The One Who Got Away (Wilde Ways #12) - Cynthia Eden Page 0,14

Ella. He tried to take control of the conversation before things deteriorated even more. “I came here because you know I’m opening a new office and factory in the area. I had planned to get a second home near the city.” He’d already acquired the home. “I was planning a trip to Atlanta regardless of whether or not you were here.”

Her hands slid away from him.

He immediately missed her touch. “I need a bodyguard. I trust you. I want you.” In every way imaginable. “If you take the case, you can conveniently slide into my life. We can tell people that you left Shark because we wanted to become involved. That can be the cover. No one will question why you are suddenly at my side for private events. Why you’re living in my new house. Why you are—”

“Staying in your bed?” Her voice was emotionless.

Yes, please. A thousand times yes. Wisely, he kept his mouth shut.

“Is that the plan?” Ella pushed. “You’re going to pay for me to be your bodyguard because you think you can sleep with me again?”

He’d definitely messed this up. When it came to personal relationships, he just sucked. Straight-up sucked. How many times had his sister warned him that he needed to learn to be more suave? Charming?

But charm had always been his best friend Sebastian’s department. Sebastian was the one the media loved. He could grin and have everyone falling at his feet. Sebastian always knew the right things to say and do. He did the glamor work, and Antony liked to hide behind the scenes. The better to not piss everyone off.

The way he was pissing off Ella.

No, charm was not his strong suit. He could never act like Sebastian. Hell, the guy had even charmed Antony’s sister into marrying him.

I am definitely not charming Ella. Quite the opposite. Obviously. Maybe he should call Sebastian and ask for some tips. Sebastian wanted Ella back with the company, too.

“Forget it,” she told him flatly. “You can’t buy me.”

Tell him something he didn’t already know. “Ella—”

“I have a real case waiting on me.” She brushed past him, but before her head turned away from him, he could have sworn…wait, had those been tears in her eyes?

He had to touch her. Ella’s pain knifed right through him. His fingers lifted toward her shoulder.

But she yanked open the door and stormed away.

Antony released the breath that he hadn’t even realized he’d been holding. That chat hadn’t gone so well. In fact, he didn’t think it could have gone much worse. His hand raked over his jaw. Ella had rejected him and left him in the dust.

Good thing he had a backup plan in place.

***

A light knock rapped against Ella’s office door. Her head immediately whipped up, and she found Eric standing in her doorway. She’d just stopped by her office to grab her bag before heading out to meet her client.

He cleared his throat. “Wanted to confirm with you…that’s a no on the Antony Kyle case?”

She opened her mouth. Closed it.

“I see.” He nodded. “How about you take some time to think it over?”

“I have a client waiting. I was just about to head over to the recording studio.”

“Yes, about that case…”

She tensed.

“I already have that covered. I sent your partner down. Niesha can handle things with the singer. You’re still getting settled in, and, ah, just so you know, Antony told me that he would not accept anyone but you. So if you don’t take his case, he plans to walk from Wilde.”

Because the man was playing a game. “He doesn’t like being told no.”

A flash of humor lit Eric’s gaze. “I did get that impression.”

“He thinks that he has so much money, he can just throw it around and people will jump and do his bidding.”

“Is that what he thinks?” He rocked forward onto the balls of his feet. “What an ass.”

“Not always.” What in the hell? Where had that response come from? And why did she feel compelled to add… “Antony donates a ton of his time and money to charitable efforts. He has specific programs in place to help train individuals from high-risk backgrounds on—” She stopped because Eric was looking at her as if she’d grown a second head. “What?”

“Sounds like you are defending the guy. I call him an ass, and you tell me all about his good deeds.”

“He’s just not a total ass, that’s all.” She tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. “What kind of danger is