“You got your hair done… your nails too.”
I sighed as he stood and approached me slowly. “When you do your own hair, you tend to curl your ends. You make it neater.”
I shook my head as I looked at his genuinely inquisitive and curious eyes. “You are literally insane,” I whispered as the man looked at me as if I was a piece of art he was trying to understand… or ratheradmire.
But what did I expect? He had literal pictures and a painting of me in his studio, which he was able to access at any time.
“You owe me a portrait.”
I gaped at him, eyes going wide.
“Beckham. You cannot possibly believe that after what happened, I would go back to your studio.”
He tilted his head as he leaned in slightly. “What happened between us?” he asked innocently, as if he hadn’t released his feral side on me yesterday.
“Beckham. You need to stop.”
“What happened between us, Flower?” he repeated, doubling down as his eyebrows raised, a subtle hint of amusement and fake innocence in his eyes.
He wanted me to admit to it.He wanted me to voice what we’d done so it would be real.
This was pointless. This man was pining after me—a married woman of all things. It made absolutely no sense.
“Rose, Mr. Garcia, we’re waiting for you two in the other room,” Kira said from the door, and I stepped away from him.I need to get a grip.
As I walked to the conference room, I felt his hand on the small of my back, unrelenting, possessive and warm.
And then, he leaned over towards me and inhaled. It was barely there, but that slow drag of breath felt like he was memorizing my scent all over again, letting it settle deep into his lungs.
As much as I wanted to hate it, itdidsomething to me. Everything about him did. Just knowing a man wants tobreathe you in, let your scent consume him… it did something to me…badly.
Removing his hand with a light push, I stepped into the meeting room and again greeted Beckham’s arrayed associates. Beckham sat across the table at the head, and I sat at the other side, putting as much distance between us as possible.
“Sorry for the wait, gentlemen.” I forced my smile as Kira handed me a folder.
We moved through the numbers, projections, and sponsorship and laid out our plans for the auction, the showroom expansions, and the long-term gallery collaborations.
“Kira and I planned on using the entire space here for the main event for showing and auctions and then dedicate a few showrooms in our other two locations to showcase Mr. Garcia’s art.”
They all nodded in agreement.
This should have felt like progress.
And yet the man who was calling the shots was simply staring at me. Jaw tight. Eyes unreadable. Not interrupting, not even engaging. Just watching. Like he was angry. I had an idea or two as to why but I didn’t dwell on it as I focused on ignoring him while I continued onto other topics.
“I also see you’ve done a bit of marketing to get things started,” I said, flipping to a news article as Kira gave herself a pat on the back.
The advertising manager nodded with a wavering smile, subtly glancing back and forth at her with a rather cautious glance.I wonder what she said to make him work so fast and efficiently?
Soon, the meeting was over, and I found myself in my office as Kira escorted Beckham’s associates out.
The meeting went smoothly as anticipated and I should have exhaled in relief of it all.However—
Feelinghiseyes on me, I lifted my head to see Beckham walking by, his gaze still pinning me, his eyes holding something sinister. My thighs clenched involuntarily as I forced my eyes away.
Snap out of it.
With my mind obviously elsewhere, I flinched as I heard my phone ring beside me. Noticing it was an unknown caller, I hesitantly answered.
