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“I don’t know what you’re so unsure about, Krystina. I am offering you the chance of a lifetime. You can build a company almost from the ground up, with no cost to you.”

“Mr. Stone, I’m a recent college graduate with little to no experience in the field, other than a few brief internships in college. While I’m somewhat flattered you think I can do this, I’m sure you could find someone with better qualifications.”

“Maybe. But I’ve done my research, and I think you are more than capable of doing what needs to be done. You’re smart, determined, and driven. Those are three very admirable qualities in my book. And more importantly, I’m looking for someone fresh.”

“Yeah, I’ll bet you are,” I responded with a snort. “Fresh meat is what you’re most likely after.”

The corners of his mouth tilted up slightly in a knowing smile, but he didn’t take the bait.

“I want fresh ideas—someone who’s willing to think outside the box and do what needs to be done. I often find experienced individuals are attached to narrow-minded ideas,” he clarified.

“I’m still not buying it. What’s the catch?” I asked.

“You’re very perceptive too, Krystina. Another admirable quality,” he said. His blue eyes flickered with mischief. “I may have a few other ideas for you as well.”

“Such as?”

“You’re an intelligent woman. Why don’t you tell me?”

“Honestly, Stone. You’re so damned cryptic all the time. I constantly feel like you’re skirting around what you really want to say. Please, enlighten me,” I said testily. I pursed my lips in annoyance. Any tolerance I might have momentarily had for playing his guessing games had reached its limit.

“You can consider it a proposition of sorts, but it’s not something I wish to discuss here.” He waved his hand in the air to reference the coffee shop. “We can talk about it more over dinner tonight.”

Holy crap! Is megabucks asking me out?

Not that it should have mattered. I had promised myself I would not allow him to get under my skin again, no matter what. Even if this job were a golden opportunity, I was barely hanging on to my wavering conviction as it was. Going out to dinner with him would be my undoing. I was sure of it.

“You still didn’t answer my question. But either way, I have plans tonight,” I responded, lifting my chin in the air.

It wasn’t a lie exactly. I had planned a date with a treadmill.

His eyes flashed again, but this time with a dark glimmer of words unspoken, searing into me and throwing me off balance. My confidence faltered, teetering as if on the edge of a precipice, and suddenly I wasn’t so sure if I would be able to fight this battle of wills much longer.

“Fine. If you insist on me spelling out my intentions, then I will,” he said and took an impatient breath. Placing his palms on the table, he leaned forward. “I’ve tried to get you out of my head, but my efforts don’t seem to be working. So rather than fight the inevitable, I’ve decided to just go with it. I want you, Krystina. Any way I can have you. Preferably naked.”

What? He wants me naked!

My eyes felt like they were about to pop out of their sockets. He said it so flippantly, his tone not even acknowledging the bomb he’d just dropped. And it was nuclear. The thought of being naked under Alexander caused goosebumps to trickle down my spine. His blatant honesty was ridiculously hot.

Too hot. This can’t be happening.

I had to get control of this situation quickly before I succumbed to the fight.

“Um…I-I’m not sure I heard you correctly,” I stammered, trying to recover from the apparent shock.

“You heard me. Be ready at six o’clock. My driver will be by your apartment to pick you up,” he informed me as he stood up.

He has a driver? Of course, he has a driver. How silly of me.

Alexander pushed his chair under the table and turned to leave.

“Whoa, wait just a minute here! I said I have plans.”

“Cancel them.”

“What if I don’t want to cancel? You can’t just order me about, Stone.” I tried to be firm, but my voice sounded small to my ears.

“Do I strike you as the type of man who is easily put off? This is not a request, Krystina. We can finalize the details of your employment tonight, then move on to discussing more interesting things. Six o’clock,” he reminded me. “Oh, and one more thing. Don’t return the phone I gave you. You’ll need it when you come to work for me.”