Seducing Texas (So not Prince Charming #2)(14)

Sonia is talented and gives me a big smile. She also hits on me too much. “What about you and me?”

“No.”

Disappointment shadows her expression. After I check on everyone, I return to my office.

Toward the end of my day of frustration watching Cyn sleep on my monitor, Tang knocks on my opened door. He worked for me on the last project where I sold my company for over a half billion and most of the funds were deleted from my accounts.

“Hey, I linked the new sports venue vendors into the app today,” he says. “We already got several hits. Anything else you want me to do before I head out?”

Many of my programmers stay late. They don’t have lives, even though I encourage them to. “Thanks. You’ve been doing excellent work.”

He grins. “Thank you. See you tomorrow, Shane.” Tang is an attractive Asian man working here on an H1-B Visa. He’s applied for his green card, but the INS is a tough road to navigate. Unlike many, he’s paid his dues and deserves it.

Several of my female programmers have told me he’s hot, but he hasn’t taken an interest in any of them.

I nod at him and prepare to leave myself.

After I finish for the day, Niki meets me at a restaurant close by. I’d rather take Cyn and her sister out. While Niki makes idle chatter, I watch the time. If I don’t kiss her soon, she’ll get suspicious, and kissing her feels like cheating. Something I don’t do, especially when I love Cyn.

The restaurant is new and supposedly serves the most authentic Chinese in Austin. It must be good because several of the leading Chinese business people in Austin are seated, eating and talking in Mandarin. I know a little bit because a Chinese group wanted to buy my last venture company.

We’re on after-dinner drinks when Chang Wong comes to my table. “Mr. O’Flannery, good to see you again.”

I stand up to be polite and shake his hand. “Mr. Wong.” He’s one of the new Chinese billionaires flooding the US to protect his money from his homeland’s government. He also was part of the group interested in my last company. He’s tall with only a slight paunch.

“I heard you have been working on some outside ventures besides your dating site,” he says.

I haven’t discussed any of my software tools with anyone—the specialized packet sniffer being one of them. I let him continue.

“You are a smart man,” he says. “I would be interested in any of your technologies or partnering with you.”

“If I put anything up for sale, I’ll let you know.” The problem is many foreign countries steal American commercial technologies without paying for them, copying them as soon as they get their hands on them, and the US doesn’t protect entrepreneurs from foreign entities.

“Thank you, Mr. O’ Flannery. It was good talking to you.”

I nod. “Mr. Wong.”

“That was strange,” Niki says.

“Not really. He’s interested in what I work on.” It happens quite often. I had offers on my first company within the first year, and he was one of them.

Niki tongues the rim of her snifter of Godiva liquor. Her dress shows a hefty amount of cleavage, but I can only think of Cyn’s sweet ass pressed against my groin.

“You could come by tonight,” she says.

I have no interest in Niki. “I have to work.”

She slams down the snifter, sloshing the liquor onto the table. “You always say that. What is it, Shane?” Anger flares her nostrils. She reminds me of a wolverine, teeth bared and crazy eyed.

“Let’s go.” I want to see Cyn. Niki and I together is never going to work.

She pouts, and all I can think about is Cyn in that skimpy nightie. It gives me an eternal hard-on.

I escort Niki outside and notice a row of black Escalades lined up across the street in valet. I pat my gun under my sport coat while uneasiness presses onto my chest. It wouldn’t protect me against automatic weapons, and I consider carrying my assault weapon. Living in Texas, I’ve seen how the Mexican cartels operate. I’d like to take Cyn and Willa away from Austin. They’re not safe here.

With one eye on the SUVs, I open the door for Niki.

When I drop her off, I peck her forehead, like I would my grandmother. She looks disappointed, but I don’t really care. My mind targets Cyn and all the naughty things I’d like to do to her.

Niki’s blue eyes sizzle with fury. “Why won’t you kiss me?”

I should end our relationship. “I don’t know that I want to continue dating you, Niki. You dumped me, and it was over the money I lost.”

Her expression softens. “You told me you might go to prison. What kind of life would we have had if you did? You’re probably not going to go now and you love me.”

Not anymore. “I don’t know about us. I’ll talk to you later.”

After she traipses into the sorority house, I leave. Going out with her is fruitless and pisses off Cyn.

I don’t notice anyone tailing me, but I drive around the block a few times before parking by Willa’s Camry.

When Cyn opens the door, she jumps onto me, wrapping those beautiful legs around me. My cock aches for this brave woman.

“Did you get my present?” I ask. It’ll make sleeping here easier for me.

“Now I don’t have room for my dresser.” She drags me by the arm to her bedroom.