviously, he was concerned, and she hated holding it in. If she told him about her grandmother’s pin, she’d have to admit that she was not like any women he’d ever been with. And she wondered why she cared so much about their very different financial situations.

She met his gaze. “I sold something to Space City Pawn, and I’m just trying to get it back.” Simple enough, though the feelings that tore through her were complicated.

He narrowed his gaze. “Is the agency not paying you enough of the hourly rate we are paying them?”

Her rate was average for a person just out of college with her experience, which was basically none. However, the question caught her off guard. She didn’t know how to respond.

“You should work for Korr Properties permanently.” It was a demand, albeit a light demand.

She sat up, holding the sheet close to her chest. “You can’t hire me.” She felt frantic and totally neurotic about her reaction.

He sat up as well. “Why not?”

It all was so easy to him. He could make a decision, and then it would happen. She didn’t have that luxury. “Because the agency won’t let me work for you permanently without a huge fee.”

His eyebrows lifted. “And…?”

No, she couldn’t work for Konrad permanently. That wouldn’t solve her problems. It might make them worse, considering she didn’t know what being in his bed meant to him. Or her.

“No.” She shook her head. “No. That’s not a good idea.”

Silence fell between them again. Could he really think it was an option? After everything that had happened? After everything yet to happen?

Scottie lay back on the bed. Konrad followed suit. The conversation wasn’t over though.

“What did you sell?”

She closed her eyes. I don’t want to talk about this. “My grandmother’s brooch.”

“The one you wore with the red dress?”

She smiled, but it faded. “Yes.”

Konrad wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into him. It all felt like a dream. “Are you having money problems?”

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