Playboy Boss Page 6

  The feeling didn’t last long enough. The ring of his cell phone quelled the lightness he felt about taking Scottie out of the office alone. Tamsin’s face flashed on the screen. Didn’t the blow-off flowers say it all? Then again, he needed to remember who he was dealing with, although he just wanted to forget. Impossible, though. She wasn’t going to let it go, and he needed to face her. And his actions.

  He groaned, letting it ring three times before he answered. “Tamsin.” He stood and walked to the picturesque window. Staring out, he waited for her hard breathing to turn into words.

  “I don’t appreciate the kiss-off, Konrad.” She was irate and ready for a fight. Another one.

  He drew in a long sigh. “You’re right. It was a kiss-off.”

  Pausing for a moment, he could hear her surprise. “So you admit it then?”

  God, she was such a lawyer. When had he not been on trial with her? “Guilty.”

  Another few beats passed. “I’m willing to overlook this and figure out an arrangement we both agree on.”

  He groaned inside. Everything was up for interpretation to her. But the truth was, she simply didn’t take rejection well. Unfortunately, that wasn’t open to interpretation. Their ending was inevitable. It baffled Konrad that she didn’t see it coming. Nonetheless, he had to be delicate. He had to make her see she didn’t really want him. She wanted the power to be the ender, not the endee. That was her game.

  “I see other women, Tamsin. I date women regularly. I said this to you when we first got together.”

  “You mean when we first fucked at your mate’s hotel?” she said, practically choking on her question.

  “Let’s not make this obscene, Tammy.” He raked a hand through his hair, remembering that night he met her at the Mariposa bar at Halman Hotel. “I want to be honest with you.”

  Her voice softened. “I want that, too.”

  “Please don’t take this personally. I think you’re smashing. Truly. I’ve had amazing fun with you, but we don’t want the same thing anymore. You clearly want a commitment, and I think you should have your heart’s desires.”

  “And I can’t be your desire?” Tamsin’s urgency made his stomach flip.

  Damn. This was hard. “Not the way you want.”

  Konrad had never heard himself speak so openly before. He’d never had a breakup talk like that. The discomfort was unavoidable, but something deeper within felt satisfied. “Look, I know you think you want me, but you don’t. There are plenty of blokes who would love to have a go with you. I just don’t want a go with anyone. I need to be free.”

  The words seemed right, but the feeling wasn’t anymore. He wanted a go with someone. He wanted to feel what it was like to connect on a deeper level, to feel out of control for someone. Like what Fabian had with Antonia.

  Tamsin was rendered speechless, which was a first.

  “Tamsin, love,” he said, his voice steady. “I really think you’ll thank me later.”

  She didn’t respond. The only response was the silent line. She’d hung up. She didn’t even say goodbye, but Konrad knew it was goodbye.

  He took five extra minutes staring out into the Houston sky after his conversation. He’d felt empty inside. No way could he deny he wasn’t affected. In the past, he’d dumped women and had felt exhilarated, ready to meet another. Because there was always another. Women were everywhere, ready to fall into his bed. But he didn’t feel exhilarated and ready to meet another. Quite the opposite. Instead, he wondered what he would do with Anisette and Pilar.

  Twenty minutes later, he tapped on Scottie’s cube wall.

  “You’re late,” she said, her mouth curled in a smirk.

  “I can be late. I’m the boss.” He winked.

  She shook her head in disapproval. “Do as I say, not as I do, huh?”

  Bold. His excitement bubbled up inside. She moved him more than he ever could have expected. “And when did I say that, Miss Roberts?”

  She pursed her lips together, repressing a smile. “Fine. You didn’t say that.”

  Blood coursed through his veins at lightning speed. Without fail, his attraction to her grew every second. “Now that we’ve settled that, come on.” He turned from her cube, his eyelids closing for a second.

  Konrad honestly didn’t know if she followed him until he’d reached the lobby and stopped at Susan’s desk. Then he realized Scottie was so close behind him he could feel her heat, smell her sweet perfume.

  “We’re going out for a bit.”

