Page 15 of Sinful Negotiations

“What’s wrong with you?”

“Nothing.”

Long fingers toyed with a few items on her desk, shifting them, and returning them to where she originally placed them. She tracked his movements but didn’t lift her eyes to his because she didn’t want to cry. Raw nerves had her on edge.

When her phone vibrated, she hit ignore. “Dammit. Whoever keeps calling is driving me insane.”

“What do you mean?”

“My phone rings all day and all night long, but no one speaks. It’s the oddest thing.”

“How long has this been going on?”

“Couple days.”

“Why didn’t you call or text me?”

Every muscle tensed in her body. How did she answer that? With Aidan, the truth was the best option. He always seemed to ferret it out of her somehow anyway. “I can’t be reliant on you for my problems. I want more than you can give. After wefinished at my place, I knew it. I don’t want to be a chess piece on the board anymore for anyone. Business comes first for you and always will.”

A sigh, a grunt, a shift, and he slid into one of her chairs with his fingers linked between his legs. “That’s not true. My life is complicated, Tessa.”

A lie.He offered the oldest line in the book. Aidan obviously didn’t send the white roses. Hurt, disappointment, and anger churned in her stomach as an automatic defense. “Right. You’re complicated and not the man I think you are because of some deep, dark secret.” Tessa huffed before finally locking eyes with him in challenge. “Did I forget anything?”

“Give me your phone.”

“What?”

Aidan snatched her phone off her desk, tossed it to the floor, and stomped it. “There. That takes care of the problem. I’ll order a new phone for you and have it delivered today.”

“You’re crazy.”

She expected a smartass retort or anger to match her own, but not the breathtaking smile spreading on his face. “Meet me downstairs this afternoon.”

“No.”

“Do you expect me to profess my undying love? Bring you roses?”

Tessa slammed her laptop closed so hard the screen possibly broke. “Fuck you, motherfucker, and get the fuck out of my office.”

His face tilted, but he still smiled. “Technically, it’s my office.”

“I can do the job, or I can quit right now. Your choice, Mr. Cross.” She made sure to enunciate each syllable.

Aidan bristled and leaned against the back of the chair, crossing one foot over his knee. “There’s that fire. If I’m right, I heard three different versions of fuck. Wound tight baby?”

Hate was too weak of a word to describe how she felt about Aidan Cross right now. She should quit, but he’d give her a blistering review to anyone who called for a reference if she did. “Why are we having this conversation? You said to keep it professional in the office.”

“Are you using my words against me?”

One eyebrow arched as Tessa crossed her arms over her breasts. “I am.”

His face tilted. “I like it.”

“Stop it.”

“Why? It’s fun. Maybe I’m bending the rules.”

“You’re a dick.”

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