Page 16 of Restrained

“Television.”

“No.”

I swear, despite being nearly thirty years-old, Hayden is like a petulant child. “No?”

His head cocks to the side, looking at me like I'm stupid. “The bedroom isn’t for watching TV.”

My cheeks flush, catching his meaning. “Sometimes it is.”

“Not here.” He’s so damn stubborn I want to slap him. I have to close my eyes and take a deep breath to will myself to go on with this meeting. When I open them back up, Hayden is standing right in front of me, nearly stealing that breath away. His head dips to look into my eyes. “Bedrooms are for fucking and sleeping, period.”

I hate that his words, paired with the intensity in his eyes, cause me to swallow hard, begging for the dryness of my throatto disappear. “And if they’re here alone? Maybe they would like entertainment in bed.”

His right eyebrow quirks up, and I realize what I just said, knowing it didn’t come out the way I meant it to. “They can use their phones for porn.”

He makes me feel like a child, inexperienced and naïve. And I don’t like it. “It’s your hotel, but prepare yourself for bitching if you don’t have a television in the room.”

“There will be one in the living room. And if they want to piss and moan about something like that, they aren’t welcome anyway.”

He means it. Hayden West is not desperate for business whatsoever.

I eye the bed, ready to talk about something else. “I’m thinking charcoal for the bedding.”

His eyes meet mine. “Gray?”

“Dark gray. Elegant.”

He’s clearly not impressed. “Gray is still fucking gray. This hotel is notgray.”

I fight rolling my eyes, knowing that won’t go over well with an egomaniac like Hayden. “Fine. What is this hotel then?”

He looks annoyed yet again as he walks over to the large window overlooking the courtyard area outside. “That’s supposed to be your job. Not mine.”

I refuse to admire how well his suit fits his muscular body any longer and turn my attention to the bed. “Black. With very simple gold trim.”

He turns to face me, and I brace myself. “I like it. A hell of a lot better than gray.”

Again, I don’t let my eyes roll and quickly jot that down on my notepad. My eyes drift around the room, noting it will also need drapes to match. I think with Hayden, less is more. Myinstincts tell me to go with understated, not in-your-face, luxury. Subtle details.

I walk into the large bathroom and feel him behind me but don’t turn to face him as I take in all the details.

“Penelope is dating your brother?”

That was random. Now I do spin around on one heel and eye him suspiciously. His fascination with Penelope has me on high alert. “Are you her stalker?”

“What?” My question caught him off guard, and his reaction seems genuine. “No.”

“So then, why the interest in my partner? Did you see her picture when you did your background check and fall instantly head over heels or something?”

He’s perturbed by my line of questioning, but I couldn’t care less. I may want this contract, but not bad enough to put Penelope in harm's way. And I notice he didn’t argue the whole background check thing either. “Of course not.”

“Don’t lie to me.”

My eyes lock with his, and I don’t back away when he takes a step closer no matter how badly I want to. “I’m not lying. I ask one question and suddenly I'm a deranged stalker?”

“You were obsessed with her at our meeting.”

His eyes study me, and I force myself to lift my chin and not tuck it away from his harsh gaze. “I like to know everything about who I'm going into business with.”

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