And I hate that he can. I hate that he has an invisible power over me already.
Gradually, I lower the dog and stare up into the eyes of the man I’ve spent my nights thinking about, imagining all the dirty things he could do to me.
“Mr. Quinn? What are you doing here?”
His mouth quirks only a fraction, like smiling is almost painful. His eyes take a dangerous turn as he marches a step forward.
“That’s my dog.”
I laugh. Him owning such an adorable dog, and one with a purple collar, no less? Unlikely.
His brooding gaze flays me open.
“Oh…you’re serious.”
He cocks a brow. “Hand her to me.”
“Uh…”
I have no idea what to do. What if he’s lying? I hold the dog to my chest, and as she looks at him, she growls. Pretty sure if he does own her, she doesn’t exactly like him.
His chest rises and slowly falls, like he’s trying to collect every ounce of patience. “The dog, Ms. Hill.”
“Elara, just give him the dog.” Grandma’s tone strains.
I glance at her for a second before I peek at him again, and instantly regret it. He definitely looks like he’s ready to dismember me limb from limb. Makes me wonder if he’s actually done that.
Of course he has…
His eyes narrow, and my stomach drops.
But it’s no longer just fear.
His intense gaze roves down my body, searing into me, scorching me where I stand.
Desire winds itself around me, every inch of my flesh begging to be his until it becomes unbearable. There’s just something about him. He’s all man, with those big hands that could do quite a lot to a woman’s body. My stomach clenches at his rugged sex appeal.
Geez, Elara! Concentrate on the problem at hand instead of picturing him eating you out 69-style.
Okay.
The dog.
Right.
I definitely can’t just give him the dog, not unless he can somehow prove it’s his. How do I know she really belongs to him?
“Do you happen to have a photo of her?”
He sighs. “This isn’t in your best interest, Ms. Hill.” He moves up until the dog is sandwiched between us, until his mouth lowers to my ear, his breath tingling across my neck. “I don’t like to be questioned. Even by someone as beautiful as you.”
My sharp inhale has him chuckling low and menacingly.
“You didn’t call me.” His palm grips my hip, and I grow breathless.
“Was I supposed to?” I whisper, dizzy from the feeling of his body this close to mine, the smell of his expensive cologne that I’ve now decided is my favorite smell of all time.
“Did you forget about my job offer?”