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“Would anyone like coffee? Tea? Water?” asked Benjamin.
I gave the PA a grateful smile. “No thanks, I’m fine.”
Dax raised his mug. “I haven’t finished this one yet.”
“Then I’ll leave you both to it,” said Benjamin.
Hearing the door close behind me with a softsnickof sound, I advanced further into the office. Dax slowly stalked toward me, a predatory edge to every step. He held out a hand—one that had done all sorts of deliciously indecent things to me in the past.
Pushing that out of my mind, I joined my palm to his … and might have pulled back if his warm, calloused fingers hadn’t closed around mine, because a little crackle of electricity zapped my hand. My breath almost got snagged in my throat.
His eyelids lowered slightly, and tension turned the air static. Allowing that tension to simmer, he didn’t release me. Didn’t move at all. Didn’t say a word. Just stared at me, his thickly-lashed, steady gaze holding mine with a blatant boldness that I might have found intimidating if I wasn’t used to dealing with such powerful personalities.
I met that unrelenting stare just as boldly, refusing to look away first. His mouth hitched up in a faint, lopsided, oh-so-familiar smile that made my gut twist.
Finally, he let go of my hand. “Thank you for coming.” He gestured at a chair in the lounge area. “Sit.” A smooth invitation that held a daring note.
Pulling my professional cloak tight around me, I did as he asked and dug my tablet out of my satchel.
“It’s been a while.” He sank into the chair opposite me, making the leather creak. “How are you?”
“Great,” I replied, switching on my tablet. “You?”
“Fine.” Dax splayed a hand on one armrest while balancing his mug on the other. “And your family? I haven’t seen your father in quite some time.”
“They’re all well. I hope you can say the same for your own family.”
“I can, thank you.”
How polite were we? I cleared my throat. “Before we get down to business, I’d like to disclose something upfront.” It would be unfair to do otherwise, and I would prefer to know in advance if I was wasting my time here.
He inched up a brow. “Which is?”
Pretending I wasn’t at all affected by how he looked every inch a king in that chair—shoulders back, spine straight, legs spread, projecting authority and self-assurance—I explained, “I don’t know how much contact you have with your cousin, Felicity. You may or may not know that she’s not a fan of mine.”
“Because you dated Grayden?” he asked, his tone neutral.
“Yes. She’ll probably be very unhappy if you hire me. As your cousin, she’ll see it as a betrayal on your part. To be honest, I don’t think Grayden will like it much either. When he and I separated, we agreed that we wouldn’t be in contact”—which didn’t mean he didn’t occasionally call or text me for random reasons, the dick—“and that we’d steer clear of each other as far as possible. He may be divorced from Felicity but, considering they’re back together again, he’s effectively your cousin-in-law once more.”
Dax let out a low, thoughtful hum.
“I don’t want to talk myself out of a job, but I also don’t want to be the cause of any drama or put you in an awkward position. If you would prefer that another company take on the event, I will understand and respect that. There are some very good event organizers out there—I’d be happy to recommend some.”
He pursed those lips that I knew could do wicked, wicked things. “I’m very aware of Felicity’s animosity toward you. But, quite frankly, I don’t see that it’s relevant. This has not one thing to do with her. Or with Grayden, for that matter.” Dax’s eyelids lowered a little. “You were mine long before you were his.”
Choosing to ignore the fluttering in my belly, I swallowed. “Okay. If you change your mind …”
“I won’t. Sapphire Glade comes highly recommended. It has repeatedly been referred to as the best.” Dax paused. “I want the best.”
I gave a slow nod. “Well then, now that that’s out of the way, tell me what sort of event you have in mind.” Looking down at my tablet, I opened the app that featured a questionnaire I used for all consultations. “Be warned I’m going to fire a whole lot of questions at you. I need to be clear on what your wants and needs are.”
His lips kicked up in the beginnings of a wolfish smile.
“Regarding the event, I mean,” I quickly added, proud of myself for not blushing.
“I figured that, since you’re already aware of my … wants and needs.”
This motherfucker. “What makes you think you were that good I’d remember them?” I blurted out.
