Hot Asset (21 Wall Street #1)(37)

“So you haven’t come out that side door and made out with club bunnies?” I ask.

“Nah, I have,” he says, stepping toward the sidewalk and lifting a hand to hail a cab.

“Right,” I mutter, unable to keep the grumpiness out of my voice.

“For what it’s worth,” he says, not looking at me as a cab pulls to a stop in front of us. “When I make out with you, it won’t be against the wall of a seedy club. And I will definitely remember it.”

“What do you mean, when?” I say, staring at his profile. “I told you—”

He puts a hand over my mouth and opens the cab door with the other.

“Where do you live?” he asks, lifting his hand from my face so I can answer.

Too confused to think clearly, I give him my address, which he relays to the driver before motioning me inside.

I pull off my sunglasses as I climb into the back seat. “Ian—”

He puts a playful finger against my lips. “That’s Mr. Bradley to you. For now.” He winks and shuts the door.

I turn around as the cab pulls away from the curb and watch as he lifts his arm, hailing another cab for himself. When it stops, he turns toward me and grins, as though knowing I’m watching him.

He fades from view as my cab takes a right turn, and I flop back against the seat, shaking my head. “Unbelievable.”

But I’m smiling.





19

IAN

Week 4: Monday Morning

I look up at the knock on my door, and though I love Kate Henley like a sister, I feel a stab of disappointment that it’s not Lara. And because she’s like a sister, Kate totally calls me on it.

“I saw that,” she says, waggling a finger at me as she comes into my office. “You sulked.”

“I don’t sulk.”

“Not usually, no. Just apparently when your crush isn’t here.”

“Is this conversation optional?” I mutter, turning back to my computer screen.

She settles into the chair across from me. “You’re sulking and grumpy. That’s usually Kennedy’s gig.”

“I’m not grumpy.”

“Little bit,” she says, holding up her fingers.

“You know I can fire you, right?”

“Not without Matt’s and Kennedy’s agreement.” She smiles sweetly as she crosses her legs and settles in. “Now, tell Kate alllll about what’s bothering you. Relationship problems?”

“Go away.”

“Oh, that’s right,” she muses, as though I haven’t spoken. “You don’t do relationships.”

I look at her. “I do relationships.”

“Um, no. Matt sometimes does. You, never. I don’t think Kennedy even knows how to date.” She furrows her brow.

“That’s bullshit. I’ve had girlfriends.” One. Sort of.

“You’re thinking of Anne? That was four years ago. And it lasted for, what, two weeks? Barely counts.” She looks down at her pale-pink manicure. “So, about Lara . . .”

My gaze sharpens. “Since when are you two on a first-name basis? You’ve been calling her ‘the SEC’ for weeks.”

She waves this away. “Keep your enemies close and all that. Plus, she’s one of the only females in this place, and ovaries bond with ovaries.”

“Nope. Out,” I say, pointing to the door.

Kate doesn’t budge. “You can’t be thinking of seducing her.”

I sit back and allow myself to ask the question out loud that’s been on my mind all weekend. “Why not?”

“Because she’s not like one of your usual women,” she says incredulously. “She’s not some party girl out for a quick lay. Hell, Ian, she’s not out for a lay at all. Not with you. Not as long as she’s investigating you.”

Just what I need, another person reminding me that Lara’s off-limits.

“Was there something you needed from me, or were you just here to deliver the lecture?” I ask with a bit more bite than usual.

“It’s Dave’s birthday next week. Want me to get him something? Spare TV?”

“Nah, see if you can get season tickets to the Flyers. Best seats you can find.”

“I thought he liked baseball,” Kate says, making a note in her phone.

“He likes anything where yelling, beer, and junk food are encouraged.”

“Hockey it is.” She taps a few more times. “It’s Lara’s birthday next week, too,” she says, not looking up from her phone.

I jerk to attention. “It is?”

She looks up and grins. “I have no idea. Just wanted to see if I was right about your interest in her, and I totally am. Ask her out.”

I close my eyes. “Kate. You’re giving me whiplash. You just said I couldn’t ask her out.”

“That’s when I thought you just wanted to sleep with her. Now I know that you like her.”

“Jesus,” I mutter, running my hands through my hair.

“No wonder you’ve been moody,” she says, leaning forward. “Have you kissed her yet?”

“Bye, Kate,” I say, waving her toward the door.

She studies me. “Have you ever even been on a date, Ian?”