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  As he always did, Konrad lifted her off the ground in a tight embrace and kissed her cheek. “My God, Antonia, how the hell did that tosser Fabian land a gorgeous woman like you?” The group laughed, agreeing with his sentiment.

  “Shut up!” Fabian called from the bar, a champagne bottle overflowing in his hands.

  She pressed against his shoulders in a silent demand to be released. He did so with as much grace as he had picked her up. “You’re too kind.” Antonia adjusted her conservative navy dress once her shoes touched the tiles.

  “This is Pilar de los Santos, my friend.”

  A low chuckled rippled through the air. One of his asshole friends found the term amusing, not that those twats could offer any commentary on the subject. They’d both had their fair share of friends.

  Antonia offered her hand to Pilar, who took it. “Hi, Pilar. Welcome. I’m Antonia. That’s Fabian at the bar. And that’s Melina.” She pointed to everyone respectively who waved and greeted Pilar with kindness. “Tylund is the one on his phone.”

  One friend was missing from the introductions. Dallas hadn’t arrived yet. If he also didn’t have a date, there’d be hell to pay.

  Pilar waved. “Hi, everyone.”

  “Take a seat, Pilly. I’ll get you a glass of champagne,” Konrad said, winking at her.

  Antonia stopped him with a touch of her hand on his arm. “Thank you for the flowers, Konrad. They are beautiful.”

  He smiled at her, contemplating lifting her up again because he knew how much she hated it. Instead, he touched the tip of her nose in some weird, and very him, fashion. “You’re welcome, love.”

  Konrad left the group to their own devices, hoping they wouldn’t ask Pilar any questions. They knew the deal, though. He liked women. Dated lots of them. And he was private about it. Just stop worrying. It was no big deal. He had to remind himself. But by forcing himself to remain calm, he thought of Scottie again, and the awkward way he’d run into her. His palms still felt the weight of her. He tried to blink the memory away. Why am I thinking of her? On his approach of the bar, Konrad shoved Scottie to the back of his mind—though not too far back because she was still there.

  Fabian gave him a curling grin and handed Konrad a heavy glass of scotch. “She’s hot.”

  Konrad glanced at Pilar seamlessly chatting with the other women as if they all were best friends forever. Indeed, she was hot. Actually, she was perfect. Nice girl. Nice body. Nice lay. Good attitude. Low expectations. Perfect. “She’s all right.”

  She was exactly what Konrad needed her to be.

  Tylund came up behind them. “Leave it to this asshole to get a smoking-hot date on short notice.” He punched Konrad on the shoulder. “It has to be the accent.”

  “It’s my handsome face that gets me dates. And besides, it’s not like you’ve ever come up short, mate.” Konrad took a sip of his drink, thinking of Scottie again. She definitely wouldn’t have a good attitude, but he suspected she had a nice body under her ill-fitting clothes.

  “True.” Tylund beamed. “I don’t come up short in any way. I guarantee it.” They cackled. Tylund once again bragged about his manhood, which he claimed was bigger than a baby’s arm.

  “This asshole…” Fabian pointed at Tylund, barely containing his laughter.

  “So, where’s your date, then?” Konrad asked, elbowing Fabian in the side.

  “Well, you know, she had something come up last minute.” Tylund waved his hands around, explaining, but it only made Konrad and Fabian laugh harder.

  “I suppose Melina can be your date tonight. Poor girl,” Konrad said.

  “Yeah, right.” Fabian chuckled, turning toward the bar. He poured three flutes of Krug. The bubbles foamed up nearly over the top, but only lingered at the rim. “Champagne for the ladies.”

  “I’ll take them.” Tylund took the glasses and walked to the living room, clearly desperate to get away from the bashing they gave him.

  “That guy’s a mess.” Konrad shook his head, staring after him.

  “I know.” Fabian sipped his scotch. He was pensive, staring into the living room. “I can’t imagine living like I was before Toni. You know, doing nothing meaningful. Blowing my trust fund. It was such a waste.”

  Konrad met his softened gaze. “That’s a bit harsh, no?”

  “It’s true.” He sighed, a far-off look in his eyes again. “I feel better now, like I’m doing something. Toni makes me want to be a better person.”

