Misadventures with the Boss (Misadventures #12)(7)

“Oh, well, you’d think that the older sibling is the one who thinks they know everything, but when it comes to Hailey—my sister—it’s totally different. My parents let her get away with murder, so she basically thinks a person can do anything they want.”

“And why can’t they?” He raised his eyebrows.

“Well…” I swallowed hard. “You know, responsibilities and stuff.”

“So what do you want to do right now that you feel like you can’t? What would your sister do?”

Rip your clothes off and tell you to have your way with me…

No, wait. Where did that even come from?

I swallowed hard and shook my head. “Nothing comes to mind.”

“Well, you tell me when something does.”

I nodded, sucking in my cheeks as I looked away for what felt like the millionth time. The intensity of his gaze was beginning to get to me, and already I wanted to fan myself, despite the comfortable temperature of the room.

“Tell me something else,” he said, and his fingers brushed against mine.

I glanced down, all too aware of the electric tingle coursing through my body at his touch.

“I don’t know,” I spluttered. “But I’m starting to wonder what my sister wrote about me on my profile.”

“You haven’t seen it?” He raised his eyebrows.

“Nope. Like I said, she does what she wants.”

“But you’re still here. Why?” he asked, cocking his head and eyeing me speculatively.

“Because…I was curious,” I admitted.

“And is your curiosity satisfied now?” He sipped his drink.

I opened my mouth to answer and then closed it. Why did it feel like everything out of this guy’s mouth was just some method to get me to admit that I wanted him, rough and ready, from the second I’d laid eyes on him?

And, more importantly, why did I like that about him?

What was happening to me? Where was homebody, keep-to-herself Piper?

“You’re not the usual kind of guy I see,” I confessed, hoping he wouldn’t notice my sudden change of subject.

“No?” he asked. “How is that?”

“You’re just different.”

“I got that.” The slight smile returned, and I took another sip of my drink to steady myself.

“Do you always dress like this?” I pointed to his suit.

“Duty calls. I work a lot.”

“Yeah, I was getting that vibe,” I said.

“And what other vibe are you getting?”

That you want me to slide off my panties and give them to you as a trophy?

“That you’re used to getting what you want,” I said, compromising. That was true too and a little safer.

“I am.” This time the smile was a full-on grin, like a wolf who’d just spotted a tasty-looking sheep.

My heart thudded a little faster in my chest, and I gripped my drink, swirling it nervously.

It was safe to say this was the most intense—and somehow terrifying—conversation I’d ever had with a man, but I still couldn’t work up the courage to get up and go.

And more than that?

I didn’t want to. Not even a little bit. My blood was singing as my brain tried to imagine what would happen from here.

Something about this guy—whether it was his dark stare or the way he smiled like he hadn’t had much practice at it—intrigued me. Attracted me. Just looking at his rugged square jaw made me need to squeeze my thighs together to quell the ache rising there.

He was the most handsome man I’d ever set eyes on, and there was no doubt what he wanted from me…and what I wanted to give him in return.

Swallowing hard, I forced myself to press on, if only to avoid being swallowed up by his gaze.

“Actually, uh”—I cleared my throat—“I didn’t see your profile. My sister just sort of picked you for me.”

“And you’re starting to wonder what it says about me? Since I’m so different than the guys you normally hook up with and all?” He raised his eyebrows, his lips tilting into a slight smirk.

“Sort of.” If he only knew.

“I can tell you in a nutshell.” He took a sip of his drink. “The picture of me is from a magazine article I was in a few years back.”

“Magazine?”

He nodded. “I don’t actually like the picture, but it was handy.”

“Apparently it was enough to impress my sister,” I said.

“And is she less discerning than you? Is that why I’m so different from your usual dates?”

I smiled, starting to relax into our banter for a brief second. “That’s not what I said.”

“But is it what you meant?”

I glanced away and swirled my drink, thinking hard. “I’m just…a low-key kind of girl. I’m betting that magazine was, what…forty under forty successful bachelors?”

“Close. Thirty under thirty. It was a few years ago.” He tipped his glass toward me in silent cheers for the guess.

“See? Yeah, I’ve never been out with a guy like you.”

“Until now.”

“Until now,” I agreed.

“And what do you think so far?” he asked, his gaze appraising me.