life. And you thought it was with him. I couldn’t let you believe that. I had to convince you that anything you felt that night was for me, not him. But you hated me. So, before I could tell you the truth, I had to make you actually like me. And in the meantime, I had to keep Myles the hell away from you.”
“Then you admit this all has to do with Myles,” I conclude, disappointed. “You only made your move once he started coming after me. I assume you never would have told me the truth otherwise?”
His face contorts into disgust. “The only thing Myles has to do with our situation is being a giant pain in my ass. He’s been a complication and nothing more. My plan was set in motion long before you met him.”
“Your plan?” I fume indignantly. “Want to clue me into exactly what your plan was, boss man?”
He takes a step toward me. “You’re not the type of woman who likes to feel pushed around or backed into a corner. Right away, I knew I was going to have to take my time with you. That’s what this last year has been about.”
“If I can just cut through the bouillon here,” I stop him. “You’re saying that constantly antagonizing me and arguing at every opportunity was taking your time?”
He grins ruefully. “How many other men in your life have challenged you? How many of them think like you do? Get you as worked up as I do?”
“And you’re proud of that?” I blurt out, aghast. “You’re proud of driving me to my breaking point every day?”
He takes a final lunge forward until our bodies are inches apart. “Hell, yes, I’m fucking proud of that. Because Gretchen Castellanos is a steel vault. No one gets under your skin. No one throws you off your game. No one…but me. Tell me I’m wrong.”
I can’t.
He looks pleased by my silence. “You never let your emotions rule you. Only when you’re around me. And that means something. If you didn’t care at all, you’d have more control with me.”
My lips purse. “I lose my temper when I’m around you. That’s it. What makes you think we’d ever work well together outside of this office?”
“The fact that neither of us was able to forget that first night we had,” he answers confidently. “That day in my office with Myles was the first time I knew for sure that you remembered it. Even all those months later, you couldn’t get it out of your head, same as me.” He stiffens, his muscles locking up. “Then you went and suggested that whole ‘one time only’ bullshit. Jesus, I had to talk you into an entire night. You can’t begin to imagine how fucking angry that made me.”
“Why?”
“Because it felt like I was cursed to only ever have one night with you! And I couldn’t accept that. I needed so much more. Constantly being around you and not having you was torture. I’d leave work every day feeling like I’d once again failed with you. You were still resisting me, yet I was drugged for you. You were my drug.”
I recall his words from the night in the viewing room.
This. This is what I’ve needed for so long. Finally, finally, finally…
Feel that, Gretchen. Feel me and know who’s inside you. Fucking remember it.
I feel his body heat seeping into my bones, but I stand my ground. “You’re saying that the hostile dynamic of our relationship has all been a ploy to make me like you?”
“Not a ploy, duchess. I’ve never been anything but myself around you. I’ve just been more persistent about it. You’ve been stuck in my head ever since we met at that bar. It’s only fair that I be stuck in yours.”
Mission accomplished, soldier.
I lift my chin. “Tell me why. Why put all this effort into someone you slept with one time? Only to find out later that she was also your employee.”
His nostrils flare. “If you were sitting in the viewing room the whole time Myles was in here, then you already know why.”
Ah, right. The love part.
“Can’t say it again?” I taunt.
“I’ve already said it more than you.”
“Who says that’s how I feel?”
“Let’s solve that little mystery right now, then.” He takes my chin between his thumb and index finger, his grip unyielding. “Is that how you feel, Gretchen?”
I open my mouth, but nothing comes out and I don’t know why.
“Simple yes or no question.”
I slam the