Page 2 of Mister Rival

I grin, adjusting my suddenly hard cock as I quickly bring up her website on my computer. “You know, I think pink is your color.”

She sighs. She wants this deal, it’s the only reason she hasn’t hung up on me yet. And what kind of a guy would I be if I didn’t toy with my archrival just a little? “What are you rambling about now?”

“Your new website,” I say. “I love what you’re doing with your hair on the homepage. You look like a Grecian goddess, all that’s missing are the men in loincloths, fanning you with giant leaves while they feed you grapes and you sip wine from a golden goblet.”

“You just love fawning over me, don’t you? I guess some things never change,” she sighs. “Unlike some people, I have work to do, so if you’ll kindly pull your head out of your ass by three pm today, it’d be appreciated.”

I grin, my chin resting in my hand. I’m enjoying this way more than I should be. “Oh, shoot, I’d love to, but I have a tanning appointment I can’t possibly cancel last minute. Seems you’re shit outta luck until tomorrow.”

“Urgh! Fuck you!” This time she does hang up.

I pull the phone away from my ear and stare at it. Okay, maybe I am being a bit of an ass, but she’s had it coming.

Not only have Alison and I had beef since we were children, we’ve carried it on all through high school and into adulthood.

I know how it started, and we were both as bad as each other, but then she had to go and open up a rival realtor’s office right across town.

The woman is insane.

She’s also hot and my body reacts to her like nothing else. The fire in my veins at our back-and-forth rivalry has only gotten worse over the years, I doubt anything could truly douse it. And yet, she sends my pulse racing like I’m in high school all over again.

I glance down at my dick. “Don’t even think about it,” I mutter. “Those balls won’t be hanging there once she’s done with us.”

Chapter Two

ALISON

“Urgh!” I slam the receiver down into the cradle so hard, I’m surprised I don’t break it. “Asshole!”

On cue, my assistant, Alexis, comes running in worriedly. “Okay, who am I ticking off the Christmas card list today?” She taps her neat French-tipped fingernail on her iPad; that little device never seems to leave her side. I’m not complaining, Lexi is the best assistant I’ve ever had and has gotten me out of more than one situation where my acid tongue wouldn’t have been appreciated. Oh, I can hold my own, but Lexi has a magic touch that I’ve come to rely on. She’s my touchstone, my right-hand gal, and everything in between.

I value her opinion and she’s seen me at my worst. This is nothing.At only twenty-six you’d think we’d have nothing in common, but she’s surprisingly mature for her age.

“Christmas card list?” I scoff. “How about plotting his untimely death by a vicious Rottweiler mauling.”

“Let me guess? You just got off the phone with Tristan Lucas?” One eyebrow lifts above her thick-rimmed glasses, that frame a pretty face with green eyes and flawless makeup. Her sharp-edged blonde bob could cut glass, and though she’s only five-foot-two, she could kill a man at ten paces.

“You guessed it! And you’ll never guess what he said to me this time: ‘I’ve got a tanning appointment that I can’t possibly miss.’” I quote the air with my fingers and put on a deep voice. “He’s such an ass!”

Lexi rolls her lips the same time I narrow my eyes. “He’s a giant ass,” she says.

“Do you find this amusing?”

She shakes her head. “Um, nope.” I don’t miss the way she pops the ‘p’ and then giggles.

“What’s so funny?” I demand. “That man is insufferable! He won’t sign the co-brokered deal we’ve been working on!”

“What’s funny is how you two fight like cats and dogs, but there’s still a boat load of chemistry there.”

“Chemistry?” I balk like she’s gone mad.

“Haven’t you ever wondered?”

“Ever wondered what?” My patience is running thin, even though I’m fairly sure of where this is headed.

“You two.”

“Us two?”

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