  Susan’s gaze slid from Konrad’s to Scottie’s and then back to Konrad. “Oh?”

  “I’m taking Scottie to the EaDo property this morning. We’ll be back after lunch.” A minor detail he didn’t mention to Scottie.

  Susan narrowed her eyes but quickly became distracted by an incoming call. He waved to her and turned to Scottie.

  “Off we go.”

  Ten minutes later, he held open the passenger side door of his coupe for her. Scottie slipped in.

  “This is your car?” She looked like she’d sucked on a lemon.

  He chuckled. “Do you not like it?”

  She glanced inside, her gaze moving over all his upgraded features and custom finishes. She snorted low. “What’s not to like?”

  He closed the door to the car but wanted to throw open the door to her life. Who was she? Where was she from? Why had she reacted to him the way she had?

  Once he’d settled into the driver’s seat where he belonged, he turned on the engine, reveling in the sound. The beauty of the machine woke up for him as he commanded. His cars were his unabated love. Escaping in them, down the road to anywhere, was a regular joy. Konrad had a total of four cars, but Scottie didn’t need to know that. Yet.

  Scottie crossed her arms as well as her legs. Gazing out the passenger window, she didn’t give him a single clue as to what was on her mind. At times, she’d been too hard to read, even when they were face-to-face. He needed to know, did she like him? Did she trust him, even if just a little? They’d met only days ago, but their close proximity made him feel they’d been acquainted longer.

  Konrad put the car in “reverse,” glancing at her before he set his eyes on the navigation screen. “Don’t worry. I’m a fantastic driver.” From his periphery, he saw her glance at him. At that, he smiled, though small. Something was between them. He was acutely aware of how their energies played. In the small space, it was impossible not to feel it.

  Once on the road for a few miles, just as they were leaving downtown proper, she uncrossed her arms, her hands falling on her lap. He wanted to press his hand against her thigh, get her attention. Attention had come to him without fail from anyone he wanted it from, yet she left him wanting hers. The need was disturbing to him, making him feel a desperation he didn’t know how to reconcile.

  “You’re quiet, Scottine.”

  “Scottie,” she corrected.

  “Sorry. Scottie.” He chuckled to himself. “I don’t know why you don’t like Scottine. It’s a gorgeous name.” Gorgeous. He seemed to struggle to pick his words carefully when he spoke to her casually. But her name was gorgeous. Just like her. He turned his gaze to her thigh again, wishing she’d worn the black skirt.

  She caught his stare, and quickly he turned back to the road. She stumbled over her words. “Who said I didn’t like Scottine?”

  “I just assumed.”

  “Well, you know what happens when you assume.” Humor laced her voice, and he liked how it sounded on her lips.

  “Indeed, I do.” They came to a stop sign. With his eyes still on the red circular light overhead, he asked, “Is Scottine a family name?”

  “It’s my father’s name. Well, his name is William Scott Roberts.” Her voice lowered, as though she were talking to herself. “God only knows why my mom wanted to name me after him.”

  Frozen, without a response, he waited for her, but she didn’t continue. A tug in his heart made him feel for her. It was the most profound information she’d
offered, and it was so private and intimate. He knew he didn’t deserve it, although he was honored to hear it. In that sharing moment, of her opening her door a little, he worried he’d mess it up. For that he let the light turn green and stepped on the gas again. Not another word for minutes.

  “Tell me more about yourself.” He took the initiative, hoping it wasn’t too soon.

  She hesitated. “Well … I went to the University of Houston. Studied Business Administration—”

  “Tell me something I can’t find on your résumé.” He laughed, trying to lighten the mood.

  She stalled. “Uhh… I think your accent is strange.”

  With a chortle, he said, “Thank you. I think.”

  She laughed, a lovely sound. “Why is it so strange? Where are you really from? Mars?”

  He chuckled, though she didn’t. “I suppose because I lived in more than one place. And I have been everywhere.”

  “That’s vague.”

  His laugh has louder, from his belly. He loved their banter. “I’m German born but was educated in the UK and in France for a little while.”

