A Win-Win Proposition (Case Brothers 2)

Cool and composed, she regarded him through eyes more brown than hazel tonight. Hard to believe this tranquil beauty was the same spitfire that propositioned him last night. His senses crowed in appreciation of every luscious inch of her while his thoughts grumbled about unnecessary distractions.

Where had his practical assistant gone? The old Missy had taken his orders without question. She’d never distracted

him from working with her intoxicating perfume or her provocative curves.

“Is this what you’re planning on wearing tonight?” Frustration with her allure jolted the blunt question out of him.

“Yes.” Her curt reply told him she had not appreciated his tone. “Why?”

“It’s not exactly appropriate for a business meeting.”

Picking a fight with her was simple self-preservation. He needed her as annoyed with him as he was attracted to her. Otherwise, the door that separated his suite from her hotel room wouldn’t be much of an obstacle for him later.

“This is a cocktail party.” She inclined her head, her tone vibrating with restraint.

“And you’re my employee, not my date.”

Her eyes widened at his severe tone. “I’m aware of that.”

“Are you?”

“Of course.” She looked piqued that he’d even ask. “You don’t think I got the message loud and clear earlier?”

“What message?”

“That I’m not your type and this attraction between us has nowhere to go.”

“What makes you say that?”

She rolled her eyes. “Come on, look at the women you date when you take the time for a social life. They’re all sophisticated, beautiful, wealthy, and half-starved to fit into all those gorgeous designer clothes.”

Yet not one of them stirred his blood the way Missy did.

“It’s okay,” she continued. “I’m not in your league. I never thought I was.” When he didn’t deny her claim, the corners of her lips wobbled before achieving a brave smile. “I never expected anything beyond last night.”

And that’s exactly how it should be. So, why did his mood sour at her admission?

“Forgive me if I find that difficult to believe when you were wandering around here in my shirt and nothing else this morning. Were you hoping I’d spend the day in bed with you? Our deal was for one night.”

Her eyes widened in dismay, but her clenched fists told Sebastian she wasn’t going to be cowed by his bad mood. “And one night is all you’re going to get.”

“All I’m going to get?” He leaned forward, feeling her sharp inhalation like a punch to his solar plexus. Her parted lips drove him mad with longing. He wanted to taste her again. Cherries and lemons. The memory of her kisses was carved into his brain. “The bet and the terms were your decision, not mine.”

“You went along with it happily enough,” she shot back.

Why were they fighting when all he wanted was to haul her tight against him and claim her mouth? “I didn’t think I was going to lose.”

“But you did.”

“And I honored my part of the bargain.”

Her eyes almost popped out of her head. Her mouth opened and closed like a fish on land. Her hands formed tight fists at her sides.

“Well, excuse me for forcing you to have sex with me.”

Seeing that she was completely exasperated with him, Sebastian pulled her phone out of his pocket and extended it. “You left this behind earlier.” She took the phone, but he didn’t let go. Fighting with her hadn’t eased his suffering. In fact, he wanted her more than ever. The urge to sweep her into his bedroom and find out what she was wearing under that black and white dress was close to driving him mad. “Someone named Tim called you.”

“Tim called?” Obviously that gave her hope that their relationship wasn’t over. Her lashes lowered to her cheeks but not fast enough for Sebastian to miss the delight shining in her eyes.