Dirty Little Secret: A Billionaire Romance Duet - Mika Lane Page 0,37
for the door.
With my hand on the knob, I turned back to him. “Thank you. I had a very hot time.”
He took a step toward me but stopped. “Can I walk you downstairs?”
I looked down at my high heels, then back up at him. My attraction to him was palpable, but my irritation with myself was even stronger. “If you don’t mind, I’d like to see myself out. Good night.”
“Good night, B.”
I flew out the door, down the stairs, and blended into the crowd. The last thing I wanted was for him to watch me leave. Our physical compatibility was undeniable, and it was shitty to deceive him and use him for my story.
He would never know the important role he’d be playing in my reporting, and I planned to keep it that way. I could see it now: The Man in the Venetian Mask…
I might have just found my opening line.
Chapter 26
Varden
I gazed out my office’s floor-to-ceiling windows, which overlooked San Francisco and the gorgeous Bay Bridge.
My admin had just brought my third cup of coffee for the morning. My late night drowsiness had been chased off by caffeine, only to be replaced by the jitters. And to be honest, some disappointment in the way Saffi had hit the road.
Crazy. Our “thing” could never go anywhere, anyway. And I was a shit for deceiving her. But on the other hand, I’d been able to come. I couldn’t pretend that wasn’t a big deal.
A knock sounded at my office door.
“Come in.”
Our newest associate, an attractive young woman named Dani, walked in. She wore a snug dress outlining her curves and those high-heeled ankle boots that all the women seemed to be wearing. No wonder the younger guys in the office were going crazy over her.
“Dani. What can I do for you?”
“Well, Mr. Gallagher—”
“Dani, I told you to call me Varden.”
She blushed. “Right. Varden.” She approached my desk and gingerly touched its beveled edge.
“Did you need something?” The coffee jitters had given way to a pounding headache, leaving me in no mood for someone who couldn’t get to the point.
“I did. I mean, I do. Need something,” she said, looking down at the desk.
I waited.
She took a deep breath. “I need some help with the valuation of that new company we have coming in.”
She finally looked at me. “I was wondering if we could work on it over drinks or dinner sometime this week.”
Jesus Christ. Last thing I fucking needed.
“I’m happy to work with you on this, but we’ll be sticking to office hours.”
She walked around my desk to half-sit on the corner of it, parting her knees so I could see the top of her thigh highs, and…oh, shit. She wasn’t wearing panties.
Was she really doing this? Really?
“What do you think?” she said softly.
It was all I could do to keep from kicking her the hell out.
“I gotta tell you right now, this is not gonna happen. I don’t hook up with my employees. Ever.” I stood to put some space between us.
She looked surprised. A beautiful woman unaccustomed to being told no. She crossed her arms. “Okay. That’s fine. Then I’ll quit.”
“What?”
Was she insane?
“You heard me. I’ll quit if that means I can sleep with you.” She stuck her chin out.
“Actually”—I shook my head—“it does not mean anything of the sort.” I had to admit, however, that her ballsiness was kind of hot.
I rose from my chair, and without turning my back on her, made my way to the office door. Pulling it open, I peeked out for my admin.
She was there, thank god. I sent her our secret signal—the okay sign— that said I needed saving. I’d used it in several instances over the years, although never for one quite like this.
She rushed right in and Dani popped off my desk, her skirt sliding back to its proper place.
“Dani,” she exclaimed, heading straight for her with long, fast strides. “Someone was just walking down the hall, looking for you. I think I heard something about an urgent meeting?”
“Oh! On my way.” Dani went running out of the office, her heels clicking down the hall until she could no longer be heard.
“Whew,” I said. “Thank you. I owe ya.”
“My pleasure. Is everything all right?” Her gray hair and glasses hanging from her neck reminded me of a librarian. She was the best admin anyone could ever want.
“Yeah. Do me a favor. Don’t let her in here again unless it’s with a group of people. She could be trouble. And