Page 69 of Guarded King

“You know,” Ellis says, his expression turning thoughtful. “I was going to ask if you’d mind if my wife joined us for dinner tonight. She’s used to business discussions, so it doesn’t bother her. But maybe Chloe would like to join us as well. Keep her company. I’m sure she’d appreciate it.”

Stomach flipping, I look to Roman, trying to gauge his reaction. His brows are lowered, and as usual, his expression is hard to read. But knowing how much he wants to acquire EcoTech, I go with my gut instinct. “Thank you so much. I’d love to join you.”

Ellis grins. “Wonderful. I should get going. But I look forward to seeing you both tonight.”

After we say our farewells, I turn to Roman. “Was that okay? I wasn’t sure what you wanted me to do.”

A muscle pulses in his jaw, and I brace myself for his irritation, but it doesn’t come. “Do you have something to wear?”

“I brought a few extra outfits. I think I have a dress that will do.”

“I’m sure you’ll look beautiful in whatever you choose.” He surprises me by stroking back a strand of hair that’s fallen loose from my ponytail, his thumb grazing my cheek. The featherlight touch has my breath catching and my heart doing its thing again.

“There are shadows under your eyes,” he says, his voice low. “Go back to the hotel, relax, sleep if you can. We can’t have you passing out at the table tonight.”

I swallow past my suddenly dry throat. With so many people around, how is it possible for a moment to feel so intimate?

As if he’s just realized the same, Roman curls his fingers into a fist and drops his hand. He steps back, even as he keeps his gaze fixed on mine. “Go on. I can handle the rest of the afternoon on my own.”

I’m at war with myself. On one hand, I feel like a rag doll, and I don’t know how helpful I’ll be if I’m barely awake. On the other, I don’t want to let Roman down. He needs me here, and now he’s telling me to go and sleep the afternoon away. It feels wrong.

“Stop overthinking,” he says. “Since you’re my date tonight, I’d rather you be well rested. I want to get your reading on Ellis.”

That’s all it takes to convince me. If I want to be any help tonight, I need a nap. “Okay, I’ll go.”

He thrusts his hands in his pockets and nods. “Good. I’ll finish out the day here, then head back to the hotel to get changed and knock on your door at seven thirty.”

A nervous flutter fills my belly. Despite the way he phrased it, tonight isn’t a date. And yet it’s hard to categorize dressing up and having dinner with Roman at a fancy French restaurant as anything but.

Inhaling deeply and holding the air in my lungs, I remind myself that this is just work.

Even if my stomach is full of butterflies.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

ROMAN

Bringing Chloe to dinner tonight wasn’t part of the plan. I don’t think I’ve ever brought an assistant to a dinner meeting, but since it was Ellis’s suggestion, I’ll go along with it. Even if her presence is distracting at the best of times, let alone when I need my head in the game like tonight.

At seven thirty, I knock on her door.

When it swings open, I nearly stop breathing.

She looks like fucking sin wrapped in the most innocent package.

Her hair falls in loose waves over her shoulders, which are bare except for the thin straps of a cream-colored dress. The bodice is modest, yet it’s impossible not to notice the swell of her breasts beneath the thin material. The dress cinches in tightly around her waist and then flares out at her hips before falling to just above her knees.

Her makeup is a little heavier than usual, emphasizing the color of her eyes. And the subtle pink shimmer on her lips has me imagining how quickly and thoroughly I could kiss it off her.

Sitting next to her while she looks like that is going to be torture. How am I supposed to keep my mind on winningEcoTech, when I’ll have to consciously fight my instincts to touch her?

“You look beautiful.” It’s an understatement, but giving her the simple compliment is safer than saying she looks good enough to eat. And I don’t mean in the metaphorical sense. I mean in theI want to drop to my knees, pull down her panties, and finally satisfy this hunger that keeps growing inside mesense.

Cheeks going pink, she gives me a small smile. “Thank you. You look very… uh…” She gives me a once-over, lingering for a moment on the spot where the top button of my shirt is undone. “Very handsome.”

A frisson of heat works its way through me. Unable to ignore it, I tip my head down and hold her gaze. “Thank you.”

Once again, tension fills the air between us, a sensation that sizzles over my skin and tightens around the base of my cock.