Read Online The Geek Tycoon by Vicki Lewis Thompson - Free Book Online Page B

hope of having her. Even though she seemed happy with their new arrangement, he couldn’t convince himself she was in it for the long haul.
    But if he kept their amazing experience under wraps and took it one day at a time, maybe she’d discover that she actually did want to stick around. If instead she bailed, he’d be spared the humiliation of having everyone in the office know that he’d tried out for the big leagues and hadn’t made the cut. Yeah, that was the coward’s way out, keeping quiet. He was so tempted to take it.
    Blake was in high spirits this morning, which was irritating as hell. He grinned at Tony. “How was your weekend?”
    “Good.”
    “Mine was great . I hooked up with Cheryl Harrison, except she’s Cheryl Newberry now. Remember her?”
    “Uh-huh.”
    “Of course you do. You have a computer chip for a brain. Anyway, she’s recently divorced so we had a very good time, if you know what I mean. Divorced women, man. Take it from me, that’s where the action is.”
    “If you say so.”
    “I do. They’re not looking for a commitment any more than I am. I can hit it and quit it. Perfect.”
    Tony hated this conversation. Charlotte was divorced. He didn’t see her fitting Blake’s profile, but what if he was wrong? No, he wasn’t wrong. She’d said she wasn’t interested in a one-night stand. But what if she only wanted a temporary fling?
    He didn’t think so. Nothing about her behavior indicated she was poised for flight. When he was thinking rationally he wasn’t afraid she’d bolt, but apparently his irrational side hadn’t gotten the memo. His head began to ache.
    “You okay, Tony?” Blake peered at him. “You look a little nauseated.”
    “I’m fine.”
    “I know what’s wrong with you. You’re not getting any. Maybe Cheryl has a friend. Divorced women hang out with other divorced women. I might be able to fix you up with –”
    “Don’t.” The elevator stopped at the third floor and Tony had never been so glad to see those doors open. He started toward his office.
    “No, seriously.” Blake followed him down the hall. “Let me do this for you. You’ll thank me for it.”
    He whirled so abruptly that Blake took a step back. “Do not fix me up. Is that clear?”
    “Yeah, yeah, sure thing.” Blake held up both hands, palms out. “Chill, man. I was only trying to help. You look stressed.”
    “I’m not stressed, damn it!” He was aware that Dulcie was staring at him from behind her receptionist’s desk. Lowering his voice, he turned to her. “Good morning, Dulcie.”
    “Good morning, Tony.” She eyed him warily. “Happy Monday.” The staff had formed a habit of saying that to counteract the negativity of TGIF.
    “Happy Monday to you, too.” With a last warning glance at Blake, he walked into his office. He kept the door open because he wanted to see if Charlotte would wave on her way down the hall.
    She did more than that. She ducked in and gave him a big smile. “Happy Monday.”
    The tightness in his chest loosened. “Happy Monday.”
    She walked over to his desk and murmured softly. “You look really hot this morning.”
    The comment plus her curvy self in a silk blouse and form-fitting skirt had a predictable effect on his package. “Blake thought I looked stressed.”
    “Are you?”
    He gazed into her beautiful brown eyes. “Not anymore. Now I’m just aroused.”
    “We’ll take care of that tonight.” She winked at him and left his office.
    He blew out a breath. She was so great and in his heart he knew she wasn’t going anywhere soon. Maybe eventually she’d grow tired of him, but in the meantime he was denying them both the pleasure of a quick kiss hello in the morning or a warm smile whenever they passed in the hallway.
    She’d wanted to go public and she deserved better than having to sneak around until he grew a pair. It was time to man up, acknowledge their relationship and take the damned risk that it wouldn’t end up happily