Page 5 of Irresistible
I narrowed my eyes at the painting on my wall. What the hell was he up to?
“What kind of wager?”
I was never one to shy away from a bet, but with Luther… I wasn’t sure I’d like his terms. I wasn’t sure I trusted him.
Who was I kidding? I didn’t trust him.
“Casa Beautifulmagazine, it’s a—”
“Yes. Yes. I know what it is.” I rolled my eyes.Condescending prick.
“They want to showcase California designers, and they’ve decided to hold a competition.”
My eyes darted to the envelope Rita had handed me this morning.
“Shockingly, you’re one of the designers they’re interested in,” he droned on.
I couldn’t even be bothered by his patronizing tone. This opportunity was huge. Exposure in an international design magazine could skyrocket my career to the next level. And I’d just lost my most promising client—Noah.
“What of it?” I asked.
“I, too, was nominated. The magazine is asking readers to vote on their favorite design. If I’m the reader favorite, you’re mine for a night to do with as I please.”
A shiver of disgust raced down my spine. Luther was a talented designer, despite his underhanded tactics. But I would never,eversleep with him.
I was about to tell him to go fuck himself, but then he added, “Though, I understand if you’re too scared to make a bet you know you’ll lose.”
I gripped my phone, nearly crushing it. “You know what? You’re on,” I blurted before I could stop myself. “If I win, you will hook me up with access to your exclusive fabric supplier downtown. You will never,eversuggest that we sleep together again.Andyou’ll stop using the board to harass me.”
His deep chuckle reverberated through the phone.
“Do we have a deal?” I ground out, eager to get off the phone.
“We have a deal. Let’s meet for drinks to shake on it.”
“Let’s not and say we did.” I disconnected the call without saying goodbye.
I absolutely wouldnotsleep with Luther King.
I’d almost made that mistake once on a drunken New Year’s Eve, and I’d vowed never to let it happen again. I would not, could not, lose that bet. Which meant, I needed a new client with an incredible home in need of decorating and a large budget. Oh, and most importantly—someone who would give me carte blanche over the decisions.
So, pretty much everyone’s dream client, as rare and elusive as a unicorn. And I needed to find this person and finish designing their house by the end of the year. No big deal.
