Page 8 of In Charge

Chapter 5

Maya

I waved goodbye toBo as his car drove off, leaving me alone with Robbie under the restaurant’s awning. As soon as his car was out of sight, I let all professionalism go and squealed like a happy little schoolgirl. I just sealed the deal of a lifetime, and I was on cloud nine. Signing new clients in an existing business sector was one thing, but signing Bo Jensen was the start of something new. Something huge.

And it was all because of me.

If this didn’t prove to Mr. Pennington that I’d earned my place as the new CEO, well, then to hell with him. I’d take my talent and extremely long list of elite clients elsewhere.

I glanced over my shoulder and caught Robbie staring at me. He had that look in his eyes again. The look that said, I’m gonna rip your clothes off and kiss your naked body. Either a swarm of butterflies were loose, fluttering around my stomach, or I’d had too much to drink. Maybe both. Thank God we were in public, or might’ve done something stupid.

Robbie stepped closer and regarded me carefully. For a minute there, I thought he was going to step into my space and kiss me, but he stopped, leaving a few feet between us. “You planned for every single event leading up to this night, didn’t you?”

“Of course, I did.” I grinned. “Success like that doesn’t happen by chance. I make my success. Although, I had nothing to do with his wife’s actions. That, I didn’t see coming.”

“I can see that.” He stepped closer. This time invading my space. One move and our lips would crash together. Part of me wanted him to take that move, and another part of me wanted to push him back. Whatever this was between us, it was a bad idea. I told my legs to take me away, but my body wouldn’t listen. We’d had way too much wine with dinner, and I didn’t trust myself around him right now.

“Well, Mr. Pennington, I’d better get going.” I swallowed hard and stepped back, thankful my legs finally moved. “It’s been a long day, and I’m exhausted.”

“Nonsense.” Robbie reached for my arm. I should’ve pulled away, but I didn’t. I stood there, staring at him like some silly lovesick girl. “Have a drink with me to celebrate. It’s not every day that you close million-dollar deals.”

“Look, I’d love to, but I’m not the celebrating kind of gal.” He was way too sexy in his elegant black suit and I’d already had way too much wine. Any more to drink, and I’d fall at his mercy and beg for him to make me come. Dammit, I’ve gotta stop having these thoughts.

“What does that even mean? ‘I’m not the celebrating kind of gal.’ Who says that?” He brushed his fingertips over the palm of my hand, and I sucked in a breath. He grinned like he’d read my mind. I hate that he can read me so well.

Nope. I refused to let him get to me like this. I was Maya fucking Stone, soon-to-be CEO of PenTalent, the leading talent and PR agency in the nation, and I was not going to let some spoiled rich heir best me. “It means, I don’t celebrate. As quickly as a deal is made, another deal can be broken.”

He busted out laughing.

I frowned. “Why are you laughing at me? I’m being serious.”

It took him a moment before he got his laughter under control. “Oh, Maya. I know you’re being serious. I think that’s what makes it so funny.” I didn’t understand what he meant by that. But before I could ask him to clarify, he took my hand and stepped closer. “Come on, one drink to celebrate won’t kill you.”

“Where do you propose we go?” My resolve to reject him was fading fast. I had a good time with him tonight and I didn’t want it to end just yet.

“There’s a nice bar around the corner. They sell the best Cabernet in the city.” He lifted my hand to his lips, kissing the back of my hand, and I shuddered. “Just a drink.” He squeezed my hand and tugged me forward.

“Fine, I’ll have a drink with you, but then I’m going home.” He was right, one drink wouldn’t kill me. It wasn’t the drink I was afraid of. It was him. Ugh. That wasn’t true. I was afraid of myself, and my burning desire to spread my legs for him and let him have his way with me.

***

SOFT LIGHTS HUNG ONlong wires from the high ceiling and small white candles flickered on every table. Aside from that, the only other light was from the center of the large square bar in the middle of the room. The outer walls were lined with racks of wine and whiskey. At least, I thought it was whiskey. I wasn’t exactly a liquor connoisseur. I knew my wine, and from the looks of this place, there was a lot of great wine to drink. Overall, the bar had a nice ambiance with a layout perfect for couples.

That thought sent a nervous twitch throughout my body. We are not a couple.

Robbie led me to a quiet, secluded booth near the back corner. It was as far away from the bar as a table could get, and no other patrons occupied the neighboring tables.

“Mr. Pennington, I don’t know what you’re thinking, but—” Robbie put his fingers on my lips and smiled. He cut me off and instead of pissing me off, it turned me on.

The table was small and round nestled in a circular booth. The booth was even smaller—too small. The idea of being that close to his body made me shiver all over. I should’ve gone home.

Robbie must’ve sensed my hesitation. He nudged closer to me and brushed my hair behind my shoulder. His lips hovered next to my ear, but he didn’t touch me. “Just sit, Maya.” His breath blew across my neck and fuck if I didn’t just about melt right then and there. I tried like hell to convince myself to pull away, but once again my body disobeyed me and sank into him. His lips barely touched my earlobe and my body trembled at the touch. “I’ll be back with the wine in a minute.”

He pulled away, and I lost my balance. I would have fallen to the floor had I not been close enough to the table to lean against it. Holy shit. Having lost all willpower, I slid into the booth, my legs too weak to hold me up any longer.

Robbie affected me in the most sensational way, and I could no longer deny it. Not to myself or him. I’d never met a man I couldn’t put out of my mind, and I didn’t know how to handle this. Especially with a co-worker. And not just a co-worker. I’m his boss, and he’s my boss’ son. Granted, no man I’d been with had been as sexy as Robbie, but still. I was a grown-ass woman and should be able to control my desires better than this.

I watched Robbie lean over the bar and place his order with the bartender. His black suit jacket fit snug across his shoulders, revealing the curvature of his arm and back muscles. The split in the back opened just enough that I could see his tight ass, causing me to squeeze my legs tight together. This is not fair. Why does he have to look so damn good?

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