  Konrad sipped again. He could see his friend’s transformation like night and day. Fabian had grown up so fast. Overnight practically. And for a woman. Konrad couldn’t imagine that ever happening to him. He was too independent and focused. A woman would only resent him for putting his job first, and himself. He saw it firsthand with his own parents, felt the pain of it. As best as he could, Konrad pushed those thoughts down. He wanted to forget what happened with his parents. But in the midst of his reverie, noises from the kitchen took his attention. He glanced up from his drink only to meet eyes with the last person he’d thought he’d see.

  Scottine Roberts. His temp.

  What the fuck is Scottie doing here?

  Fabian glanced back to the kitchen. “Oh, they’re just the caterers.”

  Caterers? Why was Scottie catering? And of all the dinner parties she could possibly cater, what were the odds of her catering Konrad’s friends’ dinner party? It was like the universe conjured her up from his thoughts just to fuck with him.

  Frozen, Konrad couldn’t tear his eyes off Scottie. His heart raced, and the words didn’t come. Scottie’s lips parted, closing when another woman came up behind her with a tray. She turned to her, leaving Konrad abandoned from her stare. And he wanted her eyes again.

  “Are you okay?” Fabian touched Konrad’s arm, startling him.

  “Uhh … yes, of course. I’m totally fine,” Konrad rambled, grappling with what to do next. Should he tell Fabian about Scottie? For the first time, he had no idea what to do in regards to a woman.

  “Care for a salmon puff?” Scottie’s voice slipped in the silence between Konrad and Fabian.

  Konrad waited for a greeting from her. Like, “Hey, Konrad.” Or “Fancy meeting you here, boss.” Or some other indication that she knew him. Nothing. She’d remained steady with her silver tray held out to them.

  He didn’t know if he should call her out. No one had ever done that to him. In fact, women bent over backward to know him. An unprecedented stream of exhilaration rushed through his body. What was she trying to prove?

  Fabian reached for a salmon puff, awkwardly proclaiming, “They look great.” He popped the salmon puff in his mouth. “The Decadent Chick Catering owner was the apprentice to the L’Atelier executive chef. Isn’t that right?”

  Great. It seemed Fabian sensed the weirdness.

  Scottie’s hazel eyes gripped Konrad’s while she should have been looking at Fabian. “Yes, that’s right. Would you like to try?”

  Konrad couldn’t move, couldn’t respond. Say something. Do something, dammit!

  “Have one, Konrad,” Fabian urged, taking another. After swallowing, he said to Konrad, “This is Scottie. She’s assisting Tara, the chef and owner, tonight. This big German is Konrad Korr.”

  Her full pink lips curled up in a languid way, making him remember touching her only hours ago. “It’s nice to meet you, sir.”

  Her words stunned him. Sir? She called him sir? Clearly, she was toying with him.

  Konrad eased back into his smooth ways, nodding at her with a challenging smirk on his own lips. “You as well, Scottie.” He nearly said Scottine.

  The awkward silence stretched between them. Konrad took a salmon puff of his own and opened his mouth, aware he had Scottie’s full attention. Something had changed between them. He couldn’t help feel the heat of their exchange and the desire he felt in his loins to be close to her again.

  Pilar and Melina came up behind them, jolting Konrad to remember there were other people in the
penthouse, not just Scottie and her amazing eyes making him question himself. He straightened, turning his attention to the women, though still thinking about Scottie.

  Polite and proper, Pilar plucked a salmon from the tray. “Looks very good.”

  Scottie gifted her a tight smile, and Konrad knew that was meant for him.

  Konrad set his gaze on Scottie, wondering if she would crack under her blatant lie of not knowing him. And why the hell did he care about it so much? When Marisol returned, Scottie would be history. Forgotten. Just another woman he’d interacted with.

  The longer he stared at her, the more he knew that couldn’t be true.

  “Aren’t they good, Kon?” Pilar snaked her arm around Konrad’s waist, lifting a puff to his lips with her other hand.

