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“Stop it,” she whispered, the tickle of his attention tormenting the base of her neck.
“What?” he asked, his tone betraying his own awareness. “I’m chopping, like you said.”
So why was she thinking about forgetting the meat in the pan in favor of spinning around and grabbing for his? Distractions. She needed a distraction. Reaching over to push one packet aside to line up some of their supplies, she did a mental check on everything.
“Garlic and onions,” he said, wiping the onion from the knife with the side of his finger. “Won’t put me off.”
“How was work?” she asked, changing the subject. “Did you talk to Ethan about Northberg?”
“You know I’m the boss, right? I can spend my money any way I want. I don’t need a green light from Ethan.”
“There must be some oversight,” she said, turning the chicken.
“Yeah, me.”
“Do you monitor every decision every one of your companies make every day?”
“No, then I wouldn’t have time for anything else. We have a hierarchy. People I trust in vital positions.”
She bounced on the spot. “So if we get trust back, I can work for you? What position would you give me?”
She didn’t intend to actually work for him, but she’d never been averse to a game of make believe. Except he didn’t say anything, so she lost her smile and glanced at him. A stillness complemented his serious concentration. He must have stood like that for twenty seconds before his smile faded up.
“I can’t think of anything that won’t sound disrespectful,” he said, conceding a brief laugh. “You can have my job.”
“Yes, I can,” she said, returning her focus to the cooking. “I’d be better at it too.”
“Bet you would,” he said. “Can’t imagine any guy playing hardball with you in the boardroom.”
“I’m my own worst enemy. You haven’t figured that out yet?”
He put the onion in a bowl, ready for her and moved onto the mushrooms.
“You don’t have to worry now you have me in your corner.”
His phone rang behind the supplies she’d lined up. With his hands dirtied by the vegetables, he couldn’t answer. Not that he even looked at it. She reached over to answer and put it on speaker.
When they made eye contact, it was clear he wasn’t happy. Uh huh, just like she’d thought, he hadn’t intended to answer.
“What?” Xander barked. “Didn’t I say no interruptions tonight, Atwell?”
“Can tell you’re still not getting any. Shit, man, you better work that fist fast if you don’t want your head to explode.”
She’d be shocked if it wasn’t for the smirk Xander landed on her.
“That’s mine and Rainie’s business, no one else’s.”
Still, Ethan wasn’t deterred. “You know, I have to hope this relationship doesn’t work out. The Rainie factor is not good for my equations.”
“Worry less about your equations and more about what’s in front of you,” Xander said.
“She must be a looker. I’ve gotta say I was surprised Lance says she’s got a playboy rack. That’s never been your thing.”
Her mouth opened in surprise and she glanced down before looking at him. Except the amusement gleaming from him put a smile on her face. The poor guy on the phone had no idea she was there.
“You fucks talking about my woman?” Xander asked with impressive severity given the mischief dancing across his expression. “Leave that rack to me, Eth. It’s my concern, your concern is in Sydney. Tell me you’ve got ink on paper Down Under.”
Ethan exhaled. “We’ve been in meetings all morning,” he said, obviously at the end of his rope. “It’s crunch time. It’s not going to happen unless we give. Want us to walk away?”
