She stopped inches in front of him, her heels making her nearly the same height as he was. He had to stop himself from touching her—from finding out if her pale skin was as soft as it looked.
“Yes?” His voice sounded husky, and he cleared his throat.
She held out her hand. Did she want him to take it? Would she lead him to the nearest empty office and—
“Your phone. You left it behind.”
“Quite so.” He tugged at the collar of his shirt and then took it from her, holding it up like a prize. Fitting since he was a prize fool. “Thank you so much, Ms. Simpson.”
She beamed at him. “Call me Ella.”
“As long as you agree to call me Blake. This Mr. York nonsense makes me feel rather old.” And like his father—a wastrel of man who gambled away what was left of the family fortune by the time Blake was seventeen.
“Deal.”
“Would you care to... ah, have lunch with me?” he asked.
The light in her dark eyes dimmed a little. “I’m sorry, but I already have a date—I mean, a business lunch—scheduled with Drew.”
He didn’t miss that she had to correct herself. “Tomorrow?”
She hedged. “Drew might need me at the last minute. I’d hate to have to cancel.”
“Your boss is very demanding. Perhaps you should request a transfer—I’m much more accommodating.” He winked, and then leaned into her a little, lowering his voice. “The pay is better and saying, ‘I can’t answer the phone because I’m on Facebook’ is a legitimate excuse.”
Her smile turned into a grin. “If only, but Drew needs me.”
Blake needed her. “When he doesn’t, perhaps you’ll accept my offer?”
She nodded, auburn hair shining under the lights. “Promise.”
As she walked away, Blake stood there, watching as her curvy hips swayed. “I’ll hold you to that.”
***
Blake surveyed the private room at King’s. It was plush, well stocked, and manned by a young woman wearing a snakeskin-print bustier and black shorts that left little to the imagination.
Only, he wouldn’t imagine anything. The woman, more like a girl, couldn’t be more than twenty-one. Even if there weren’t a decade between them in age, he wouldn’t have touched her. No matter how hard she tried to get him to.
“Is this usually where you get up to?” he asked Andrew. No, Drew. Andrew had insisted that Blake call him Drew.
Their comely server bent at the waist, putting her breasts practically in Blake’s face.
Annoyance flashed in Drew’s green eyes.
“Love, could you give us some privacy?” Blake asked, deliberately laying on the posh accent.
She giggled. “Call me when you need me.”
“And that will be never,” he muttered as soon as the door shut behind her.
“Either we’re getting older or they’re getting younger,” Drew remarked.
“A little of both, I suspect.”
“You didn’t want what she’s been offering for the past fifteen minutes?” Drew asked.
Was this a test? Had he been setup? “I enjoyed the display, but I won’t be sampling or buying.”
“Good man.” Drew’s phone buzzed. “Damn it.”
“What?”
“Just my luck is what. First time is weeks I’ve had the chance to relax, and Ella’s computer goes on the fritz. She says she’s locked out.” His head fell back as he rubbed the bridge of his nose. “Guess I’ll have to cut this short.”
“I’ll take care of it.” Blake motioned for Drew to sit. “After all, my computer skills are one of the reasons your father hired me.”
Drew gave him an appraising glance. “Hacking is a computer skill?”
Blake felt heat rising in his face, but he refused to feel shame. “For those who lack any other type of skill, yes.”
“Since when does royalty need any other skills besides charm?” Drew grinned. “That’s reason two my father hired you.”
Blake was so far removed from being royalty that it was laughable, but he wasn’t about to correct Drew, or defend what he had done once he’d reached adulthood. A man had to do what he could to survive to provide for his family.
“Quite.” He grabbed his phone and pocketed it. “I’ll be off. Consider a raincheck, yes?”
Drew nodded. “Next time I have off.”
*
In no time at all, Blake arrived at Montgomery Industry. He waited impatiently while the elevator whisked him up to the top floor of the building. Blood pounded in his head, his heart kicked against his chest, and his entire body was alive with anticipation.