  He reluctantly opened his mouth, feeling ashamed, not that he had any reason to. He was completely aware everyone looked at him. Pilar purred, running her hand down to his hip bone. All eyes on that motion, too. But only Scottie’s disapproving gaze gave him pause. When Pilar and Melina walked back to the couch a second later, Scottie’s remained, her eyebrows raised. The same way she’d raised it when he’d asked her to send flowers to two different women.

  This looks bad. Even he could acknowledge that.

  “Looks like Toni needs more champagne.” Fabian grabbed the bottle off the bar and left Konrad alone with Scottie.

  Not even a second passed before Scottie said, “You’re the last person I thought I’d run into.”

  “‘It’s nice to meet you, sir?’ Are you serious?” He put his scotch glass down.

  Scottie glanced at his friends in the living area. “I just thought it would be easier that way.”

  “Why?” He supposed he understood her logic. She might be embarrassed. And God knew how much his friends would rag on him later.

  “I don’t know … it just is. No need for explanations.” Her gaze lowered to the few remaining puffs. The crew certainly had a voracious appetite. “Besides, I want to be anonymous to your girlfriends.”

  Her sarcasm irked him, but her boldness excited him in a way he wasn’t used to. Women were never this hard to get on with. She made it practically impossible.

  “And by that you mean…” He waited, refusing to let her look away from him.

  She shrugged, shifting her gaze to the living room again, which annoyed him. “I don’t want to get attacked on your behalf.”

  “That’s absurd.” Did she really believe that? Damn her judgement of him.

  The freckles on the bridge of her nose popped more in the lighting. He’d been so close to her he could count them if he wanted. He dropped his gaze to the rest of her. Black skirt, inches above her knees, displaying smooth tan legs. Nice body confirmed.

  And that apron. God, stop it!

  Scottie narrowed her eyes at him as if she knew what he was thinking.

  “I saw that.” Apparently, she did know.

  “What?” He feigned innocence.

  “You looked at my legs.” Her voice was tight.

  “I noticed them, Scottine. There is a difference.” No, he looked. Actually, he gawked. And he should not.

  “It’s Scottie.”

  The challenge between them sizzled like a live wire. This was not his office, and they were acting accordingly. Tomorrow, however, they would be in his office. Then what?

  Tara called Scottie from the kitchen. She turned, dread on her face. “Have another.” She shoved the last two puffs in his mouth and spun on her heels back to the kitchen.

  He watched her ass moving underneath her skirt, mind reeling, as he chewed the hors d’oeuvre seasoned with her fingers. He chewed faster, his body alive with sensations he wished would go away. But he could not take his eyes off her ass. Without a look back to him, she turned the corner and was gone from sight. His heart thumped. This woman. He had no idea what to do with her.

  “Konrad!” Antonia called from the living room where everyone had gathered, even Dallas, who stood next to a gorgeous brunette in fitted jeans and a nude-tone crop top.

  Konrad had been too submerged in his thoughts—and his very real, very surprising attraction to Scottie—to answer.

  Fabian waved him over. “Come here and bring your drink.”

  Shit. What was this? An intervention? No way. There was nothing to intervene on. With reluctance, he strode to the living area and sat next to Pilar, who rubbed his thigh casually. He imagined it was Scottie’s hand. For God’s sake.

  “What’s this about?” Konrad asked. He had his own issue to contend with.

  “I have no clue,” Tylund chimed in, turning to Melina, who shrugged.

  “Fucking say something.” Dallas’s East Texas accent came out strong. His date giggled, cuddling against his side. She seemed a bit young for his normal taste.

  Fabian and Antonia gazed at each other like lovesick puppies, their fingers intertwined, their smiles growing wider as if they shared some secret. Konrad grew conflicted. Something deep inside him knew what the couple had to say.

  Antonia started after she and Fabian finished eye-screwing each other. “Well, we have some good news. First, I’d like to announce that my mom is actually doing better despite all signs and prognosis. So, we are celebrating that.”

  Everyone cheered. Konrad lifted his glass. He’d known what it was like to lose a mother. His whole heart went out to Antonia. He drank, as did everyone else.

  Fabian nodded to his left, summoning Scottie to pass out champagne flutes. He pointed at the group.

