All right, then. Cass needed persuasion to see how his tutelage had launched her into the big leagues. He’d anticipated that.
“Of course it isn’t. Not to the rest of the world. But I’m not one of the masses,” he reminded her. “I’m not unreasonable. I’ll pay fair market value.”
He turned his head at just the right angle to almost bring their lips together. The pull between them was magnetic, and he nearly forgot for a second that he’d instigated this sensual tease to get him closer to his goal—the formula.
She didn’t flinch, holding herself rock steady. “You think you have special rights because of our former relationship? Think again.”
His element of surprise hadn’t worked to catch her off guard and, for some reason, that made her twice as attractive. Or maybe the unexpected draw had come about because they were equals now. It was an interesting shift in their dynamic he hadn’t expected, and it was throwing him off.
So he’d up his game. Gage had never met a woman he couldn’t charm. When he wanted something, he got it. “That’s no way to talk to an old friend.”
If he moved an inch, they’d be touching. He almost did it, curious if she still felt the same—soft, exciting and warm. Except he had the distinct impression Cass was all business and little pleasure these days. And that she wasn’t interested in mixing them up.
“Is that what we are?”
There came that sexy laugh again and it did a powerful number on his already-primed lower half. She really shouldn’t be so intriguing, not with his agenda and the lost element of surprise. But all of that actually heightened his sense of awareness, and he had a sharp desire to get under her skin the same way she’d managed to get under his.
“Friends. Former lovers. At one time, mentor and student.”
“Mmm. Yes.” She cocked her head. “You’ve taught me a lot. So much that I’m running a successful company I need to get back to. You’ll excuse my rudeness if I request you make an appointment. Like anyone else who wants to talk business.”
All at once, her heat vanished as she pulled away and clacked toward the entrance to her building. Ouch. He’d been relegated to the ranks of “anyone else.”
He let her go. For now.
There was no way a former pupil of his was going to take away even a single point of his market share, and he’d pay handsomely to ensure it. But one had to do these things with finesse.
Remind her of what you’ve done for her. Remind her how good it was.
The voice in his head was his own conscience. Probably. But sometimes he imagined it was Nicolas guiding him from beyond the veil. A big brother’s advice in times of need, which usually led Gage down the path of living life to the fullest. Because Nicolas couldn’t.
The philosophy had never steered Gage wrong before.
He wasn’t about to stop listening to sound advice now, especially when it aligned with what he wanted. Cass clearly needed a good, solid reminder of how tight they’d been. So tight, he knew every inch of her body.
Your best strategy is to use pleasure to influence business.
Nicolas had spoken. And that pretty much solidified Gage’s next steps because that genie wasn’t going back in the bottle. He wanted her. And her formula. If he did it right, one would lead to the other.
He gave her a good five minutes and went after her.
Turnabout was fair play in love and cosmetics.
* * *
Hands shaking, Cass strode to her office and checked her strength before she slammed the door behind her. That would only invite questions and she had no answers for why her entire body still pumped with adrenaline and...other things she’d rather not examine.
Okay, that was a flat-out lie. Gage Branson was the answer, but why seeing him again so severely affected her after all of this time—that she couldn’t explain.
God, that smile rocked her to the core, even all these years later. And his still-amazing body had been hidden underneath casual-Friday dress, when it should clearly be on display in a pinup calendar. He’d always had the messiest, most casually cut hair that somehow managed to look delicious on him. Still did. Oh, yes, he was just as sexy and charismatic as he’d always been and she hated that she noticed. Hated that he could still put a quiver in her abdomen. Especially after what he’d done.
Breathe. Gage was just a guy she used to know. Put that on repeat a thousand times and maybe she’d finally believe it. Except he wasn’t just a guy from college; that was the problem.