Page 46 of Mr. Romantic (Mister 2)

“Mr. Delaney came by just before you did and told us to bring you to San Diego. He said you have a second interview.”

“He did?”

Jerry cocks his head and gives me a funny look. “You didn’t?”

“I… I don’t know. We had an unexpected end to our morning. Claudette—”

“Don’t say the demon’s name,” Jerry says, rolling his eyes. “I completely understand. She’s horrible, right?”

“Right?” I ask back, smiling now that I have a friend. “I hate her. She’s a liar too.”

“Don’t get me started, Miss Rockwell. But hurry now. Use the facilities and come up front so you can buckle in. We’ll be landing in a few minutes.”

I do as I’m told and quickly make my way to the front where I buckle in to a plush leather seat just as the pilot announces our final descent.

The landing is smooth and easy, and my stomach starts fluttering when I suddenly realize what’s happening.

Nolan didn’t walk out on me this morning.

He brought me here to San Diego against Claudette’s wishes to see him.

It’s all I can do to hold still as we taxi, and then I have to wait until the stairs are pushed up to the jet and the door is opened. I say a quick, “Thanks,” to Jerry and rush out.

There he is. About a hundred yards away, leaning casually on a silver Porsche with his arms folded across his chest. I don’t know what this about at all. But the only way to find out is to walk over to him.

I take a deep breath and one step at a time, I get closer. Even in his casual, grungy clothes, he is beautiful. I realize how tan his skin is in the bright morning sun. How muscular his arms are. When I get up close enough to talk without shouting, I realize he’s trying very hard not to smile.

“What are we doing?”

He shrugs and unleashes the grin, flipping his sunglasses up onto his head. “I told you, Miss Rockwell, if you let me fuck you last night I’d hire you and get your expertise this morning.”

“But Claudette—”

“Fuck Claudette. She has my best interests in mind, but she’s not my mother. I don’t answer to Claudette, or anyone else, for that matter. So if I want to have sex with you and hire you the next day, I will.”

I sigh in frustration.

“And if I want to have sex with you and then get to know you better, then I’ll do that too.”

“What?”

His smile fades. “But it was a dick move, Ivy. Not telling me you were a virgin.”

“I get it,” I say. “You don’t trust women, do you? Not after what happened to you in college.”

“Not much, no. But I don’t think you lied about the résumé, did you?”

“I didn’t,” I say. “I swear.”

“I think Mr. Corporate did it.”

“Why is he doing this though?”

Nolan shrugs. “He had to have seen you somewhere. And I guess he just thought I’d be interested in this.” He waves a hand down my body. “And I am, Ivy.”

“OK, wait. My turn. I actually did think… maybe… you’d take a liking to me and relieve me of my v-card while I was here. I mean, I did know I was not really qualified to get that job. But I came anyway. Because of you. I came because of you, Nolan.”

“I did make you come.” He winks. “Didn’t I?”