“And Vanessa was unaware of this when she walked in. And I saw how she was looking at you, and I stepped in before she could do something to damage the portrait.”
“Like what?”
A drop of sweat rolls down the valley between my breasts. “Like…seduce you.”
“Did you think she was seducing me before or after she refused to give me the fifteen-percent discount I wanted?” His fingerstwitch, and then he flattens his palm against the small of my back.
“Before. After. Both.” The words come out as weak pants.
“Very interesting,” he murmurs.
“Indeed.”
“You know what else is interesting?” He looks at my mouth again.
“Hmm?” We’re very close. So close that all I would have to do is tip a bit forward for my lips to meet his.
“She’s gone,” he says in a low voice, his breath coasting over my skin. “And you’re still on my lap.”
Am I? Oh, hell, what am I doing?
I scramble off. “Sorry. I forgot.” My heart is beating right in my throat. “You’re surprisingly comfortable as a chair.”
Rowan quickly moves closer to the desk, hiding his legs underneath.
He probably wants to make sure I don’t climb up on him again.
This is mortifying.
He clears his throat and runs his fingers through his hair. “I’ve achieved my higher purpose in life.”
“Congratulations,” I choke out. “We should celebrate.”
I’ve lost it. I’ve officially lost it. God help me. What just happened?
When Rowan looks back at me, there’s a bemused smirk playing on his face.
We both know I just embarrassed myself, and that’s on top of costing him whatever negotiation he was trying to have before I barged in. Anguish blooms inside my lungs. I never do psychotic things like this—what the hell has gotten into me?
“I cost you that discount, didn’t I?” I whisper, wringing my hands.
He leans back slightly and links his hands behind his head. “Generally, it’s considered unprofessional to comment on people’s undergarments in a business setting.”
I grip my face. “Right. I can see that. Are you mad? I can’t tell.”
“Mad?” His eyes darken. “Sunshine, you climbing into my lap is more than worth the slight hit to my bottom line.”
Heat crashes through me. I stare at him open-mouthed, unsure of how to respond to that.
The door pops open. “Hey, the client— Oh, Blake.”
I whirl around. “Sam!”
He blinks at me and Rowan. “I didn’t realize you’d be here. Actually, this is great. I was just at your house with an architect. Do you have time to chat? I can tell you what we’re thinking in terms of next steps.”
I’ve never felt more overjoyed about an interruption. “I’ve got plenty of time.”
“Great. Let me just talk to Rowan real quick, and I’ll be right out.”
