Mr. CEO(12)

She came in alone and I can’t help but wonder why. My heart slows as I watch her baby blues skim the bar. She’s not looking for anyone in particular. She brushes her hair out of her face and leans in slightly to order a drink. I can’t hear her, not with all the other noise in this place, but her lips mesmerize me. They’re a darker shade of red tonight than I’ve seen on her before. The deep red makes her beautiful eyes shine brighter, but that look is still there though. That sadness that’s haunting her. I don’t know what’s causing it, but I want to find out.

“Are you going to drink that or not, Parker?” Stevens asks me from across the booth, bringing my attention back to him.

“Not,” I answer and push the cold glass with the back of my hand toward Trent.

I stand tall with my shoulders squared, ready to make a move on Rose. I may appear confident, but my nerves are getting the best of me. She could say no; she may not be interested in me in the least. Or worse, she may be taken already, though my research on her didn’t turn up any partners. But I’m not going to take no for an answer.

Nothing extreme, I'm just going to offer to buy her a drink. She can’t deny me such a small request. I slip off my jacket and loosen my tie.

Trent eyes me suspiciously. “Where are you headed?” he asks with a bit of suspicion in his voice. I never stay for drinks, and I never stay for anything other than business. As my right-hand man, he knows my habits.

Stevens looks past me and right at Rose. His thin lips pull into a smirk and then wider as he realizes my intentions.

“You’ve got a date, haven’t you?” he says, raising his glass of scotch. The ice clinks as Trent leans forward and looks past me to look at Rose as well.

I stand for a moment and let a waitress pass. She gives me a heated look and blushes as she walks by. I keep my eyes straight ahead on my prize and undo the top button of my dress shirt. I don’t get nervous about first impressions. I have no one to impress. My track record and bank account are enough to give me a presence in the boardroom.

“A date?” Trent asks with disbelief and then shakes his head. “She has a date, but it’s not with Logan.” He sits back in the booth, causing the slight shifting of the black leather seat, content with the fact that Stevens must be wrong. It’s irritating that he’s so sure she’s not waiting for me. It shouldn’t be annoyed since I shouldn’t even be pursuing her, and he knows that. Still, it pisses me off. Maybe more so because she isn’t waiting for me. He brings his jack and coke to his mouth as I turn to face my Rose.

And some f*cker who’s pawing at her.

Anger rises slowly inside me. Anger and jealousy. It’s not a good look and I don’t let it show, but it’s there. It's heating my blood and forcing my limbs to move. His hands are on her as though she belongs to him.

My anger is relieved slightly when I take in her body language. She’s not interested. She tries to push him away, but it’s not happening. And that’s my cue.

I leave, not bothering to look back at either of them. I know they’re going to be watching; I don’t give a damn what they think.

It only takes six long strides, turning my body ever so slightly between two small tables, until I’m beside her.

I lean forward, laying my jacket down and bracing my hand on the bar between my Rose and this f*cker.

“I leave you alone for one night and you’re already replacing me?” I look into Rose’s widened eyes and wait for her to respond. Her breath hitches, and that sexual tension I’ve felt the last two times between us rises to a nearly unbearable level. My back is to the * who’s still not taking the hint. I completely ignore him.

Before she can answer me, I hear the prick clear his throat. “Hey-” His weak tone comes to a halt as I stand and turn to face him. I’m a full inch taller than him. He’s got a little muscle to him and could probably get in a good hit if he wanted, but he’s got nothing on me. I make it a habit to keep my body in shape. I have to. The thought makes my hands ball into fists until my knuckles turn white, but I release them just as fast.

“Yes?” I ask in a low, threatening voice, daring him to utter a response. I narrow my eyes and wait for him to make his move. He’s drunk, but he’s not stupid. The intimidation he's feeling is clear on his face, and he struggles to respond. He opens and closes his mouth without saying anything. His forehead’s pinched and I can tell he’s debating on how to handle it without looking like any more of an ass. I can feel eyes on us and the bar’s noticeably quieter. We’re all waiting to see what this *’s going to do.

But he doesn’t get a chance to do anything; instead, my eyes are drawn to Charlotte’s small hand gripping the front of my shirt. Her other hand comes around my other side to rest just above my hip. She presses her front to my back and I stifle my groan at the feel of her breasts pressed against my lower shoulders.

I look down at her as she peeks her head around my arm to look at me. Her voice is soft but strong, and on the verge of being casual. “You wanna go?”

I look back at the * and he takes the chance to turn on his heel and walk off without a word. Smart move on his part. When I look back at my Rose, her eyes are on him as he leaves, and she visibly relaxes, releasing her grip on me.

I miss her touch instantly. I want it back.