Sweet On You - By Kate Perry Page 0,17

feel sorry for you. You overcame your past."

He studied her intently but said nothing.

So she got right in his face, trying to ignore the yummy scent of him, like bay rum and spices. "I want that building so that I can give other people a chance to overcome their pasts. Surely you can understand that."

He shook his head. "There are other buildings where you can do that."

"But this one is perfect." She thought of the time and expense of installing an industrial-grade kitchen into another space and shuddered. "Why do you need that building? Apparently you own half of the world. Can't you find some other spot to exploit?"

"No," he said simply, staring at her with a guarded gaze.

She stared right back, nose to nose. "I'm not going to back down, you know."

He smiled. "I'd be disappointed if you did."

"You're going to be especially disappointed when I take the building right out from under you," she said smugly.

He crowded her. "It's not wise to taunt the lion in his den."

Hands on her hips, she held her ground. "What are you going to do? Eat me up?"

"Exactly." He lowered his head and kissed her again.

Even now that she knew better, it transported her to that place where nothing else existed. As if to make a point, he held her there with just the pull of his lips, no hands, nothing to stop her from stepping away.

As if she'd be crazy enough to step away from this.

She moaned softly and leaned against him, bracing herself on his muscular biceps. She felt the full length of his body against her own curves—aware of the part of his body that seemed particularly happy she was there.

She mewled, liking that she'd turned him on so much so quickly, with nothing but a kiss. Imagine if she really tried.

She broke away with a sigh. "You're really good at that."

"I'm good at more than that."

"I bet." She grinned saucily at him and then headed to the door. Before she stepped out, she looked over her shoulder. "I'm determined to buy that building."

He put his hands in his pockets. "I know you are."

"Nothing's going to change my mind."

"Mine either." His eyes glittered. "I love a challenge."

So did she. She grinned. "Game on, then."

Chapter Nine

Marley sat in her office, cell phone in hand, wondering where Daniela was. She wasn't answering her phone, and she was nowhere in the house. Although if she'd been hiding in a cranny somewhere, it'd have taken Marley days to find her, the house was so big.

Something was obviously up with her boss. She wished she knew what it was.

Her phone buzzed with a text. She glanced down, her heart leaping when she saw it was from Tony. Any progresss with D?

She turned the screen off.

Then her phone rang.

She jumped, blinking at it. She wouldn't be surprised if Tony had sensed she was ignoring him. He wouldn't stand for that sort of treatment.

But when she looked at the caller ID it wasn't Tony. It was Brian Benedict.

Should she answer it?

Her head said no, but a small corner of her heart goaded her into picking up the phone. "What do you want?" she asked without preamble.

"Another date," he said, apparently unfazed by her rudeness. "What are you doing right now?"

"I'm working." She looked at the time. "That's usually what people do at eleven-thirty in the morning."

"No, they're usually checking Facebook and thinking about what they'd like to eat for lunch. So what's it going to be?"

"What?"

"Lunch."

She shook her head. "What are you saying?"

"Have lunch with me."

"No," she said automatically.

"Why not? I already know you eat, and you can't tell me you're working."

"Why can't I?"

"Because you're talking to me. Unless you have some sort of incredible concentration splitting abilities, you wouldn't be able to divide your attention between the two. Of course," he continued, "I have no idea what sort of job you have. For all I know, you're carving out hearts while you talk on your Bluetooth headset."

She couldn't help smiling at that image. "Maybe."

"I was hoping to ask you all those things at lunch today, because our introductory meeting didn't cover the usual essentials. My curiosity is burning so bright that I'm even willing to come to Laurel Heights to pick you up."

"No," she said again, less forcefully this time.

He chuckled. "I'm wearing you down."

"Look, Brian Benedict, your persistence is flattering, but you're wasting your time. I already told you I've met the right man for me."

He was silent on the other end of the