Page 14 of Elevating Eve

Eve sat perfectly still in her chair, careful to keep any sort of reaction off her face. Not her money, not her decision. She repeated that over and over in her mind.

“Agreed,” Jonathan said with a thoughtful nod. “And given how far behind schedule we already are, I think it might be worth a little extra money to get us back on track.”

Aiden considered that in silence for a bit, and she could practically see a pros and cons list written in his eyes. “It would make Remy happy.”

That was certainly true. The Manor’s Director of Event Planning emailed her at least once a week asking for updates on his shiny new event space. Or at least heusedto email her once a week. She supposed someone at Crane & Faber would soon have that honor.

How unfortunate.

She almost said something.Almost.She pressed her lips together and stayed silent.

“So is that it?” Aiden asked, peeking at his watch and wincing. “Are we going with Crane & Faber?”

Jonathan started to answer, but then stopped himself, finally looking at her. “What do you think?”

Well, shit. A ball of dread formed low in her belly. “I don’t really think it’s my place to say.”

Jonathan’s expression made one thing perfectly clear—he wouldn’t accept such a bullshit answer. “You’ve been in this business your entire life. I’m asking for your expert opinion.”

“Aiden’s also an expert. You already have his opinion.” She knew it wouldn’t work, but she had to try.

Gracing her with a kind smile, Aiden said, “My area of expertise is a little different. But I appreciate you saying so.”

“God save me from stubborn men,” she muttered, earning a frown from Jonathan and a chuckle from Aiden.

“You’re the only one here being stubborn,” Jonathan said, giving her his full Dom look for the first time ever, and holy mother of God, it was a good thing she was already sitting down. She felt weak in the knees.

With a steadying breath, Eve forced herself to stay calm. “It would make me uncomfortable to make a decision that could have a major financial impact on your business. I don’t think it’s appropriate.”

“I’m not asking you to make the decision.” Jonathan ran a hand through his perfect hair, knocking several strands out of place. “I just want your opinion.”

He was really getting frustrated now, and all her experiences with Frank told her to give him what he wanted.

Fuck that.

She didn’t think anything on the planet would make Jonathan react the way Frank did. And after sixteen years of being a total doormat, she couldn’t resist the urge to poke the bear. “Well, as the saying goes, you can’t always get what you want.”

“Oh, for fuck’s sake,” Jonathan snapped. “Are you serious right now?”

A euphoric sense of power coursed through her, and a laugh bubbled up out of her throat. She clamped her teeth together, trapping the sound inside, but it was too late.

Something dangerous—and remarkably sexy—flashed in Jonathan’s eyes. “Are you laughing at me?”

“Um.” She looked to Aiden for assistance, but the man might as well have had a bucket of popcorn on his lap. He was too busy enjoying the show to come to her aid. “No?”

“No,” he repeated, his voice a low growl. “I see.” Standing, he crossed the space between them, until she had to crane her neck to see his face.

Fuck, he was tall. And this close, his scent seemed to surround her.So.Damn.Good. He had to be wearing the same cologne as last week, when he held her while she cried—woodsmoke and heather. It made her want to leap up and wrap herself around him.

“Now that I have your attention,” he said, the look on his face making her pussy flutter, “let me make one thing perfectly clear. I told you I wouldn’t take advantage of a hurt and vulnerable woman, and I meant it. But I’m an incredibly patient man. I can wait. So if you think you’re getting away with something right now, think agai?—”

“Neither,” she blurted.

Jonathan’s head jerked back in surprise. “Excuse me?”

Goddamnit. She didn’t mean to say that. But the way he looked at her made the word fly right out of her mouth.

Oh, well. In for a penny, in for a pound.

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