Page 32 of Infinite

Becca fluffs her hair as if I’m discussing sports, not my career-ending drama. “Oh, baby. The article won’t run until December.”

“December?” I ask. “But we’re shooting it now?”

“That’s right,” she answers.

What am I missing here?“Becca, that makes absolutely no sense.”

“Yes, it does,” she replies casually, ignoring Sean’s befuddled look. Never mind, he just remembered the word he needed for his crossword.

“Could you explain how?” I ask, glancing as he scribbles it down.

“From what I can decipher from the meetings and what your team has discovered, your legal problems should be behind you by December.”

Mason nods, his fingers flying across his phone as he answers a text. “But dismantling your name won’t be, Hale.” He tips his head toward Becca. “This is where Becca’s skills come in. No sense in saving your business if you have no business to return to.”

“Picture this for a headline,” Becca says, stretching her hands above her. “The Anaconda of Wall Street Slithers Back to Sink in His Teeth and Reclaim the Throne.” She thinks about it. “Or something like that. I’m still playing around with the title.”

I’d like to think Becca is as good as she claims. But she wasn’t there when the Feds read me my rights and slapped on the cuffs. “You’re nuts,” I tell her.

“No, sugar,” she says, her hands dropping away from her long mane of hair. “I’m just the best thing PR has ever seen.” She strolls toward the large open windows. “I think we should do a beach scene.” She squints, taking a good look at my face. “And as much as I’m not a fan of beards, I’d like you to grow out some scruff. Nothing neat. I’m going for relaxed. Think beach bum rather than this uptight businessman persona you have going on.” She makes an irritated motion at my face. “This way, we’ll extend your reach beyond your corporate circles and make you appear more sympathetic for the camera—”

“The fuck, Becca?”

Her fists slap against her hips. “Hale Wilder. You’ve developed a bad habit of interrupting me. If we’re going to work together, that shit isn’t going to fly? You hear me?”

I smirk. This is the first time I catch a glimpse of the real Becca, the one I fell head over boardshorts for. I stroll up to her casually, letting my gaze wander from the tiny black T-shirt dress she’s wearing to the hot pink heels. I give her legs a nice, long glance. I don’t try to hide it, allowing my appreciation for that sweet dress and the sexy woman wearing it to work in my favor. With every step I take, Becca’s eyes grow wider. No,wilder, and those fists she rammed against her hips? Well, look at that, they slide down very sexy curves I’m looking rather forward to caressing.

“What’s wrong?” I ask when only inches remain between us. “Do I intimidate you?”

She jerks her chin away. “No. I just think if we’re going to have a working relationship, you need to respect my position.”

“Position?” I drawl. “Darlin’, I’ll respect the hell out of whatever position you want.”

Her slacking jaw is enough to crack me up and leave Mason and Sean to take a strong interest in the outside terrace. “Did you just—are you? Jesus, Hale. We’re in a crisis here.”

“And?”

“And you should calm your evidently out of control sex drive, that’s what,” Becca snaps.

Okay. Perhaps “snaps” isn’t the best word here. Stammers. Yes, that works better. Oh, I like stammers.

“You sayin’ I want you?” I ask. I scratch my head. “The way you keep staring at my ass, not to mention the way you watched me shower, I could swear it’s the other way around.”

Damn, she’s cute when her face turns pink like that. In truth, I wasn’t sure she was staring at anything at all. I am now. Just to be sure, I add a little more to my claims. “I saw you in the reflection of the glass.”

I wink since that delicious remark wouldn’t taste as good on my tongue without another sprinkle of naughty. It adds another coat of pink to that lovely face. For a second too long, I wonder what kind of fool her ex fiancé was to let her go. But as Becca’s face resumes its sunnier glow, I’m reminded I’m on a roll.

“Do you like what you’ve been ogling?” I don’t wait for her reply. Her pink cheeks are enough of an answer. “I wasn’t sure if the tongue dangling to your toes was a good thing or a bad.”

I cough into my shoulder, trying not to laugh out loud. I don’t try too hard. My world as I know it was hit with a meteor the size of the sun and the ashes are currently floating into space. Y’all excuse me if I have a little fun.

Becca’s eyes narrow and for a moment, just a teeny one, I think I’ve gone too far. She smiles. It’s not that friendly smile I’ve seen her flash to her devoted fans. Come to think of it, I think sharks might have fewer teeth.

“You thinkIwantyou?” she asks, batting her long eyelashes. “Aren’t you sweet? Don’t think I didn’t see you watching me last night. Remember last night, Hale? After dinner? When that warm, delicious chocolate fondue I was dipping my ripe strawberry into dripped down my lips, drawing a line all the way down?” She trails the corner of her cell phone between her breasts, to where the deep “V” of her collar ends and a peek of hot pink lace reveals itself.

Like a dumbass, I follow said phone, recalling said warm chocolate and wishing I had the chance to lick said incident clean.

I’m smarter than hell, but I’m all man and very human.

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