Hell on Heels (Hotel Rodeo #1)(18)

“I’d really hate for either of us to waste your time, Cassie.” She slanted a pointed gaze at Ty. “The renovation project has been shelved. There’s a strong possibility I’ll be selling this property.”

“Oh.” Cassie looked to Ty as if seeking confirmation.

Ty cleared his throat with a forced smile. “There’s still a possibility of moving forward. But I’ll have to make a few calls about lining up some investors.”

“So the project isn’t completely dead?” Cassie asked.

“Not completely,” Monica interjected, “but I wouldn’t advise you to hold your breath waiting for a contract.”

“Right, then. I quite understand.” Cassie collected her drawings. “Another time then, Ty?”

“Sure, Cassie,” he replied, tight-lipped and silently cursing Monica for making him look like an ass. “I’ll call you.”

“Great,” Cassie replied. “I’ll look forward to that. It was nice meeting you, Ms. Brandt. Let me know if you’d like to do lunch one day. Ty has my number.”

“Oh, I’m sure he does,” Monica replied as Cassie headed back toward the elevator.

Ty waited until the doors closed before he spoke. “Resentful, Ms. Brandt?”

“What do you mean?”

“Afraid I’d get what you didn’t?”

“What do you mean by that?”

“You didn’t want me seeing her.” He jammed the express elevator button, annoyed as hell that Monica had purposely sabotaged the dinner date. He had no doubt it was intentional, and by God, he’d make her pay.

“Don’t be ridiculous,” she snapped. “I’d never be so petty. Besides, I’m the one who called it off, remember?”

Whether she wanted to admit it yet or not, their almost encounter counted. Maybe it was even worse because they’d left the personal side of their business unfinished.

“Yeah, I remember all right, but something tells me we need to revisit the situation we left unresolved in your office.”

“I assure you there isn’t any situation.”

“You’re a bad liar, Monica. If you’ve changed your mind, just say so. We don’t have to go far. It’s a hotel, after all.”

“I haven’t changed my mind. I just explained to her how things are, which you should have already done.”

“I would have—over dinner—but you didn’t give me the chance.”

“You should thank me that I saved you the trouble.” She smiled smugly. “And her the disappointment.”

“I don’t ever disappoint a lady, Ms. Brandt. It’s a point of honor.”

“You mean ego.”

He shrugged. “You’re splitting hairs. The motive doesn’t matter as long as she’s satisfied.”

“So you did have designs on her,” she accused.

“I’m not the one who issued the dinner invitation. Maybe she had designs on me.”

“You really do think a lot of yourself, don’t you, cowboy?” she snorted. “It takes more than a big dick to please a woman.”

Her mention of size was very telling. She still wanted him, all right.

“It sure doesn’t hurt,” he chuckled. “But for the record, sweetheart, I’ve never had any complaints about my hands or my mouth either, and I’d be mighty glad to prove it to you.”

The elevator doors opened. He pulled her inside.

“Lobby, please.”

He punched the button.

Monica braced herself against the far wall, watching him warily as if she anticipated him making a move on her. “What makes you think I’m interested in finding out?”

She could fake it all she liked, but the air around her still vibrated with unresolved sexual tension. Leaning against the opposite wall, arms crossed over his chest, Ty let his gaze slide over her. She’d put herself back together. Mostly, anyhow. Her hair was still a bit mussed, and the wrinkles in her clothes remained. He liked that look on her—maybe a bit too much. He wondered if she’d put her panties back on.

Their gazes met, then hers flickered downward, lingering far too long on his crotch. Her flush confirmed that she was thinking exactly like he was thinking. Even as pissed off as he was, he was having a damned hard time keeping his hands to himself. For the next twenty seconds he let his imagination run wild. They were back in the office. She was splayed out on the desk again, but this time he was buried to the hilt in her. The elevator dinged, ending his fantasy.

“Did you want to get off now, Ms. Brandt? Or maybe you’d like to stay and let me take care of that for you?”

“Thanks for the offer, cowboy, but I’m quite able to take care of myself.”

Fuck. That was one image he didn’t need. As if on command, his dick stirred back to life. His balls still ached something fierce, and nothing but release was going to bring him any relief.

She exited the elevator with a wordless smirk.

They may have called a truce, but the war was far from over.





Chapter Seven


Ty pulled into the private rehabilitation facility with a powerful sense of guilt. He hadn’t visited Tom since they’d moved him out here, almost a week ago. Part of it was to avoid Monica, who’d stayed by Tom’s side while he adjusted to his new surroundings, but the other reason was for Tom’s sake.