Well Built (Book Boyfriend #3)(11)

"Here you go, Ms. Fisher," Daphne said, sweeping a hand through the doorframe. As soon as Ella walked inside the office, the young girl glanced at him and said, "Would you like the door left open or closed?"

Kyle casually leaned his backside against the desk behind him. Most everyone was gone for the evening, but the last thing he wanted right now was any kind of interruption. "Closed, please."

The girl did as he asked, and then he was completely alone with Ella for the first time in ten long years. She stopped a good five feet away from him, and the silence in the room was absolute as she quickly glanced around his office while he drank in the sight of her.

Yesterday had been all about business, but as he looked at her right now, all he could think of was pleasure and how much he still wanted and desired her on a gut-deep level-despite all the past hurt and pain still lingering between them. Not to mention any anger she might be harboring after losing the Piedmont building to him. It was hard to believe she still had that kind of intense effect on him when no other woman had ever come close to making him feel-and want-like she did.

At the auction the day before, in her T-shirt and jeans and hair pulled back into a loose braid, she'd been the pretty, wholesome girl-who'd grown into a woman's body-he remembered from high school. Today, she'd transformed into stunningly beautiful. She'd obviously put on just enough makeup to accentuate her light green eyes and long lashes, and the pale peach gloss on her lips drew his gaze to her lush mouth before he moved on to the gorgeous chestnut hair falling in soft waves around her shoulders and down her back. The overhead lighting caught on the natural red and gold undertones threading through the strands and made his fingers itch to touch.

If she'd meant to tease him with that short, flirty pale yellow skirt that skimmed a few inches above the knee and the white blouse that was buttoned low enough for him to glimpse a bit of cleavage and lace beneath-not to mention those heels that made her legs look endlessly long and prompted some indecent thoughts that would undoubtedly make her blush-then she'd succeeded. Why else would she wear something so fucking sexy, if not to addle his mind and divert his focus?

By the time he lifted his gaze back to her face, certain parts of his anatomy definitely felt heated and restless, but his concentration was just fine. It was a damn good thing he was an excellent multitasker, because he wasn't done enjoying the enticing view she presented, and he was certain she wasn't here for a social call. Balancing the two was no problem for him.

He gripped his fingers around the edge of the desk he was leaning against as they stared at each other for a long moment. Her gaze was guarded, her body language surprisingly composed despite the uneasy way she bit on that bottom lip of hers-which only served to remind him of how soft and pliant her sweet mouth used to feel beneath his.

"It's good to see you, Ella," he said, finally breaking the silence between them, though the raspy tone of his voice betrayed his casual air.

"You, too," she replied automatically.

A half smile twitched at the corner of his mouth. He wasn't quite sure he believed her. He doubted that she honestly felt it was good to see him, when she looked like she'd rather be anywhere but in the same space with him. He hated her polite reserve, her feigned indifference, and decided to use a little humor to cut through the tension a bit-because being on the receiving end of that cool facade of hers sucked.

"So, what brings you to Premier Realty?" he asked amicably, as if she were a friend instead of a foe. "Looking for a place in the city?"



       
         
       
        

She visibly shuddered. "God, no." Her aversion to Chicago came through loud and clear in the distasteful tone of her voice. Then, in a more no-nonsense and direct manner, she lifted her chin and said, "You know why I'm here, Kyle."

Ahhh, fuck. Just the sound of his name on her lips was enough to bring him to his knees. "I can't say I do," he fibbed as he continued to tease her, attempting to draw out a smile or, at the very least, see her relax with him. "I mean, you look like you're dressed for a Friday night in the city. Or maybe you just dropped by to say hi to your new business neighbor, since we'll be seeing a lot of each other over the next month or two?"

Her full, shiny lips pursed tightly in exasperation-not the reaction he'd been aiming for. "No, I came to make an offer to my hopefully soon-to-be ex-business neighbor."

Ouch. The emphasis on the word ex was especially painful for many reasons, but he wasn't dissuaded. Yet. "So, you came by to proposition me?" he asked in a flirtatious tone.