Page 35 of Cocky Prince
I let out my breath and scoot back from under the desk. As I do, I spot the key leaning against the leg post. I look over my shoulder and capture his gaze. “How did you know it was me?” I reach for the key while he’s staring at my face.
He looks pointedly at my ass and grins lazily.
“That’s sexual harassment, you know.” I hobble to my feet in my four-inch spiked heels—wishing I’d chosen a more practical pair for today—the key snugly in my palm.
He walks over and peers around the desk, and I slide the key back into Mr. Pirate’s treasure chest when he’s not looking. “Oh please. It’s not sexual harassment to recognize someone from…behind.” His gaze flickers suggestively.
My mouth twists. “Very funny.”
He tips his head at the floor. “What were you doing down there? And don’t tell me you dropped something. That look of guilt you’re sporting tells me everything I need to know.”
“Fine, I won’t tell you I dropped something.” I move to walk away. “Goodbye, Adam.”
He grabs my hand and tugs me toward him, my shoulder lightly bumping his chest. “Don’t do this.” His eyes are sincere, for once.
My smug grin fades. “Do what?”
“Don’t get involved, Hayden.”
“Why would an iceman like you care?” There’s only one reason I can think of, and it must be because he doesn’t want to get caught, along with the rest of the casino execs, after I figure out what they’re up to.
“I prefer caveman.” He tucks a lock of hair behind my ear and his eyes drop to my mouth, his expression filled with concern that slowly shifts into something more…heated. Lots of heat behind those eyes.
My head swims. His hand is warm and wrapped around mine, his chest large and protective, brushing my left breast. Suddenly his actions don’t seem selfish.
I exhale on a shaky breath. I hate the physical effect he has on me. It’s screwing with my head. Adam is guilty. He’s in with Blackwell and the others. I know it, but I can’t look away from his mouth.
His lips are a shade darker than his lightly tanned skin, the bottom one fuller than the top. I want him to press his mouth to mine and hold me—tell me it’s going to be okay. Because Adamisthe ice king. Nothing gets to him. And even though he’s working with the enemy, I could stand to have his strength. You’d have to be a rock to keep it together and never show weakness. I wish I were that strong. I’m not sure whether to admire him or despise him, but my body says admire. Definitely admire.
He swallows and takes a step back. His eyes have changed, the intensity burning behind them no longer filled with desire. “Dammit, Hayden, stop getting involved.” He brushes past me, and strides out the door.
My chest slumps, whatever string he was holding that kept me suspended in place snapped.
I don’t want Adam to be anything other than what I pegged him for on his first day of work when he didn’t remember me. He’s supposed to be shallow and self-serving.
But shallow, self-serving assholes don’t bother to warn girls of danger. And right now, I can’t tell if he’s more worried about his own skin, or mine.
Chapter Fifteen
My dad ladlesjasmine rice on his plate, followed a moment later by yellow chicken curry and pad Thai noodles. We decided on our favorite Thai restaurant after he picked me up from work for our dinner date.
“So my tour with Adam was short.” He gives me a disgruntled look, as though it’s my fault.
“I’m sure he was busy,” I say distractedly. I haven’t gotten over the anger on Adam’s face when he left me this afternoon. It should bother me that for a moment he looked like he was going to kiss me, but nope. It was the angry part I didn’t like.
My dad passes the noodles. “I got the impression there was tension between you two.”
Understatement.“Adam and I are always at each other’s throats. We don’t get along.” No need for him to know every source of my and Adam’s frustrations.
Dad shovels in a forkful of food, his forehead scrunched in thought. He chews for a moment. “That’s not what I picked up. During the tour it seemed like he wanted to get back to you. Just be careful. Workplace relationships can get complicated.”
“Dad, there’s no relationship.” How do I explain Adam to my father? “If Adam wanted to get back to me, it was to give me a hard time.”
“Did he? Go back and give you a lecture?”
Adam caught me snooping and warned me off, so… “Yes.”
My dad pours tea into the tiny restaurant teacup. “He’s not your boss, is he?”
