Page 17 of Stealing Daddy's Heart

The internal struggle is playing out on his face as the professional mask slips, revealing flashes of desire that send thrills through me. It's intoxicating, watching this powerful man come undone because of me.

Garrett's hand flies to his neck, tugging at the knot of his tie. As he loosens it and undoes his top button, I stare at the tantalizing glimpse of skin. A dusting of dark hair peeks out, and I wonder how far down it goes.

We're standing so close now that I can smell the subtle notes of his cologne. The scent is intoxicating, a heady mix of sandalwood and something uniquely Garrett that makes my head spin.

The tension between us is a living thing, pulsing and growing with each passing second. I lick my lips, suddenly parched. Garrett's eyes track the movement, his pupils dilating.

Just as I think Garrett might finally break, might reach out and touch me the way I've been longing for him to, his phone lets out a shrill ring.

Saved by the bell, Mr. Hayes.

He fumbles for his phone, looking at the caller ID with irritation. “Excuse me, I need to take this.”

As he steps away, I feel a twinge of frustration. I bite my lip, glancing around the empty gallery. We were close to something. But what exactly?

Curiosity gets the better of me. I pad across the floor like a ninja in stilettos. All very James Bond, if James Bond wore heels and had a thing for silver foxes.

I spot him in a shadowy corner, pacing back and forth, his shoulders taut with tension as he leans into the phone as if fearing being overheard.

Pressing myself against the cool wall, I strain to catch his words.

“We need to upgrade the security protocols,” Garrett continues. “Ensure privacy for our more discerning clientele. Yes, I'll handle it personally.”

I lean in, pulse quickening. What kind of deal requires such secrecy?

“Tonight? Fuck. I had other plans. Fine then, if it has to be tonight, I'll make it happen.” Garrett's voice is low, urgent. “There's too much at stake.”

Garrett ends the call, his footsteps rapidly approaching. I scramble backward, searching for an escape route, but I'm too close to the door. Panic floods my system when I realize I'm about to be caught red-handed.

Garrett turns, his eyes widening as he spots me.

I force a casual smile, leaning against the wall as if I've been there all along. “Finally. I've been looking everywhere for you. Did you get bored of my concept and run away?”

Garrett isn't buying it. His eyes narrow, and he takes a step closer, his presence suddenly intimidating. “Skylar,” he says, his voice low and controlled. “How much did you hear?”

I lift my chin, meeting his gaze head-on. “Enough to know there's more to you than meets the eye, Mr. Hayes.”

He steps closer, his presence overwhelming in the confined space. “And what exactly do you think you know?”

My heart races, and I struggle to maintain my composure. The truth is, I hadn't heard much, and whatever I had heard didn't really make sense.

Besides, I was far more interested in the tension between us than I was in the details of his work call.

“I think,” I say, my voice steadier than I feel, “that you have a wild side that you keep carefully hidden. And I think–” I pause, gathering my courage. “That you're just as attracted to me as I am to you.”

Garrett's eyes darken, and for a moment, I think he might close the distance between us. His gaze drops to my lips. My breath catches. But like a switch being flipped, he steps back, his professional mask sliding back into place.

“Skylar, this is highly inappropriate.”

“Oh, come off it,” I interrupt. “We're adults.”

He runs a hand through his hair, looking more disheveled than I've ever seen him. “What's happening here is mentorship. Nothing more.”

I scoff, taking a step closer. “Really? Can't we be honest about what's happening here?”

Garrett's jaw tightens. “You don't understand what you're asking for. What this would mean.”

His words send a shiver down my spine, igniting a fire low in my belly. I step closer. The heat of his body calls to me like a siren song.

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