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‘Absolutely not.’ I cut off the argument. ‘And Joe Donnelly was wrong to give you that impression.’ I was going to be having words with my friend to find out exactly what he’d said to Edie to give her the impression her background mattered—although I suspected Edie had simply got the wrong end of the stick; after all, Joe was as much of a mongrel as I was.
‘What I’m interested in is your intellect and your ability to assess my guests’ attitude to risk,’ I reiterated. ‘That’s why I hired you and that’s what I’m paying you for. And, believe me, I intend to get my money’s worth. We’ll meet each evening for a debrief with the rest of my management team after the guests have gone to bed—which will sometimes be at two or three in the morning. I’ll expect you to be alert and informative and articulate about every aspect of your interactions—I’m a night owl and I tend to conduct most of my business at night. I’ll also want a written analysis in the mornings before the next day’s activities begin. And as much useful data as you can give me. I’ll expect you to be my eyes and my ears at the tables whenever I’m not there. Believe me, your role here will not be easy. But pedigree means absolutely nothing to me. What I look for in an employee is results. And, more importantly, if you in any way think that someone is judging you I want you to tell me. As I have already explained...’ I wished once again I hadn’t blurted that information out, because she was looking at me now with a sort of hero-worship ‘...no one’s as much of a mongrel as I am. And anyone who judges you for it would also judge me, so they’re not someone I would want to do business with.’
‘I won’t disappoint you,’ she said breathlessly. And I knew she wouldn’t. I’d never seen someone so eager to please.
But the thought sent an unwelcome shaft of unease through me.
Her intellect, her data skills and her ability to read the play on the poker table weren’t the only reasons I’d hired her. My gaze raked over the silky dress, which hugged her curves like a lover, and the heat in my groin became intense and insistent.
‘But that’s not the only reason I offered you this job,’ I said, determined to be as open and honest with her as she had been with me—so that I could crush this foolish sense of connection once and for all. ‘There’s another reason I wanted you at my beck and call for the next ten days...’
I watched the pulse in her collarbone flutter.
‘What’s that?’ she said, her voice coming out on a husky croak as her pupils darkened, and those expressive eyes became huge.
She had to know what I was referring to. She’d initiated that damn kiss. The kiss that had been firing my imagination and keeping me awake every night since. Perhaps she was being coy. I almost wished she was, but somehow I doubted it. There was something about her that seemed so fresh and young and forthright. And to think I’d once believed she was hard to read. At the moment she seemed far too easy to read.
‘I think you know the reason,’ I said.
Unable to quell the desire to touch her a moment longer, I lifted my hand and teased the lock of hair the stylist had left dangling. The temptation to feast on that damn mouth and finally ease the hunger in my groin was immense, but I resisted it.
I wanted her to come to me. No, I needed her to come to me. Then there would be no confusion—no blurring of the lines between her employment and her decision to spend time in my bed. So I dropped my hand.
Her breath gushed out, the pulse in her collarbone fluttering alarmingly as her breasts rose and fell in a staggered rhythm against the bodice of her dress.
‘The chemistry between us is off the charts, bella,’ I said, stating the obvious. ‘I think we would be foolish not to enjoy it while we’re here, in whatever down time we have.’
Her tongue darted out to lick her lips. My gaze fixed on her mouth. Damn, but I wanted to taste those lips again so badly.
‘But anything that happens between us would be entirely your choice,’ I continued, my voice now a husky croak. ‘And would have absolutely no bearing on your employment with me. Is that understood?’
She nodded, her eyes still wide. The emotions that crossed her face—astonishment, confusion, arousal—would have been amusing if the erection now pounding in my pants wasn’t getting all my attention. The important thing was that I could see no fear. And I’d take that.
The serving staff chose that moment to re-enter the room with our entrées. I directed her to sit down. ‘I’m glad we got that settled. Now, do you want to join me for the next course and we can talk about what we’re actually here to talk about?’
She nodded again, and regained her seat.
The remainder of the meal was predictably excruciating, for both of us. Every time she placed a morsel of food into that too kissable mouth, or leaned forward, allowing the candlelight to flicker over the hint of cleavage, my groin tightened, the pounding in my pants becoming unbearable. But I forced myself to focus on laying the groundwork for our professional relationship.
The only consolation was I could see her struggling to maintain her side of the conversation too. Somehow or other, we got through the meal without jumping each other.
I quickly discovered she was every bit as bright and intuitive as I had believed, and she, I hoped, discovered that I wouldn’t pounce on her until she was ready.
But as I bid her goodnight I couldn’t help bringing her trembling fingers to my lips. I kissed her knuckles, satisfied by the flare of heat she couldn’t disguise.
‘I’ll be back in two days’ time,’ I said, a little disconcerted when I saw her shoulders slump with relief. Perhaps I hadn’t been quite as unthreatening as I’d hoped. I would have to work on it. ‘The guests arrive that afternoon so we can meet for lunch that day.’
‘Okay, I’ll work out the formulas we talked about,’ she said breathlessly.
I had to give her points for remembering the discussion, which had slipped my mind already.
‘Excellent, I look forward to it,’ I said. ‘Good night, bella,’ I added, giving her permission to leave.
She nodded but, before she could hurry out of the room, I added, ‘And remember, you are a free agent when it comes to anything other than work.’
‘I know, Dante,’ she said, the glow of pleasure in her eyes having a strange effect on me.
I realised it wasn’t just my groin that was throbbing painfully as I watched her rush from the room. My heart felt as if it had expanded to twice its normal size and was thundering against my ribcage.