  “You speak French?” She seemed impressed, finally. And he wanted her to always sound that way around him.

  “Oui, mademoiselle.”

  A sigh fell from her lips, loud enough for him to hear, and it sent chills down his spine.

  “And you speak German, too?”

  “That’s my mother tongue, Schatzi.” He should not have said tongue to her. “And I speak other languages, too.”

  “What’s Schatzi mean?”

  He stalled, not wanting to explain. Schatzi meant sweetie in German. That was inappropriate. But, hell, he couldn’t help himself. “It’s a German term of endearment…”

  She turned to face him, and from his periphery, he saw she’d lifted her eyebrows. “Oh.” She turned again, and he was glad she’d seemed to let it go. “Do you speak Spanish?”

  “A little. Do you?”

  She scoffed. “Yes.”

  They were silent for a while, the moving cars and city noises muffled by the windows. But she broke that silence just when he thought she was done talking.

  “No wonder you have to send flowers to all those women.”

  The meaning sobered him. To Scottie, he was a rich player who had his way with women and threw them away. She’d never as much said the words, but he knew that was what she thought about him. And he hated it enough to feel the anger at the unfairness of her words. He wanted her to see the real man behind her first impressions.

  “How do you mean?” he asked in response to her comment, his jaw clenched.

  “Women like accents. And guys who speak multiple languages.”

  His heart thumped so hard, he felt his chest against the seat belt. “So I’ve heard.” Do you like that too?

  Scottie crossed her arms again and didn’t say another word until they reached the EaDo property. And though he desperately wanted to continue the conversation, he didn’t. He’d have to remember he was her boss, and this conversation probably shouldn’t go any further, despite what he wanted.

  Chapter Eight

  Scottie knew she was pushing it with Konrad. He was her boss. Her boss. Even if her temporary boss. A-Plus Temporaries wouldn’t like how she acted in their name. She was their representative, and she’d been so unprofessional. She should be fired.

  She was so moved by him, though. Wasn’t that enough justification for her behavior?

  Konrad parked his ridiculously gorgeous Mercedes along the side of a long metal building on a massive lot at the edge of east downtown. A huge sign at the wired fence read Korr Properties. She didn’t even want to begin to think about how rich Konrad was.

  To her surprise, the building on the inside wasn’t as industrial and drab as a typical warehouse would be. It was steel and stone and very chic. No question why there was a bidding war for the warehouse.

  “Wow. This is actually beautiful.” Scottie felt tiny in the immense room.

  His sigh tickled her ears, made her tingle. “It is.” He turned to her for a moment. “I like beautiful things.”

  Konrad winked, making her insides tremble. God, how could she stay professional when he did things like that? When he irked her in so many ways and aroused her in others? But, she’d seen him with other employees, like the way he’d been with Sandy the receptionist. It was his personality. After three days, it was absurd that Scottie fought this battle inside herself. What would it be like after working three months for Konrad? If she lasted that long…

  They walked the length of the building, covering every inch of the property. The grandeur of it took her breath away. Once they were back outside, they surveyed the lot, which contrasted with the pure art of the interior. The property was properly situated among other nearby warehouses and manufacturing plants, which were nothing like Konrad’s building. Lost in her thoughts of Konrad and the style she’d seen emerge in all that he owned, she stared at his profile. He looked out into the lot, sunglasses on his face. Everything about him was perfectly proportioned. Everything about him was aesthetic, like the gorgeous art he had in all his offices. In that moment, he wasn’t the playboy boss, he was something to admire.

  Suddenly, he turned, seemingly becoming aware of her staring, musing. He took off his sunglasses, meeting her gaze that didn’t falter, though it should have. His blue to her hazel, their eyes fused in some understanding that evaded her. But, dear God, she wanted him to lean down and kiss her more than she wanted anything else, despite what she knew about him.

  She gasped, caught in her emotions. “Why did you bring me here?”

  A languid and provocative curl formed over his lips. “I wanted you to see what drives me.”

  Somehow, with some energy reserve she had deep inside, she forced her eyes from him and back to the expanse of the gravelly lot. “Selling property?”

