Damn it. Chloe Hutchins is not what I need in my life right now. I tried. I fucking tried to get rid of her. I fired her, told her to get out, but goddamn it, she made my cock even harder when she refused to back down. Those eyes weren’t soft anymore, they were sharp and snapping at me and it made me want her even more. Getting involved with Chloe Hutchins would be a disaster of epic proportions. I’m only in for a fuck, it’s all I’m good for. But one look at Chloe, from her pink briefcase to her sensible yet stylish flats, to her long, silky black-like-a-raven’s-wing hair running down her back, screams long-term, babies, marriage. It doesn’t matter that she doesn’t like men; there is no doubt in my mind that deep down, she yearns for a man who will make up for the wrongs of the men who came before him. Anything less would hurt her, putting another nail in the coffin of her resentment of men. There’s also the fact she works for Dante and Che, and they are protective of their people. Dante especially, I have no doubt if he found out I used Chloe for a night or two, he would take a swing at me.
My phone beeps on my desk a second before Pauline comes through, sounding hesitant. “Enzo, everything all right?”
Closing my eyes, I shake my head as a small chuckle without humor leaves me. No, everything is not all right. With a sigh I’m back in my chair. Enough. This is a fluke, an aberration. It’s been a long time since I’ve had an instant attraction to a woman but it’s lust, and it will fade. I have no doubt Chloe is as good as Dante says she is. Thursday she’ll find me the home I want, and this will soon be over. Out of sight, out of mind, and this fever for her will die. As I tell Pauline I’m ready for Katherine, I’m not sure if the idea fills me with relief or regret.
***
Chloe
I’m staring at my computer screen without seeing a thing. For the hundredth time, what happened in Enzo Sabatini’s office plays again in my head. And I’m no closer to understanding it than I was when I was in his office. I have never had such an instant, overwhelming response to a man. I don’t like it. Shaking my head, I push down the thoughts bubbling up. No, stop it. Enzo Sabatini is bad news. I was fascinated, mesmerized by him, that was all. Too bad he’s an asshole, a womanizing, control-freak asshole and it’s not happening. So stop thinking about him like that, stop it.
“Everything okay?” Dante appears out of nowhere. “Chloe?”
I blush; god, I never blush. I admit to what Enzo will no doubt tell him. Nodding, “Yeah, sorry. I screwed up. I’m still feeling the burn from it.”
His eyebrows go up. How do they look so alike, yet so different? “What happened?”
“I assumed, exactly what you told me not to do.” Dante grimaces. “I know, I have absolutely no idea why I did it. I’ve never done it before. Overeager, I guess. It was embarrassing.”
He grins, flashing a dimple as he leans against the open doorway of my office. I’m reminded of what could have been a dimple in Enzo’s left cheek. Enough with Enzo. “You recovered like you always do, though. I haven’t heard from him telling me you wasted his time or to send him someone else.”
“Barely, I get another chance on Thursday. He said to have at least five to show him. Do you think five will be enough?”
“If one of those five is the property he wants it will be. Want to come over for dinner tonight? Me and Bethany can give you everything we think might help, go over some properties together.”
Dante and Cesare are the few people in the company I see outside of work, not because they are my bosses but because I genuinely like them and enjoy spending time with them. I’m an introvert; it’s hard enough putting on a smile with clients. I never go out to the happy hour get-togethers most everyone else in the company goes to. Some people have called me a stuck-up bitch, I’m not. I just prefer being at home with a book to overpaying for drinks and yelling over too-loud music. Normally, I would say yes to Dante without hesitation, only I’m still out of sorts and desperate to hole up. I lie. “I can’t, Russell needs me to stand in tonight for dinner with one of his biggest clients.”
Russell is my gay roommate, and a financial advisor. For conservative clients I’m his go-to for dinner dates, although not nearly as often as I tell people. “Too bad. Let me know if you need anything.”
“Can I run the places I have picked by you tomorrow?”
“Sure, we’ll do lunch.”
“Sounds good, thanks.”
“No problem.”
Once Dante is gone I do my best to push down the memory of what happened in Enzo’s office. Whatever it was, it doesn’t matter, because I have made my peace with the fact I’m not getting involved with anyone ever again. Enzo Sabatini is a migraine I don’t want or need. So what if I was attracted to him? There’s nothing that says I have to act on the attraction, I’m pretty sure Enzo isn’t any more eager than I am. Great, we’re both on the same page, it will make the house hunt easier.
I plug in the parameters of Enzo’s search and sigh, only seven properties come up. This is going to be fun.
***
Enzo
A hand comes down on mine; I blink at the small hand with blood-red fake nails. I slide my hand out from under her touch, she giggles. Rubbing her glistening lips together, she leans toward me. “Enzo, you’re so naughty. I feel like I’m eating all by myself, you’ve been glued to your phone. You know there are thousands of men who want to be where you are right now.”
A chuckle comes out of me as she pouts. She was the one who called me, in town to do promotion on her latest film, the up-and-coming starlet was desperate for free press. I agreed out of boredom, out of a need to keep my mind off Chloe. Too bad Lara Booker has long black hair and a cupid’s bow mouth. She also has a double D chest, only her black hair is dyed and her chest is surgically enhanced. There might be thousands of men who want to be where I am; I’d be happy to trade places with any one of them. Lara hasn’t stopped talking about herself since she got into the limo; from her yoga and Pilates workouts to her keto diet, the woman hasn’t stopped talking to eat. She has taken all of three bites of the steak she ordered.
With a nod I capture the waitress’s attention. The check is set in front of me. I sign off and look up to Lara. “If you’re done, I’ll have my driver see you back to your hotel.”
Her face might have fallen, if it were allowed to move with all the fillers she has in it. “You aren’t going to see me back to my hotel?”
I shake my head. “I’m going back to the office. There are things I need to attend to.” There aren’t. I’m not going back to work, but I don’t think I can stand another five minutes with her. “As you pointed out, I’ve been a bad date. It’s best I not take up any more of your time.”
She stands, her back stiff as I guide her out of the restaurant. With a chilly goodbye she gets into the car.
At home I head to my room. It’s not the master, although all five rooms in the condo have a bathroom attached, this is the first room in the hallway off the living area. After I threw Sheila out, I started sleeping in here. It’s the farthest from the room we shared and she hadn’t gotten around to redecorating it, so