Page 19 of Crave Me

He quiets. “He died when I was twelve.”

At first, I don’t move. Evan could have said he inherited the company and I would have understood he’d passed away. But in saying his dad gave it to him and everything else that followed, it’s like he didn’t want to be reminded he was gone.

I reach for his forearm and give him a squeeze. “I’m sorry,” I tell him, gently.

“I am, too,” he says.

His attention drifts to where my fingers rest along his forearm. He doesn’t have to say he’s done discussing his dad, I already know. I give him another squeeze. “So, how’s reestablishing an empire working out for you?”

He smiles. “It’s a slow and arduous process which is why my time is so limited. But failing isn’t something I contemplate. In fact, the first step toward global domination starts today.”

“Global domination?” I ask.

“I have my first major sales meeting.” He winks. “But global domination sounds sexier.”

Oh yes it does, big boy. “And what are you selling?” I ask, realizing too late I’m inching closer.

“Do you really want to know?”

I’m surprised how much I do. “Yeah. Let ‘er rip.”

“My sales team and I are pitching Adeptus Mechanicus to two local hospitals. It’s nanotechnology in its most advanced form, capable of delivering chemotherapeutic agents directly to cancerous tumors and breaking down the remains into minute particles, so the body can easily excrete them.”

I straighten. “Tiny robots that kill cancer and then eat what’s left?” He nods. “Did you come up with this?”

Again, he nods. “I began to conceptualize it at a young age. But it wasn’t until I began my undergraduate studies that I realized it was viable. It took close to a decade for my robotics team and I to fully develop it. But in perfecting Adeptus, we created Chaos, Eldar, and Ork Mechanicus. Different forms from that one prototype capable of treating a large array of diseases and damaged tissues.”

“Damn. I should’ve sold you the upgrade.”

That grin. Jesus, and those dimples! Evan is brilliance and sweet in one steamy package. Can’t say I blame Ashleigh for wanting to keep him all to herself.

Speak of the devil in high heels. “Evan?” she says, throwing the door open without bothering to knock. She whips her head away from the desk where she was expecting us, to the couch where she isn’t, straightening her spine hard enough to support that granite conference table on her head. “Everyone is in the conference room waiting for you.”

She treats him like some disobedient kid. If I was him, I’d flip out on her. But this time, he keeps his tone steady and his attention on me as he rises. “My apologies, but I must leave you.”

When I stand, there’s only a few inches separating us. It’s the closest I ever stood to him, but he doesn’t seem to mind and neither do I. “Don’t worry about it. Your new ride is parked in the V.P.’s spot where your security guard told me to leave it. If you have any problems or concerns, call me, I’ll take care of it.”

I start to leave, but his voice keeps me in place. “How about we finish out talk over dinner Saturday?”

I don’t have to see Ashleigh’s face to guess she’s about two point five seconds away from leaping onto my back. “I thought we were done here,” I say, not that I want to be.

“I don’t think we are,” he says. He cocks his head slightly, examining me in a way that shows he can see past the pretense of professionalism and all the way down to Philly girl with the loud mouth who’s dying to kiss him. “And I think you feel the same. Say you’ll have dinner with me this weekend.”

There’s no hesitation. “Okay.”

We’re both showing more teeth than should be humanly possible. He probably thought he’d have to work for it. But he doesn’t have to work at all. It’s nice being around him. And this talk we had reminded me just how nice.

“Evan,” Ashleigh calls.

She’s closer and pissy. And even though I shouldn’t, I lift up on my toes and press a kiss against his cheek. I linger long enough to let him know it’s not so innocent, but short enough to be respectful. “Good luck,” I tell him. “I know you’ll knock them dead.”

His eyes widen briefly and he lifts his hand slowly to remove his glasses. “Don’t,” I say, offering him a wink. “They look good on you.”

I reach for my purse and walk out without another glance. My mother once told me if I go looking for trouble, I’m sure to find it. Based on that loathsome glare from Ashleigh, I found more than my share.

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