“That’s not true.”
He leaned close and murmured, “Stop lying, sweetheart. You were jealous. Just like I was whenever you mentioned Brandon or went out with him, like when you had lunch with him today. You think I didn’t notice? I notice everything you do, angel.”
I tried to break free of his strong hold on my arm but got nowhere. “Fine, I was jealous,” I admitted. “Are you happy? Can I go now?”
“No. We need to fix this. We can’t continue working together as a team if you think you can go running off to tell Max every time you feel troubled.”
I made a point of wiggling my arm. “Then stop troubling me.” He released me, and I stepped back. He stepped forward, but I held my ground. His nearness sent fire dancing through my veins and I could feel my arousal for him escalating.
“Admit it, angel; you like it when I trouble you,” he said as he looked me over. “You’re just too chicken to let me in.”
My eyes narrowed. “That is so not true. Take that back right now,” I said with my hands on my hips.
He grinned. “No way, it’s true. You’re too afraid to come and get what you want, and we both know what it is.”
“I changed my mind. We work together and you’re my brother’s best friend. Being involved with one another would be a really bad idea.” Crap, even I knew that was a lame excuse.
He pointed to the door. “Look at Max and Jada. She’s your best friend, isn’t she? And Max married her.” Damn, I hated it when he was right.
“That’s different. Max wasn’t a stalker.”
He laughed. “Oh, right, and I am?”
“You may as well be.”
“How about you just prove to me that you are not scared? Put me in my place, angel.”
I knew exactly where the conversation was leading. “So, now you want me to go out with you? And that will prove to you I’m not scared of this thing between us? Get real, Zane; that is just ridiculous!”
He shook his head, looking entirely too sure of himself. “Go to the Security Convention with me. Spend three days by my side in Queensland. I want you to prove to me you can resist this chemistry between us. If you resist, I promise I’ll leave you alone. I won’t bother you again. Ever.
“I know exactly what you’re thinking. You just want to get me tipsy so you can take advantage of me again. I’m not dense!”
He stepped closer and touched the tip of my nose. It was completely platonic, nothing flirtatious in the touch at all. Yet he may as well have touched my breasts; I was so turned on by him.
“No way, sweetheart. You know better than that. I would want you alert for what I have in mind.” He paused before adding, “What do you say? Can you handle three days alone with me? Or is it too much temptation for you?”
I should have walked out. Turned around and walked away. I couldn’t let him suck me in. My inner voice was ignored. Instead, I stepped forward, barely grazing his hard body with the tips of my breasts. Even through the material of our clothes, I felt my nipples harden as if begging for more. I felt him tense.
His gaze narrowed. The atmosphere around us was electrifying.
I lifted myself onto my toes and whispered, “Bring it on.”
He licked his lips and cupped my chin in his palm. “You’re going to push me too far one of these days, angel.”
I didn’t speak.
I couldn’t even if I wanted to. I just stood there, our bodies barely touching, Zane staring at my gaping mouth. When he released me and stepped back, I nearly wilted. Did I want him to kiss me? Hell yes, I did! I craved his touch and I wanted him to kiss the ever-living hell out of me.
Three days. Three whole days of Zane Mitchell with me at a Brunetti Resort.
Yep, it was official – I had totally lost my mind.
***
ZANE
I fixed my gaze on her as I watched her quietly leave my office, my eyes glued to her hot-as-fuck arse. The navy, knee-length skirt fit her just right, hugging her hips and arse like it was a work of art. I didn’t let myself smile until she’d pulled the door closed.
I mentally started rearranging meetings. The convention was the following week, and I had plenty of work to get through before then. Thankfully, I’d planned ahead and asked Winter to register Mia and me for the convention weeks before. Winter reserved two rooms and she’d also taken care of the flight details. The itinerary for the event sat on my desk for all to see. For a minute there when Mia was in the office, I was worried she had spotted it, but I managed to cover it with some folders in record time.
Sweet Jesus, three days of Mia Brunetti. If everything went according to plan, I’d be spending the entire three days exploring her delectable body. Fuck the convention; all I could imagine was her naked, that sassy mouth wrapped around my cock as I licked her slick pussy.