  Scottie refused to look at Konrad as she handed him a glass of champagne. In a low voice, he said, “Thank you, Scottie.”

  She nodded under reddened cheeks. Still no eye contact.

  “First, everyone please get a champagne flute. We have another announcement,” Fabian said.

  Konrad’s instinct was right. He knew exactly what they were going to announce. He held the flute stem between his fingers. Dallas, who sat next to Konrad, elbowed his side. He knew too.

  When every person held a champagne flute, Fabian began. “This has been such a whirlwind, meeting Antonia again after so many years and then chasing her down until she wanted to be with me.”

  Everyone laughed. Antonia smiled, her dark eyes glistening.

  Fabian continued, “I don’t know how I got so fucking lucky with this one, but fuck, she is the best thing that has ever happened to me. She makes me want to be a better person.”

  Konrad couldn’t look at him anymore. This was too much. He’d felt too many new emotions, uncomfortable emotions. A longing grew inside him, making him feel lonely and lost a little bit.

  “And I think I offer her some things too. Maybe?” Fabian laughed.

  Konrad heard the pop of their kiss, and he knew it was wrong to not face his friends when they were about to change their lives forever in his presence.

  “Last night when I picked Toni up from yoga class, I couldn’t hold back. I couldn’t wait. Because when I looked over at her, all sweaty and in spandex, I knew I couldn’t go another day without her being with me. Permanently. So, I asked her to marry me, and she said yes.”

  Konrad took in the sight, his throat aching. He averted his gaze and caught Scottie staring at him from across the living room, the tray pressed against her chest. Her eyes were soft, her mouth in a slight curve. He gasped, getting Pilar’s attention, who in turn rubbed his leg again. Scottie turned away, walking back down the hall to the kitchen.

  “We know it’s so fast, but when you know, you know, right?” Antonia said, taking Konrad’s attention from Scottie. She’d held up her ring finger, showing off a gigantic diamond ring.

  When you know, you know… Konrad had heard that saying ad nauseam. It didn’t make sense to him. It couldn’t…

  The women swooned at the ring. The men stood and congratulated Fabian one by one.

  “Congratulations, mate.” Konrad and Fabian embraced and patted each other on the back. “You honestly couldn’t have done better. She could have,
but you already knew that.”

  Fabian grinned. “Fuck you!” He grew serious. “She’s everything to me, Konrad. Seriously, I can’t imagine being without her.”

  I can’t imagine being without her. Fabian’s words gave him pause. Konrad had lived his life so he wouldn’t have to find out what that meant, with great success.

  “That sounds awful, mate.”

  “You’ll eat those words when it happens to you.” Fabian winked at him, turning his attention to Dallas.

  Konrad glanced back to the bar where Scottie had stood. He wondered if he ever would eat his words.

  Chapter Four

  Dressed in beige pants and another white button-up shirt, Scottie walked through the small hallway connecting the bedrooms to the living room. She was still reeling about the night before, her confrontation with Konrad on her mind. But the part that perplexed her the most was his reaction to his friend’s engagement. He seemed sad. Lost too, maybe. Maybe he was capable of other emotions besides chauvinism and arrogance.

  “It’s September fifth, Scottie.” Tara’s voice ripped Scottie from her thoughts.

  And? Didn’t they just have a conversation about this? “Yes, it is.” Scottie grabbed her purse off the couch, checking her cell phone for messages, of which there were none.

  Tara sucked air through her teeth. She was in another mood. “You need to give me your share of the rent.”

  Scottie squeezed her eyes shut, a headache looming. Had she not listened? “I told you I don’t get paid until Friday the fifteenth, Tara. We already discussed this.”

  Tara lifted her hand in frustration. “I never said I would spot you for this month too.” She lowered her hand, glowering at Scottie as if they hadn’t been friends since they were three years old. “If you can’t pay by the ninth, there will be some changes around here.”

  Taken completely off guard, Scottie stepped back. Her breath hitched in her throat. Tara had never threatened her that way. Never had made her feel like she was the worst person in the world. “Jesus, Tara…”

  Scottie couldn’t finish though, because Tara’s boyfriend, Brett, traipsed into the living room, wearing only a towel slung low around his waist. Her towel.