  “Seeing my name on something big like this.”

  Their eyes met again. Was he making a point? To himself? To others?

  “Well, there is no mistaking who owns this, that’s for sure.” Knowing fully the power this man had over everything in his life made her breathless.

  She couldn’t help but wonder: what else did he want to own? A ripple moved through her body, concentrating at the apex of her thighs. Though against everything she believed, she wanted to be owned by him, even if for just the seconds they stood there together.

  In a soft voice, he said, “No, there isn’t.”

  Under the weight of his stare, she felt feather light. Like she was floating over the gravelly ground. He moved in on her, and she gulped down hard. Oh God.

  His hand came up, brushing against her cheek. She didn’t step back. Breath puffed between her lips. This was it. He was going to kiss her.

  But then he pulled his hand back, his index finger pointed. “Make a wish.”

  Discombobulated and intoxicated with being so close to him, she didn’t know how to respond. She didn’t really understand what he said at first. “What?”

  “It’s an eyelash.” His smile made her weak. With the slow and languid seduction he always possessed, he licked his bottom lip. “Make a wish.”

  Reality came fast, and the notion that he would kiss her was over. “Oh.”

  He furrowed his brow. “Don’t you have a wish?”

  Yes. And it was not going to happen. “Of course.”

  “Then blow.”

  Her eyes snapped to his, her body alive with wanting him. God, she wanted to blow. And she wanted to do more stupid things with this man. With this boss of hers. But then he dropped his hand, his gaze steady on hers. Without thinking, and completely forgetting who they were to each other, she lifted on her toes and pressed her mouth against his. His arms circled her immediately, drawing her closer into his large body. She moaned, taking his lip between hers. When his tongue met hers, she pushed away.

  Oh God no.

  Embarrassment made her hot enough to combust. She turned away from hi
m. No way could she look into his eyes.

  “I’m sorry.” Her fingers went to her mouth. “I don’t know why I did that.”

  “No, it’s okay.” His warm hand touched her back.

  “God, this is so embarrassing.” A wiggle of her body made his hand fall away. “The agency would fire me—”

  “Don’t worry.” He touched her again. “I wanted— I—” He clamped his lips in a firm line as he paused. “I won’t let the agency punish you for what we both wanted.”

  She didn’t look at him, didn’t say another word. What was there to say? The desire she had building inside since she met him came forth in the worst way.

  “Scottine, look at me, please.”

  She had to get out of there. Now. If she looked at him, she didn’t know what would happen. Moving toward the shiny car, she opened the passenger door. “We should get back. I’m not up for lunch.”

  It was over. And she hoped the kiss would be forgotten.

  Chapter Nine

  Konrad thought of one thing and one thing only, even as he sat across from Pilar at L’Atelier for dinner that night. The kiss with Scottie. God, her lips. Her fucking lips… He wanted another chance to really show her what he could do. Did she regret it? If she did, it would gut him. For fuck’s sake, what the hell is happening to me? His stomach was in knots. A woman had never completely taken up his mind like this.

  Pilar’s fork dropping on her plate caught his attention. “You’re far away,” she said.

  “I know, love. Sorry.” He’d hardly touched his scallops, and they were his favorite.

  “Is it work?” She leaned in, her low-plunging top framing her breasts perfectly. He gazed at them for a second, but, for the first time, didn’t feel desire to touch them, lick them. Put them in his mouth. Or any of the other things he’d done to them.

  “Sort of,” he finally answered. Scottie was his temp, so technically it was work.

  It was so much more than that, though. Also for the first time, he felt dissatisfied with his life. Not his businesses. They were growing faster than projected. Professionally, he was golden. Socially, he was very satisfied. His couldn’t ask for better mates. It was something else. It was personal. He’d felt lonely. After seeing Fabian and the change that reformed him into a new person, Konrad had this newborn desire to want something more than a rotation of women. He wanted what Fabian had, and that desire had come on quick, strong. Unbearably so. But when Scottie kissed him, he didn’t feel that longing. He felt excitement and a yearning that stayed with him even after she avoided him the rest of the day.