say you have a less-than-stellar reputation would be an understatement.’
Alexa’s grin disappeared. With both hands planted on her hips and the shoes dangling from her fingers, she glared at him. ‘I’m not childish.’ Unable to help it, his brow rose. ‘I’m not. Just because I don’t want to settle down, or turn into a boring old fart doesn’t mean I’m immature. I know how to act at your stupid functions, I do it for my own business, but in my free time I do what makes me happy.’
The elevator stopped and the doors slid open. He exited then turned back when he didn’t hear her follow. ‘Do you need me to carry you again?’ Ric put his arm against the door to stop them closing.
‘I’m going back to my room to soak my feet.’
She didn’t meet his gaze this time; instead she looked down at the shoes in her hands. Had he hurt her by calling her childish? Honestly, if he were accused of any of the things he’d said to her, the less-than-stellar reputation would have pissed him off the most. Her public antics didn’t seem to faze her at all.
‘Later. We need to find a way to work together without tearing each other to shreds. Come on.’
Alexa met his gaze, defiance etched in the firm press of her lips. ‘Not a chance.’
Scratch hard work, the woman was impossible.
‘Don’t make me drag you out, Alexa.’
Her eyes widened and her shoulders squared, but she pushed passed him into the corridor. Following, he watched her try to hold back a wince as her toes curled against the carpet with each step. The progress to his office was slower than it should have been. Regardless of his earlier denial of attraction, Ric couldn’t deny his curiosity about how smooth and firm those endless legs were. Like a man on the edge of a cliff, he feared it would only take a slight breeze to push him over.
His blood was at boiling point by the time they reached his office, but his anger had evaporated. Memories of Alexa sprawled over his desk, eyes swirling with confused lust and completely at his mercy made the pulse in his groin more prominent. She paused at the door, but didn’t enter. Instead she wobbled down the hall to her room.
Ric let out a relieved sigh and followed her. At least he wouldn’t have the distraction of the memory of Alexa on his desk for this conversation. He had to be firm, find a middle ground so they could focus on what was important. Then he could relax knowing the ball was going smoother than everything else. There was no way he’d let his ludicrous attraction to the young beauty overwhelm him.
Every small step Alexa took across the cold floor of the office felt like she was walking on spikes and fire. Not that she’d ever admit that to Ric. The shoes were fab and made her legs look sexy, but they weren’t made for dancing. She placed the gorgeous creations on the desk and sunk into the chair he had assigned her earlier, exhaling a breath when her weight shifted onto her bottom.
Ric frowned at the shoes on the mahogany desk. ‘That’s bad luck.’
Alexa sniggered. ‘Didn’t peg you for someone who listened to old wives’ tales.’
The frown didn’t leave his forehead, but his lips twitched like he fought a smile. God forbid he allowed himself to. He may crack that flawless tanned skin.
He sunk into a chair at the opposite side of the desk. Alexa didn’t know how he managed it, but the air seemed to suck out of the room and his presence was the only focal point. She tried to breathe evenly. Showing weakness when she had to hold her own against him was hard enough. She couldn’t let him see how much he affected her loony hormones.
‘We have to win over some respectable members of society, not to mention find an appropriate venue. I expect you to be more reasonable when I ask you to do something and have the maturity to know that you shouldn’t be out drinking until this hour when we have a meeting arranged for early the following day.’
The words were so similar to
Alexa’s grin disappeared. With both hands planted on her hips and the shoes dangling from her fingers, she glared at him. ‘I’m not childish.’ Unable to help it, his brow rose. ‘I’m not. Just because I don’t want to settle down, or turn into a boring old fart doesn’t mean I’m immature. I know how to act at your stupid functions, I do it for my own business, but in my free time I do what makes me happy.’
The elevator stopped and the doors slid open. He exited then turned back when he didn’t hear her follow. ‘Do you need me to carry you again?’ Ric put his arm against the door to stop them closing.
‘I’m going back to my room to soak my feet.’
She didn’t meet his gaze this time; instead she looked down at the shoes in her hands. Had he hurt her by calling her childish? Honestly, if he were accused of any of the things he’d said to her, the less-than-stellar reputation would have pissed him off the most. Her public antics didn’t seem to faze her at all.
‘Later. We need to find a way to work together without tearing each other to shreds. Come on.’
Alexa met his gaze, defiance etched in the firm press of her lips. ‘Not a chance.’
Scratch hard work, the woman was impossible.
‘Don’t make me drag you out, Alexa.’
Her eyes widened and her shoulders squared, but she pushed passed him into the corridor. Following, he watched her try to hold back a wince as her toes curled against the carpet with each step. The progress to his office was slower than it should have been. Regardless of his earlier denial of attraction, Ric couldn’t deny his curiosity about how smooth and firm those endless legs were. Like a man on the edge of a cliff, he feared it would only take a slight breeze to push him over.
His blood was at boiling point by the time they reached his office, but his anger had evaporated. Memories of Alexa sprawled over his desk, eyes swirling with confused lust and completely at his mercy made the pulse in his groin more prominent. She paused at the door, but didn’t enter. Instead she wobbled down the hall to her room.
Ric let out a relieved sigh and followed her. At least he wouldn’t have the distraction of the memory of Alexa on his desk for this conversation. He had to be firm, find a middle ground so they could focus on what was important. Then he could relax knowing the ball was going smoother than everything else. There was no way he’d let his ludicrous attraction to the young beauty overwhelm him.
Every small step Alexa took across the cold floor of the office felt like she was walking on spikes and fire. Not that she’d ever admit that to Ric. The shoes were fab and made her legs look sexy, but they weren’t made for dancing. She placed the gorgeous creations on the desk and sunk into the chair he had assigned her earlier, exhaling a breath when her weight shifted onto her bottom.
Ric frowned at the shoes on the mahogany desk. ‘That’s bad luck.’
Alexa sniggered. ‘Didn’t peg you for someone who listened to old wives’ tales.’
The frown didn’t leave his forehead, but his lips twitched like he fought a smile. God forbid he allowed himself to. He may crack that flawless tanned skin.
He sunk into a chair at the opposite side of the desk. Alexa didn’t know how he managed it, but the air seemed to suck out of the room and his presence was the only focal point. She tried to breathe evenly. Showing weakness when she had to hold her own against him was hard enough. She couldn’t let him see how much he affected her loony hormones.
‘We have to win over some respectable members of society, not to mention find an appropriate venue. I expect you to be more reasonable when I ask you to do something and have the maturity to know that you shouldn’t be out drinking until this hour when we have a meeting arranged for early the following day.’
The words were so similar to
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