Page 16 of Her Cocky Client
Chapter8
Lily
“You’re not leaving again.”Nick climbs off the bed and stops me from getting dressed. “I’ll get you a robe. Feel like a drink?”
I plant my feet on the floor and reach to pick up my shirt. He folds his arms across his chest, daring me to defy him. I think about arguing, about doing the same thing I did the last two times. Fuck and run. It’s simple.
So why don’t I leave thistime?
“Fine,” I grumble.
“That’s better… makes it easier.”
“Makes what easier?”
“Letting you suck me dry, again.”
I pull at my hair. That’s onme.
He leaves for the kitchen section of his suite, and on his return with a bottle of wine and an opener, he plunks down on the bed next to me. “How crazy would it sound if I told you I don’t believe we’re not really competitors for Tapped?”
Anger starts to flit across her face. “This again?”
“Will you relax and listen for a second? Or do I have to have this conversation while I’m fucking your brains out? It can be arranged, just so youknow.”
“Go ahead.”
He turns to look at me, working at the label on the bottle while he talks.
“We should work together.”
I sputter. My attempt at talking turning into a laugh. “Us?”
Henods.
I study Nick for a moment, trying to figure out if he’s being straight with me or not. “You andI?”
“Yes.”
I let out a breath. “Look, we’ve had a lot of fun today, but this wasn’t supposed to go beyond the first time at my front door. Whatever you’re thinking about from a project perspective, well, it’s already a bad idea…mostly because we don’t exactly get along.”
“Yes, especially as you’re quick to judge and slow to listen.”
I square my shoulders. “And you’re an arrogant ass who expects the world to just be handed to him! In fact, you had such a good time with me that you’re just trying to figure out a way to take me with you, like some trinket you’d pick up at the souvenirshop.”
His nostrils flare. I’ve hit a sore spot. “I have my flaws. Maybe they include wanting to get to know you better, and possibly showing you a few things.”
I grind my teeth and lookaway.
“You act like you want to matter, but the truth is you’ve been selling yourself short since you left each of the big four consulting firms.”
“Okay. Fine. We both have flaws.” I let my eyes slip back to his. “But what are you proposing, exactly?”
“This.” He pops the champagne. White froth bursts from its lip, overflowing and headed for the carpet. Snatching up a wine glass from the counter, he catches the sweet bubbly liquid just in time. “Let’s put our meetings with Tapped on hold and design something together.”
My brows knit together. “I don’tknow.”
It sounds too good to be true. Working with a top seed company like Nick’s can position me for bigger, better projects later on. Still, there are just too many questions.
