Page 16 of Her Every Fantasy

Christ, everything about her turned me on. It was becoming a huge fucking problem.

The doors opened directly into the store and, relieved, I stepped onto the polished floors. On either side of the entryway were already fitted glass and African oak cabinets that would display her world-famous lingerie come opening day. Against a back wall, boxes were piled high with fittings yet to be installed.

I headed over to them but a quick inspection showed none of them contained the special chandelier she’d ordered.

‘It’s not here,’ I confirmed.

Her lips compressed, drawing my attention to the soft, glossy curves. ‘Is there any way to track it down?’

I drew my gaze from her mouth. ‘Of course, but let’s check upstairs first. We’re using one of the floors designated for office space as temporary storage. It may have been sent there.’

‘And if it’s not?’

‘One problem at a time, rosebud.’

She inhaled sharply and her gaze darted to mine. ‘Why do you still call me that?’

I grimaced inwardly. Didn’t I ask that same question of myself a little while ago? I made a beeline for the door, more to escape my own question. ‘Would you prefer I didn’t?’ I parried.

‘I’d prefer you didn’t treat me like some unwanted stranger you can’t wait to be rid of.’ There was a throb of irritation in her voice.

‘You asked for my help. Here I am.’

‘And you look like this is the last place you want to be. Am I really that vile?’

I gritted my teeth and pressed the button for the lift. ‘Jesus. Since when did you get so melodramatic?’

She stalked into the lift, anger flashing across her face. ‘Fine, since you’ve been avoiding my calls I’m guessing you still don’t want anything to do with me, but can we keep things at least civil between us? I wouldn’t have called you if your foreman was available so if you think I have some sort of agenda going on here, then think again. All I want is my chandelier and a date of when it’ll be installed and I’ll be out of your hair, okay?’

I couldn’t look away from the pulse racing at her throat, the bright shine to her eyes. Hell, the sheer magnificence of her face. Every part of her that my gaze touched cemented what I’d suspected since her email had landed in my inbox.

I was well and truly screwed. In all the ways imaginable.

‘All right, calm down. We’ll get to the bottom of where your precious chandelier is.’

‘And then?’

I sighed. ‘And then I’ll buy you dinner to make up for the delay and inconvenience. Does that work for you?’

That wicked little smile quirked the corners of her mouth again. ‘How can I refuse such a gracious offer? I’ll dismiss my driver.’

She drew her phone from her clutch. Slender fingers pressed a button before lifting the handset to her ear. In sultry tones, she dispatched her driver for the night. As she returned her phone to her clutch, the tip of her tongue flitted out to lick the corner of her lip, and it suddenly occurred to me that I’d never kissed her, despite having gone down on her twice.

I continued staring at her mouth as she zipped up the purse. A mouth I was having a hard time dragging my gaze from as the lift hurtled us into the sky before gliding to a stop on the fortieth floor.

The doors slid open. Waited.

‘Are you planning on getting out?’ she asked, those sleek eyebrows raised at me.

Stifling a curse, I waved her ahead of me. She sashayed her way out, the stunning hourglass figure that had made her millions as a plus-size model taunting every red-blooded cell in my body.

Yeah. Definitely screwed.

We found her chandelier tucked in amongst the previous day’s delivery with a worksheet that said it was slated to be installed on Monday.

She inspected the crate thoroughly and then scrutinised the sheet before stepping back.

‘Satisfied?’ I asked.