“What is that?”she asked, approaching with caution.This was Hotshot after all.He opened a hand to the glass filled with red slush.“Daiquiri.You made me a daiquiri?
“Impressed, aren’t you?”
“No,” she said, picking it up to sniff it.“You lace it with something?”
“Touch of spunk, Babycakes.A little manseed.”
Ha ha, she sneered, provoking his smile.
As he went back to the fridge, she sipped.“You made this?”
Wow, it was amazing.
“I made it,” he said, popping the cap off a beer bottle.“Told someone to make it.Same thing.”
“That is not the same thing.One requires effort.”
“Took effort to tell the guy,” he said, smirking as he drank.As he lowered the bottle, he gestured at the box.“Open your box.”
“What’s in it?”She turned it around.“Should I have witnesses?”
“No, I deliberately cut you off from everyone.No one will hear you scream up here.”He shrugged.“Open it.Don’t open it.Whatever.”Rounding the bar, he passed to head toward the massive couch facing the dynamic screens.“Come over here.I’ve got something to show you.”
She left her purse and took the drink.“You take your cock out of your pants, I’m claiming workman’s comp for the trauma.I need danger money being alone with you.”
He dropped onto the couch.“Afraid of me?”
“Don’t flatter yourself.”
“Did you win?”
“Win?”she asked, sliding one knee onto the seat and then the other to rest her side against the back of the couch, facing him.“Your cock’s still in your pants, so, yeah, I guess I did.”
“It’s there whenever you’re ready for it, Babycakes, but I meant with the doctor.”
That soured her mood.Thank goodness for the fortifying daiquiri.“Hmm,” she huffed.“Johann.He’s so far up his own ass.I thought you won the award for worshipping yourself, but he’s stiff competition.”
“You don’t like him?”
“Obviously you did, or you wouldn’t have hired him.That should be enough for me to dislike him.You have terrible judgment.”
“Not to burst your bubble, but I never met the man before today.The panel heard their pitch.”
“And it was better than ours?”
“No one’s was better than yours, Radley.Yours was the most memorable.What a finish.”
“So why do we need them?”she asked, ignoring his mocking.“I’m better.You don’t need them.”
“Gets into a legal gray area to favor one idea or group over another when they’re so similar.”He drew in a breath.“That said, make up cause and fire him.I don’t care.”
“Fire him?”she asked, jolting in surprise.
ELEVEN
HE REACHED AWAY for something on the end table.“Sure.”
Putting his feet up on the low coffee table, he tipped his head back to drop whatever he’d scooped up into his mouth.
