Page 42 of Coldhearted King

I stare again at the card. Wow. Okay. This is the kind of thing I’ve only ever seen in the movies. It’s like something out ofPretty Woman.

Maybe I should be more reluctant to spend his company’s money, but considering Cole is worried about how I might look while I’m representing them, I’m happy I get to spend more than I could afford myself. Even one of Alex’s dresses probably wouldn’t meet their requirements.

I quickly message her.

Any chance you’re up for a shopping trip sometime this week?

???

I have to buy a dress to attend a gala on Friday night.

What? Where? With Who?

In Chicago. With Cole.

My phone rings in my hand and I look around, not wanting anyone to make a fuss about a personal call during work hours. But there’s no one close enough to worry about, so I answer.

“You can’t just tell me you have to buy a fancy dress to go on a date with Cole in Chicago and not give me all the details about what happened between you two today. Last I heard, you were going to pretend nothing happened and move on.”

“Well, first, it’s not a date. And second, that’s kind of still the plan. I’m just going to be in Chicago pretending nothing happened.”

“But what happened today? How did he ask you? I need to know everything!”

I laugh. “I’ll fill you in tonight. All you need to know is that he summoned me to a meeting this morning and then said he wanted me to come with him on Friday.”

“Did he say anything about why he ignored you for the last week?”

My cheeks heat with remembered embarrassment. “He’s been out of town. He only got back Friday afternoon.”

“Do you believe him?”

It hadn’t even occurred to me to doubt him. “I don’t think someone like Cole needs to lie to anyone about his whereabouts. If he didn’t want anything to do with me, I’m sure he’d have been quite happy to tell me to my face.”

She laughs. “True. So, are you going to sleep with him?”

“What?” I realize I’ve raised my voice and duck down a little in case I’ve attracted anyone’s attention.

“Come on. The two of you alone together in another city for a night, probably sleeping in adjoining rooms. And you’ve already told me how good the sex was with him. Why not give him another go?”

“Because things are different now. The situation is different.”

“It wasn’t that different when he had his mouth between your legs last week.”

“Alex!” I whisper-shout.

She sniggers. “I’m just saying.”

“Well, don’t say. I’ll be completely professional, and so will he.”

“Mm-hmm. Well, let’s go shopping at lunchtime tomorrow and find a dress that will have him panting. Even if you don’t plan to do anything about it, it’s nice to know you have the option.” She lets out a groan. “I can’t believe this is happening the weekend I’m flying to LA to see Jaxson. I won’t be there to hear all the juicy details when you get back. You have to call me as soon as you’re home, okay?”

“I’m not going to interrupt your weekend with Jaxson just to tell you nothing happened.”

She manages to get me to promise to call her anyway, and then we hang up.

I sit there, staring at the schematic on my screen for a moment. Alex is right. I want to look good for Cole—and I’m not sure what that says about me. Despite that, I can’t afford to let anything else happen between us. My career and feelings are at risk, not his.

And that’s what I need to remember.

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