14. Chapter 13 #2
He chuckled. “Technically, we’ve been off the clock for almost two hours. We can quit if you want to.”
I shook my head. “I’m not a quitter. I’m here because I’m not afraid of hard work. You don’t need to coddle me.”
“If you were a quitter, you would have walked out the first day when you realized who I was. I’m not coddling you.
” Trent unbuttoned his cuffs and rolled his shirtsleeves up his forearms. A bit of ink peeked out from beneath the fabric.
I’d noticed it the night we spent together but was too busy being completely satisfied by two men to discern what it was.
I stared at him as heat crept up my neck at the memory. He cocked his head to the side. “What?”
I padded across the carpet in my bare feet, sat in the chair, and tucked one foot under my butt. “About that…”
“About what?”
I waved a hand in the air. “You know.” He looked at me blankly, making me explain myself. “What happened…” I motioned between us. “I don’t do stuff like that. It was my first night in Vegas… and… I shouldn’t have.”
Trent chuckled. “You’re allowed to do what you want. There’s no judgment on my part. I’m not sorry it happened. Are you?”
Was I? Now that was the question. It was the best sex of my life. I awoke sore and completely satisfied. Being with John so long, I’d forgotten what great sex was. By the end of our marriage, we were more roommates than husband and wife.
If I was being honest, waking to an empty bed was what bothered me the most. I mean, I knew what a one-night stand was, but I’d never had one before. I don’t know what I was expecting but finding myself alone at the end was disappointing.
“I told you I didn’t regret it. I just don’t like how awkward everything is.”
Trent inched his hand toward mine, the tip of his finger skimming the side of it. “That’s my fault. I didn’t know how to act when you showed up in the conference room. Throwing it in your face was wrong.”
My skin prickled from his touch. “Can we…”
“Am I interrupting?”
Trent slid his hand away as I jumped. My heart beat like a teenager that’d been caught making out in the back seat of a car. It was ridiculous. Nothing happened. Nothing was going to happen. Trent was my boss. I’d be smart to remember that.
He leaned back casually and stared at his brother. “You’re not interrupting at all. Miss Romano and I were going over plans for the fundraiser.”
So, I was back to being Miss Romano? Of course, I was. He’s your boss, I reminded myself again.
He’s your boss.
He’s your boss.
He’s. Your. BOSS! Pull it together and be professional.
“Is that so?” Hunter asked, lifting a brow.
I took in the room from his perspective. The empty take-out containers strewn across the table. Trent’s tie removed and shirt unbuttoned. My shoes left carelessly on the floor. My cheeks, I was sure were tinted red. It looked bad.
“Is there something you wanted?”
Hunter eased into the room despite Trent’s cool demeanor. “Just checking on my brother. Didn’t expect you to have company.”
“Miss Romano isn’t company. We’re working.” Trent held up my proposal with all its scribbled notes and X ’s in bright red. I’d been so proud when I turned it in, but now it looked as pathetic as a fifth grader’s book report.
Hunter turned and smiled at me. “Of course, she’s a member of Mystique now. How are you liking Vegas?”
Why did I feel like this was a trick question? Surely, Trent didn’t tell him about our tryst. I pasted on a smile. “It’s been fine. I haven’t done much exploring yet, but I’ll get to it.”
“And the job?”
“It’s perfect. Everything I could have hoped for.” So, that wasn’t exactly the truth, but it seemed like the right thing to say under the circumstances.
“Good. Let’s hope it stays that way. I trust my brother is treating you well?”
Something was off. Very off. “Extremely professional.”
Trent tossed the pen he was spinning onto the table. “Are you finished with the inquisition? Miss Romano and I have a lot of work to finish.”
Hunter picked up a cardboard container from the table and tossed it in the trash.
“I wouldn’t want to interrupt your work ,” he quipped.
“And, Gia? I’d love to show you Vegas and all it has to offer.
I think you’ll find the amenities are quite pleasurable.
” He straightened his tie and gave me a piercing gaze.
“I’d enjoy watching you try to take it all in. ”
I blinked. Did he proposition me? Chills ran down my spine.
Both these men thought I was there solely for their amusement.
I was a fool to think someone would actually take me seriously.
“Do you mind if we call it quits for the night? I think I’m on overload.
” I closed my laptop and gathered my papers without waiting for a reply.
Trent’s lips pressed into a firm line. “I seem to have lost my motivation as well. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow,” I agreed. “Nice seeing you again, Hunter.” Brushing past him, I scurried down the hall and out the glass doors toward the elevator. I pushed the button frantically, begging for the car to arrive. When the doors opened, I stepped in on my bare feet and leaned against the wall.
What the hell was that?