Page 11 of Serving the Mogul

But I didn’t let myself approach or draw any closer.

“And…?”

Frowning, I asked, “And what?”

She rolled her eyes. “You said, ‘Listen, I know I already asked,… but you didn’t finish the sentence. Usually, a line like that comes with another question.”

Fuck. She really had me off my game.

“Yeah, I’m sorry.” I rocked back on my heels. “It’s been a busy week here.”

“I can imagine. I’d figure I’d be ready to collapse face-first in bed if I were you.”

The bed wasn’t a terrible choice. But I didn’t want to go alone. I already knew suggesting Tina joining me would ruin things before they even got started.

“I need little sleep,” I said truthfully. “I was getting back to the offer I proposed earlier.”

She looked puzzled.

“A drink?”

“Oh.” With a soft laugh, she sidestepped around me. “Don’t you have like a half-dozen women who’d love to have you buy them a drink already waiting in the bar?”

Possibly. But I wasn’t interested in them.

“If I wanted that, I’d be there.” I pivoted on my heel to keep pace with her. She didn’t look annoyed, thankfully. “But…instead, I’m here.”

“So you are.” Slowing to a stop outside the banquet room, she rested a hand on the door frame and looked up to meet my gaze. “Listen, I’m flattered…but…no.”

Without another word, she ducked back into the banquet hall.

I just stood there, staring at the closing door. I couldn’t think of a way to follow her that wouldn’t have me coming off as either a creep, a stalker…or both.

But I knew one thing. Tina’s dismissal just made me want her more.

Six

Tina

To saythe events had exhausted me would be an understatement. Even though I’d turned Maximus down again, I hadn’t been able to stop thinking about him. I wasn’t into hooking up with some playboy and becoming another notch on his bedpost, but…damn, that man was potent.

When I finally fell asleep after three, I woke up before eight, as if I programmed my body to do so. Since it wouldn’t do any good to go back to sleep, I did my usual five-mile run, showered, and headed to my office.

Nothing but silence greeted me as I let myself in, but that was no surprise.

I didn’t have any employees.

At the rate I was going, soon, I wouldn’t even have an office.

Sure, the small space, not quite hitting eight hundred square feet, wasn’t exactly breaking the bank for Houston real estate, but it sure as hell was breaking me.

As my lease was up for renewal, I needed to decide whether to hold on to my failed business or let it go.

I wasn’t yet ready to admit defeat, even though it was unlikely that I would receive a big job today.

I dropped into the chair behind my desk and gave my computer a baleful look.

The blank screen glared back, my blurred reflection in its depths giving the impression of a twisted smirk. It was almost like the computer knew something I didn’t and was laughing over it.

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