Total pages in book: 156
Estimated words: 158829 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 794(@200wpm)___ 635(@250wpm)___ 529(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 158829 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 794(@200wpm)___ 635(@250wpm)___ 529(@300wpm)
“Decide by three o’clock.”
“Tomorrow,” I insist.
We share a long, cutting glance. The same eyes that devoured me with that kiss beam through me now, so intimidating I could scream.
“What’s number three?” I ask.
“What?”
“You said there was a third reason you brought me here. You only gave me two.”
“Right.” He looks away, but his glance drops down and scans my body. “I haven’t forgotten how we parted, and I’m sure you haven’t either. Frankly, there’s never been a comparable situation and I don’t know what the hell to do about it—”
“What do you mean ‘do about it?’”
“The urge to leap over this desk and shove my tongue in your mouth again—” He cocks his head. “And that’s putting it mildly. I want to do more, but rules matter. This company won’t have a fraternization scandal on top of everything else, no matter how much more reckless parts of my anatomy disagree. No more mishaps.”
Awesome.
He just has to remind me he’s the living embodiment of the eggplant emoji, doesn’t he?
I smirk at him, hating how my face heats.
“I guess I’ll have to do some thinking. I’ll let you know.” I spin around on one heel and march toward the door.
“Miss Renee, wait!” he barks after me.
I stop, curling my fingers around the handle. I know he won’t let me leave like this.
So I look at him over my shoulder.
“You act like it was my fault, Winthrope, but you were showering in my suite. And when we came back from the grand tour, you kissed me. So, drop the wounded act. I’m not some siren turning you into an impulsive animal. What happened is not my fault, and you know it.” I’m about to yank the door open for real this time when I add, “And another thing, you’re way too arrogant to kiss again. Now that I know who you really are, and that you lied to me...”
I don’t look back for a heavy second.
When I do, I see a crease forming in his forehead.
“Why the fuck would you say that? What does the truth matter?”
“You knew we were both in Seattle, but you made it crystal clear we’d never see each other again. If I hadn’t gotten this job, we wouldn’t be having this conversation. The fact that you need to call me in to declare there will be no sex scandal—”
“You’d rather I say nothing? Pretend I never made you moan your heart out?” he growls.
My toes curl up in my shoes, but I’m on a roll. Mr. High and Mighty won’t break me today.
“Look—I’m not sure what issues you’ve had in the past, but believe me, your little ‘rules’ won’t cost me any sleep. Maybe we’d be better off pretending.”
I don’t wait for his response.
I’m moving through the door and breathing a sigh of relief as it clicks shut behind me.
God.
What the hell was I thinking?
I can’t believe that’s the man I spent two months pining over. He’s nothing like the gruff gentleman I met in Hawaii.
The moody charmer who showed me around the island must have been a mirage.
That Brock was nothing like CEO Winthrope.
Nothing like this human storm cloud stuffed into a suit, ruling his company with fear and rumors and snap decisions like a lord bossing around his serfs.
Everything Jenn warned me about feels wrong.
Winthrope isn’t just an asshat. He’s a corporate tyrant.
When I get back to the elevator, I find Keenan standing there, waiting to go down too.
“Back so soon. How’d it go? Did he throw anything?” he asks in a low whisper.
I stare at him, shocked.
“Relax, it’s just a joke. I’m just—never mind.” He holds up his hands affably.
“Oh. Um. I’m not sure, honestly.” I shrug. “I’m also not sure you were right about his bite...”
He lifts a brow. “I’ve never met someone so upset about getting a big raise. Seriously, don’t let him scare you. Just keep your head down and think of the money.”
“I wish I could. There’s a little more to it than that, and I haven’t exactly agreed to anything yet.”
“You mean you might turn the bossman down? Wow, brave.” Once we’re on the elevator, he leans in and whispers, “He didn’t pressure you into anything? Back in Hawaii, I mean. He’s a huge cave bear and not that kind of man, but—”
“Nothing I didn’t want to happen at the time,” I confess. “I’m not getting forced into anything just because we’ve got history.”
“Even a pay raise? Lady, I’ll be strong-armed into a raise anytime.”
That wins him a laugh.
I don’t elaborate, though.
If this is going to work, Brock Winthrope needs to show me a shred of respect.
The elevator chimes as the doors slide open. Keenan steps out ahead of me with a parting nod, leaving me alone.
I just hope I can make it through the rest of the day without being haunted by midnight-blue eyes scissoring a Brock-sized hole in my heart.