Page 5 of Queen of Diamonds
It was a weak threat, considering his father owned the five Summer Fashions stores scattered around Miami. Daddy turned a blind eye when it came to his only child. She loved her job as a junior buyer for the stores, had been thrilled that she’d found a position where she could put her degrees in fashion and business management to good use. Corrie had warned her of Sebastian’s roving hands, but Corrie’s advice on what to do about it pretty much sucked.
“Just let him have his fun. He’s harmless,” Corrie had said on Kinsey’s second day after Sebastian had pressed his elbow against her breast, letting it linger there.
Well, he might be harmless—although she had her doubts about that—but he wasn’t going to have his fun with her. “I’m not kidding, Sebastian,” she said when he smirked. “Touch me one more time and I’ll report you.”
He shrugged.
Yeah, that had been an empty threat. She could go to the labor board, or whichever government department she could file a harassment complaint with, but that would definitely make it impossible to stay at Summer Fashions. She doubted she could find another job as good as this one, but if Sebastian pushed her too far, she’d have no choice.
“So you and me, drinks tonight?”
The man was honest-to-God certifiable. After telling him she’d file a report on him, he had the nerve to think she’d go out drinking with him?
She waved a finger between them. “You and me, so not happening, tonight or any other night.”Asshole.
He smirked. “We’ll see.”
The bell over the door dinged, signifying that someone had entered the shop. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a man stop and say something to Shannon, one of the sales girls. Then he headed her way. When she tried to step away to take care of the customer, Sebastian grabbed her arm, digging his fingers into her skin. “You like your job here?”
“Very much, and because I do—”
“Can you help me pick out a gift for my mother? Today’s her birthday, and I want to get her something nice.”
Kinsey looked into the face of the man from Aces & Eights… the drop-dead gorgeous one. She didn’t believe in coincidences, didn’t believe he’d randomly walked into the one store in Miami where she worked.
He slid his gaze to Sebastian, then down to the fingers still digging into her skin, his eyes going cold. “You’re going to leave bruises on her arm, man.”
Sebastian took his time letting go. “We’ll talk later, doll.” He gave her his signature smirk before walking through the doorway to where their offices were located.
“He a problem?”
What did he care? “He’s the boss’s son. He’s allowed to be a problem.”
“Makes for a sticky situation then.”
Truth. “Are you really looking for a present for your mother, man from Aces and Eights?”
A wide smile appeared on his face, one that reached his blue eyes, making them crinkle at the corners. “Ah, so you remember me.”
“Vaguely.” Ha! Like she could forget. Their eyes meeting across the room at the bar had been right out of a romantic movie, the kind of moment where it felt like time stopped. Well, for her, anyway. She doubted he’d thought twice about her after she was out of his sight. She’d sure thought of him, though. More than she’d liked. Her hands itched to muss up his golden-blond hair, and she wanted to press her fingers against the sinewy muscles that his bar T-shirt had failed to hide.
One thing she’d noticed was that he was clean-shaven, unlike the scruffy faces of the men she’d seen in the bar. It was a look that totally worked for him. His features were both elegant and strong. And those lips… full and sensual, a mouth made for kissing.
There were other things that seemed different from the hard-core bikers. She was an expert on clothes, and his were expensive. And then there was the Breitling watch. Although not flashy, the price tag would have been way out of her league. Who was this man who hung out in biker bars but looked and dressed like aGQmodel?
“Rand Stevens,” he said, holding out his hand.
She stared at that hand, afraid that if she touched it, she would combust or something just as messy. “Um, Kinsey.” Not wanting to be rude, she put her hand in the one he still held out. And whoa! Delicious tingles raced merrily up her arm. His eyes widened as if he felt them, too. Time had a way of stopping around this man, and that unsettled her.
“So, your mother?” She tugged her hand free.
“Yes, Kinsey, I really do need a present for my mother.” He glanced around the store. “I was actually headed for Galleria but saw a beautiful scarf in your display window that would be perfect for her.”
So he hadn’t known she worked here. That was a relief since it meant he wasn’t stalking her. “I know the one you’re talking about. It’s an original, hand-painted by a local artisan. It’s pretty expensive,” she said, not wanting him to be embarrassed when he saw the price.
He grinned. “Only the best for Mom.”
Okay, silly her. If he could afford a Breitling watch, a mere scarf costing a few hundred was obviously no big deal. “I’ll get it for you.” She could feel his gaze on her back as she walked to the display window, and it unnerved her in a good kind of way. Her back heated as if a fire burned in his eyes, and her legs suddenly felt as wobbly as a baby’s when learning to walk.Don’t trip. Don’t trip. Don’t trip.
