She probably thought since we were in a room full of people that I wouldn’t take her to task, that she was safe. Little did she know how far that was from the truth.
I hadn’t felt this sudden rush of excitement over anything in a long time. Just something as simple as bantering words back and forth with her made me want to bask in her presence a little while longer.
I moved in until her back was pressed against the bar, purposely invading her space. “Tantrum, you calling this a tantrum? Do you know how many infractions you made in the last two minutes?”
“Nope, but I do know if I don’t get these drinks to that table soon I’m gonna lose out on my tip. And if that happens that perv is going to be the least of your worries.”
She had the nerve to roll her eyes at me before turning her attention to the drinks on the tray. It was then I saw the slight tremble in her hand that gave her away.
Tony mumbled some shit that sounded like ‘oh this is good, where’s the popcorn?’ which I ignored for now as I faced down the lioness.
No one ever dares to defy me. I’m sure she’s heard that by now from the others. But here she stood shooting fire at me with her eyes, hands on her hips as if we were in a showdown.
I didn’t see where she gave a good damn that I was the one signing her paychecks. I wondered what she’d been through in her life that had grown that tough outer shell.
The thought took me back to that confusing place again. Where my feelings for her became muddled and I question myself and what I am feeling.
Is this some kinda sick Oedipus complex or something? What’s with the constant comparisons between her and the only woman I’ve ever loved, my mother?
Maybe because she was the only other female since mom who’d dared stand up to me. I had the feeling she would go toe to toe, head to head with me, just like mom whenever, wherever.
Other females, for whatever reason, always seemed to cave in to my wishes. I used to think I liked that. That I liked my women to toe the line and not go against me. That was usually grounds for a break-up.
Now I find it hella fascinating that she even dared. Was that because she had no romantic feelings towards me? Was this after all just a job to her? Employer employee?
Did she not feel any of the things I’ve been feeling? Of course not. Otherwise she wouldn’t be standing here facing me down. She didn’t seem to care one way or the other.
That hurt, and had me second guessing myself and everything that had happened in the last week and a half. How could she not feel anything?
How could she so brazenly defy me at the risk of her job, not caring whether or not we’d see each other again if I fired her ass?
Chapter 11
No I won’t accept that, the shit would drive me crazy. To prove to myself that she did indeed feel something, I let my thumb brush against the inside of her wrist as I looked into her eyes, not wanting to miss anything.
My eyes dropped to her throat as she swallowed hard and her cheeks grew flush under the look I gave her. She tried moving back, but there was nowhere to go since I had her trapped against the bar.
She wasn’t looking so defiant now, in fact she looked like she wanted to run. Maybe she finally sensed the danger, or maybe like me, her body was reacting to our nearness to each other after all.
I saw her shore up herself and fold her little fist as she cocked her head to the side and glared at me. My lips twitched, but I controlled the smile; no sense in encouraging her.
It was the damnedest thing, but her defiance had the opposite affect on me. Instead of anger at her for putting me on display this way, I felt something close to elation.
Was I so enamored of her that even this was better than nothing? I pride myself on being an extremely private person. That comes with having your personal life plastered across the gossip columns once too often.
But here I was doing some sort of dance with her with all these eyes on me and I had no will to stop. I also never argue with anyone, well except mom.
With me the fewer words spoken the better. The people around me know that very well and go out of their way to please me and not get on my bad side.
But our little back and forth made me feel alive in a way I haven’t since my last game of professional ball. I realized that with her I didn’t feel like I was just going through the motions, the way I usually am when dealing with everyone else.