“Three,” Marie said with a shake of her head. “And you know it. After all, you’re the one who hired me.”
Did Reese hire everyone for Chloe?
Joel glanced back in the limo. Chloe was grabbing her high heels. He hadn’t even realized that she’d taken them off. He figured she’d slide them on and then exit the vehicle but—
She didn’t. Just held them in one hand and popped out of the car. “Sorry I kept you out so late, Marie.”
“You act like it’s unusual,” Marie replied. “We both know it’s not.”
Chloe shrugged.
“I’m crashing,” Reese declared. “See you all at lunch time. A civilized hour.” He headed for the giant, towering structure that passed for Chloe’s house.
Marie brushed past Joel. Reese was at the house’s door—holding it open for her. They whispered to each other before disappearing inside.
Chloe shut the back door of the vehicle. Stood there, still holding her shoes. She seemed lost in thought.
What in the hell have I gotten myself into? “I shouldn’t have come here.”
Her head turned toward him.
“We can be partners without me living at your house.”
“You’ll be living in the guest house. Not the main house.” She turned to the left. Started walking away. Her bare feet padded over the walkway as her high heels dangled from her fingers. “Unless you’d prefer to be at the main house. There’s certainly plenty of room in there.”
He lumbered after her as his gaze swept to the left and the right in a vain effort to take everything in. A big, stone fence surrounded the property. Security cameras were discreetly perched along the perimeter. “Uh, Marie, she’s your driver?”
“Marie does lots of things.”
That was a vague answer. “She was driving tonight.”
“Because I needed her to drive tonight. Someone had to drop me off at your place. And then someone had to bring Reese over later. So, tonight, she was my driver.”
“You planned everything out, didn’t you?” He reached for her arm.
She stilled. Looked down at his fingers, then turned toward him. They’d stopped at the edge of a massive swimming pool. Water poured from two nearby fountains, splashing into the deep pool. “I like to plan things,” she confessed. “But I can see that bothers you.”
“I don’t like being manipulated.”
“I would think most people don’t.” She gazed up at him.
He hated that there wasn’t more light. He wanted to see into her eyes. To figure out just what was going on inside her head.
“The guest house is behind me. You will, of course, have full access to the pool—it’s heated, by the way—and to the exercise room.” Her shoulders rolled back. “You have full access to the entire property. I’ll have Reese make arrangements to bring your belongings—and your motorcycle—over so that you can get comfortable.”
“I can take care of moving my own damn things. If I stay,” he added.
“You’re considering not staying?”
“We can work together without living together.”
She nodded. Turned and headed for the guest house. One story. Made of the same heavy, white bricks that matched the main house. She bent and pulled a key from beneath the rug in front of the door. She unlocked the door and handed him the key. “For you, in case you decide to stay.”
He took the key. Just because, dammit. His fingers tangled with hers and a hot surge of attraction shot through his body. He caught the quick inhale of her breath and knew she’d felt the same thing he just had.
Only instead of saying something, she crossed the threshold, walked inside, and flipped on the lights—
“No.” He wasn’t playing her game. “You feel it.”
“Excuse me?”
“You know I want you.”
Chloe glanced over her shoulder. “You’re being very honest.”
“Why the hell would I lie about something like that? You’re a gorgeous woman, and you know it.”
“Different people have vastly different ideas of beauty.”
He stalked toward her. The guest house was much bigger than it had appeared on the outside. Giant, sweeping ceiling. Windows everywhere. But he barely glanced at the surroundings. He was focused on her. “Then let me be clear. I find you beautiful.”
She nodded.
Didn’t say anything else. But she did walk toward the room on the right. The room he figured had to be the bedroom.
A rough laugh broke from him. “You feel it, too. I know you do. I can see it when we touch. You get the same surge I do.”
Her head cocked as she paused in the doorway.
“And you bring me to your house. You get your brother to try and buy me?