Casual Affair

“Do I get a say in this?”

He gave a small thrust of his hips against her, making her gasp. One quick grind that allowed her to feel the full extent of his manhood in all of its stiff glory.

She was a goner.

His eyelids lowered to half-mast as he took in her reaction. “Do you want a say in this?”

Hell no, she didn’t. She would have been content with letting him take the lead and continue some of that grinding until they both got off in their pants. Like a couple of horny teenagers after the prom. Awesome.

“Well, I feel the need to remind you that we could be working together in the near future,” she managed.

His eyebrow shot up. “Your point?”

“This”—she waved a hand between them—“would be a complication. No need to create an awkward situation.”

The smirk was back on his face as he slowly shook his head. “If sex is ever a complication for you, Ms. Paxton, then the men you’re with clearly don’t know what they’re doing. Trust me, I am anything but awkward in that area.”

Oh, she didn’t doubt that for a second. Beast in the bedroom, remember?

She blew out a deep breath, attempting to slow her heart rate. “Regardless, we should probably just avoid the subject altogether.”

He looked like he wanted to argue, but he didn’t say anything more. He moved to pull himself up, but first, he drove his hips into hers one last time. To make a point? To torture them both? She wasn’t sure, but she was forced to squeeze her eyes shut in order to control her reaction to the pleasurable contact.

By the time they regained their wits and rejoined the game, only one player was left on the other team. They quickly smothered him in paint, winning the game. She had one hell of a competitive nature, so it was a good thing they won. It meant she didn’t have to be grumpy.

Although when she was around Zane Price, she couldn’t imagine being anything but…excited.

And turned on.

“Thank you for inviting me today,” she said a few minutes later as they walked toward the area where they had to return their gear. “My sister and I appreciate the opportunity for Paxton Designs.”

“My pleasure,” he replied. “I’ve learned a lot.”

Her head snapped around, her mind going into panic. At times she had forgotten that he had been vetting her for a job all afternoon. Oh, God. She hoped that little dry humping scene in the grass hadn’t diminished his opinion of her. He had initiated it, sure, but she hadn’t exactly discouraged him.

“And what have you learned?” she asked cautiously.

They stopped a few feet away from the checkout building and he turned to face her, looking like Rambo in his gear, gun in hand. His expression was intense, eyes narrow as they assessed her.

“You’re a problem-solver and like to think outside the box. You’re a leader but don’t always want people to know it. You have a fierce independent streak and you make sure people know that. You’re a little stubborn, but mainly because you don’t like to be proven wrong. You’re smart, perceptive, and you think on your feet. You have the sexiest pair of legs I’ve ever seen. And that southern accent of yours could turn a reasonable bloke into a babbling tosser because he can’t get enough of it.”

She stood there, frozen. Every part of her body was locked down from shock.

Except her vagina. That bitch was practically winking at the man.

“Those last two were personal observations,” he added, “but I still felt they were worth mentioning.”

“You got all that from the last two hours?” she asked, pushing the words out.

He lifted his shoulder in a carefree shrug. “I’ve found that paintball is effective for bringing out one’s true personality. Call it a useful business tool. I’m pretty sure we’re going to hire you, by the way.”

That finally brought her head back down out of the clouds. “What?”

He flashed a dazzling smile at her. “I can’t say that with any guarantees, but assuming the second meeting goes well, it looks like we’ll be doing business together.”

Her heart soared and she wanted to break out in a victory dance. Instead, she calmly reached forward and extended her hand. “Thank you very much. I’m glad I made an impression.”