Page 5

I ignore his obvious desire and frown at him. “I’m going to have to sanitize that spot once you leave.”
Chuckling, he shoves his hands into the pockets of his slacks, eyeing my computer. “What are you working on?”
I arch an eyebrow. “None of your business.”
Undoing the button of his left cuff, he rolls it up, exposing a muscled forearm covered in tattoos, which I know extend up his arm, over the expanse of his torso, and down the other. Underneath that corporate getup, Mace is covered in ink.
“Fine. If you don’t want to talk about work, we can play twenty questions. What’s your favorite color?”
I side-eye him as he rolls up the other sleeve. Is he exposing me to his forearm porn on purpose? The clack of my nails drumming on the desk settles in the space between us. “Are we really doing this?”
“It’s a simple question. Don’t tell me you’re scared to answer.”
“Have I ever told you I hate you?”
He nods. “A time or two.” The smile on his face falls as he grows serious. “Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone your favorite color is shit brown.”
“It’s black,” I say, eyes narrowing. “What’s yours? Wait. Let me guess, pink.”
His gaze moves to my hair before meeting mine once more. “No. It’s red.”
Crossing my arms, I lean back. The hinges of my chair creak. “Does this stuff work on other women?”
“What other women?”
I lift a shoulder. “I don’t know, the ones you date all the time.”
“I don’t date.”
I scoff. “Please, you date. I swear I’ve seen pictures of you with a woman on your arm at some event.”
“Have you been stalking me?”
Why does he almost sound pleased? Does he get off on this shit? “You wish.”
“Maybe,” he fires back before shaking his head. “My parents have set up a few dates for me for high-profile events, but I’d hardly call that dating.”
I didn’t expect an honest answer. I want to ask if he’s going to be forced into an arranged marriage, like Rose, but I don’t want him to think I’m interested. Families likeRose’s and Mace’s have all the money in the world, and yet they still live by old world rules. Marriages made to forge new alliances. Honestly, I feel bad for whoever he marries because his head is so far up his own ass.
“Well, sorry about your life, but I should get to it.” The wheels of my chair roll across the tile. I grab the mouse and stare at the screen, clicking into a new email. A picture of a naked woman loads. It takes up half the screen, her bright pink nipples flaring like headlights. She’s so naked. It wouldn’t normally bother me, but Mace is still leaning on my desk, close enough to get an eyeful of this chick’s naked selfie.
Mortification flushes my cheeks, and I die a little on the inside. Can this day end already? I navigate to another email, one less graphic, and send a warning glare at Mace.
“I didn’t take you for the type of woman who looks at porn.”
“Shut up,” I mumble. “This guy cheated on his wife with half the world, and that was just another one of his conquests.”
Mace hums, frowning at the monitor. He wants to ask questions, but I’ve already said too much. Orion’s business operates on strict confidentiality. I mentally curse myself for almost breaking the rule. Silence stretches between us, as awkward as a hard-on in a church. I can’t concentrate with him here. I mindlessly click through the emails with no real purpose, waiting for him to get the point and leave me alone.
“Do you need help?”
I shoot him a venomous look. “What makes you think I can’t handle this?”
He tips his head. “Is that what I said?”
“You didn’t have to. Despite what you think, I’m perfectly capable.”
Orion pushes through the door before Mace can respond. My boss’s keen gaze sweeps from me to the bane of my existence. “You’re early.”