Once I arrive at work and let Claire know I’m available if anyone needs me, I head into my office.
A few hours later, Claire leaves for an early lunch, so my calls come straight to me from Reception. When the phone buzzes, I hit the speaker button. “Yes?”
“Mr. Black, I have Skye Manning on the line.”
My heart does a little flip-flop just at her name. What the hell is wrong with me? I’ve purposefully kept my mind Skye-free since my call from Ben last night.
“Sure,” I say. “Put her on.” A click. Then, “Good morning, Skye.”
“Hi, Braden.”
My breath hitches just hearing her voice.
Fuck.
“I’m sorry to bother you at work, but I got the contract with Susanne Cosmetics, and I was wondering if you knew a good, reasonably priced lawyer who could review it for me.”
“Email it to me. I’ll review it.”
“But you’re not—”
“An attorney? True, but I’ve reviewed my share of contracts. I also have four attorneys here in the office who can help me with the legalese if necessary.”
“Braden, I didn’t call you to give you work. I’m perfectly willing to pay an attorney.”
“I have the best attorneys here at corporate.”
“None of which I can afford, I’m sure.”
“Did I say you had to pay?”
“No, but—”
“Forward it to me. I’ll be in touch. Goodbye.”
Yeah, I was short with her. I have to take a step back.
For God’s sake, I cut a business trip short for this woman. I agreed to “date” her. I’m letting her call me her boyfriend.
I cannot and will not let my infatuation with Skye Manning affect my work.
As for her contract? It will take me ten minutes to review and pronounce sufficient. There’s no need for her to pay for an attorney, not when I’m perfectly capable of reading the document and offering advice.
I check my phone. It’s noon, so I order lunch to be brought in.
Just as it arrives, Claire returns. She walks in carrying the containers. “I’ll get this set up for you.”
“Thanks,” I mumble, my nose in my phone.
Claire sets a bare spot on my desk with a ceramic plate and stainless steel utensils. I hate eating out of takeout containers with plastic flatware. The damned forks always break. Ben says it’s because I spear my food like I’m spearing a fish. Whatever. I’m worth a billion dollars, and I’m not going to use plastic utensils. Yeah, I said it.
Claire’s phone buzzes, and she looks up.
“Don’t worry,” I tell her. “Finish up in here. It’s lunchtime. Whoever it is can call back.”
She raises her eyebrows at me.
Man, I am going soft.
She finishes setting up while my phone buzzes. “Yes,” I say.
“Mr. Black, Skye Manning is here to see you,” says the floor receptionist.
“Oh?” There goes that flip-flop of my heart again. Damn. “Sure, send her back.”
“All right, thank you,” she says.
I turn to Claire. “There’s a young woman on her way here. It’s okay to let her come into my office.”
“Sure, no problem, Mr. B.” Claire exits.
About a moment later, a knock at my door—a harsh knock.
“Come in.”
Skye opens the door and stands before me, wearing her trademark skinny jeans, this time with a black silk camisole and patent-leather pumps.
My cock responds to her mere presence.
“Skye,” I say.
“I brought the contract.” She pulls it out of her purse. “I thought maybe we could look at it together.”
“That couldn’t have waited until tonight?”
“We didn’t make any plans, and I thought—”
“You’d interrupt me at work?”
“You’re not working. You’re eating.”
“I’m always working, Skye. Close the door, please.”
She shuts it quietly, walks forward, and hands me the contract.
“Leave it on the desk. Have you eaten?”
She sets the document on the corner of the desk. “No.”
“Would you like half of mine?”
“No, that’s okay.”
“So you want to sit here and watch me eat?”
“Well…I guess.”
I stand, gather my containers of food, and move them to the table across the room. I walk back to my desk and push the call button on my phone. “Claire, could you bring in another plate, please?”
A few seconds later, Claire knocks at the door, enters, and sets another plate and utensils on the table.
“Thanks, Claire.”
She nods and leaves the office, closing the door behind her.
“Sit down and help yourself,” I say to Skye. “They always deliver enough for two or more people.”
“I didn’t come here to—”
“Eat, Skye. You’ll need energy for what I have planned for you this afternoon.”
“I—”
“You barge into my office with a contract you could have easily emailed me, looking sexy with your red lips parted. You think I’m not going to fuck you after that?”
“I… I didn’t mean—”
“You promised me your control, Skye, yet you hold on to it in any way you can. Don’t think I don’t know why you showed up here. It was in complete defiance. I told you to email the contract, so you did what you do. You got around my instructions.”
“You told me to forward the contract, Braden. You didn’t say to email it. So I forwarded it. In person.”
“You knew exactly what I meant.”
And I did mean it. This morning, I was determined to distance myself and my growing emotions from the woman standing before me.
Now, she’s here. Looking tantalizing and making me want her.
So much for distance.
If she thinks I’m not going to fuck her after this little stunt? She can think again.
“So I got around your instructions. Just like how last night, you got around our agreement never to kick me out of your place. You said I was welcome to stay, but you made it very clear you were done with me for the evening.”