“You’re a lot nicer to me than I was to you.” If some guy slapped me in a bar, I’d kick his ass—in front of everyone. I definitely wouldn’t have held back and remained patient. This guy had the steadiness of a god.
“Trust me, I’m not a nice guy.”
I didn’t have a clue what that meant, but it scorched my body all the same. His warm breath fell across my face, and I could smell his cologne—subtle and masculine. Or maybe that was just him. I wouldn’t be surprised if it was.
“But I’ll be nice to you—for now.”
After I received my award, I took the seat beside my brother. The metal sculpture was in my hand, my name carved at the bottom. It was in the shape of a tree, the giving source of all life. I set it next to my wine glass and admired it.
Christopher eyed it for a moment before he looked at me. “You did good, Ro.”
“Thanks…” It meant the world to me that he was there, even if I didn’t show it. He was the only family I had in the world—even though we weren’t related. No one understood what I went through better than him—because he was there too.
“You know…” He took the award and put it beside his plate. “I think this would look pretty good on my desk.”
“With someone else’s name on it?” I asked incredulously.
“I can scratch that right off.” He smiled before he handed it back. “Where’s this bad boy gonna go?”
“I think in my office at For All.”
“There’s no other office since you live in a rat hole.”
I was used to him making jabs about my tiny apartment, but it still annoyed me. It wasn’t much, and I had a few cockroaches for roommates, but it was better than what most people had. So I was grateful. “Your face is a rat hole.”
“Good one…” His voice was full of sarcasm.
We finished dinner, and the people at our table began to drift to the bar and the dessert table. There was a silent auction near the back, and people cast their bids on trips to Paris and time on yachts. I wanted to look at Calloway, but I refrained from doing so. I knew he was just two tables over.
“So…” Christopher glanced in the direction Calloway was sitting before he looked at me again. “That guy is hot.”
When I looked at Christopher, I narrowed my eyes. “Is there something you need to tell me? Because that’s the third time you’ve said that.”
“Hell no. Believe me, I’m all about the tits and the pussy.”
I cringed because I wanted to throw up.
“But even I know that guy is good-looking. So are you going to ask him out?”
We didn’t talk about my love life often, but sometimes Christopher asked about it out of concern. I hadn’t had a relationship in years because I didn’t have the time or the energy. Most men were full of bullshit, and I had more important things to do. “Did you already forget I slapped him?”
“He’s clearly over it. Just go for it.”
“He’s the biggest name in this room. That guy has done more for this city than anyone else.”
He kept a blank look on his face. “And your point?”
“He’s too good for me. I already screwed up my first impression.”
Now he just looked annoyed. “Ro, come on. This isn’t the woman I know. You go for what you want, and you take it. If you want this guy, make it happen. If he says no, no harm done. You’ve never taken a hit to your confidence. If anything, asking him out is sexy. He’ll respect your ability to make a move after you humiliated yourself. I know I would.”
“But we work together. If it doesn’t work out, it’ll just be awkward.”
“Tonight is the first time you’ve ever met him, so I doubt you’ll run into him often.”
I didn’t argue because he was right.
“Get your ass up and march over there.”
“Why do you care so much?”
“Because you need a man in your life.”
My eyes narrowed and burned with hostility. “Excuse me?” There was nothing more insulting than someone assuming a woman needed a man to be happy. I was doing just fine on my own and didn’t need a man for a goddamn thing.
“Calm down. You know how I meant it.”
My brother always meant well, so I let it go.
“Now go get that D.” He patted my back with a hard thump.
“I don’t want his D.”
Now he narrowed his eyes at me. “Is there something you need to tell me? Because every woman in this room wants that D.”
“I want more than that.”
“Then go get it. Ask him to dinner.”
“Stop coaching me. If I want to ask him out, I will.”
Christopher’s eyes drifted away to a woman passing by. She wore a tight black dress that showed the sexy swell of her breasts and her gorgeous, long legs. She was headed right for Calloway. “You better make your move now. Because that fine lady is going to swoop in.”