Page 15 of Back in Black

“But you don’t accept.” Drew wasn’t certain how he knew that, but he did. Gillian seemed so set on business, she probably didn’t leave herself any time for dating. “Do you?”

She still held his wrist, which left his hand all but resting on her, just below her collarbone. After several beats of time, she shook her head. “No, I usually don’t accept.”

“Why not?” He toyed with the pearl again, the caress far too personal, far too intimate. To his surprise, she dropped her restraining hand.

After a very deep breath, she said, “I’m choosy.”

Not all that choosy. Hell, she was here now, with him, letting him tease her. “Know what I think?”

“You think? Really? Wow, I’m so impressed.”

Drew almost laughed. Damn, but she had an acerbic wit. He liked it. “I think you hang out with refined gentlemen who just don’t do it for you.” Using the chain, he tugged her closer. “You want a real man, don’t you, honey?”

“Do you mean a misogynistic jerk? You are referencing yourself, aren’t you?”

Misogynistic? “Ah, now Gillian, you have me all wrong. I adore women.”

She scoffed. “To serve your needs.”

“Yeah, I like sex as much as the next guy. If you gave it a chance, you might like it, too.”

“I like it fine!”

Now he did chuckle. “Well, that’s good, because here’s our deal.” He released the necklace to slide his hand around her nape. “You tell me the first image-improving gig you want me to do, and I’ll give it my best shot.”

She stared at his mouth and replied in a whisper. “Perfect. I have an appearance set up for you with—”

“AfterI get to kiss you.” He brushed his thumb on the side of her throat. “No tongues or anything. Yet. I’ll just kiss you . . . here.”

“You . . .what?” She strained away from him, not so much to escape, but to stare up into his face with utter disbelief.

As if explaining it, he said, “I want to kiss you. Just here, on your throat.” Again, he brushed his thumb over her racing pulse. “Three seconds. I’ll let you count, okay? After that, you tell me what it is you want me to do—for the image, I mean, not sexually. Today it’s only a kiss. No more. I insist.”

“You insist?”

“Yeah. Hell, I’m ready to go, but I don’t want to rush you.” He held back his grin when her eyes narrowed. “It’s a good exchange, Gillian. Surely a hard-core business broad like you isn’t afraid of one little three-second kiss on her throat, right? And then you have the power. You tell me what to do first, and whatever it is, I’ll do it.”

Nowshe shoved out of his arms and moved several feet away. Facing him, she crossed her arms and glared. “This is outrageous even for you.”

“Yeah, I know. But this is private—and that’s the deal, remember? In private, I get to be me. Out in public, I’ll tone it down as per your specifications.” He winked.

Surprising him again, she paced while saying, “I can handle this, no problem.” With a glance up at him she admitted, “I’m even a little curious, to be truthful.” She looked away again. “But this might cross the line of business ethics.”

“You think?” It damn well crossed the line in a big way, and they both knew it. “I won’t tell if you don’t.”

She stopped to glare at him again. “If I agree—”

His heart started pounding hard. No way had he expected that.

“What would your next demand be?” She waved a hand. “As you said, a kiss is easily forgotten.”

“Now there’s a challenge.”

“But I have a four-month period planned for rehabbing your reputation. It can’t be a kiss one day, and then . . .”

“What?” Drew wanted her to say it, just to watch her face when she did.

She didn’t balk. With a shrug, she said, “And then sex the next time. I won’t bargain that far, so don’t even consider it.”

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