Page 100 of Maneater

“Oh, god, I’m so sorry,” he says as soon as I step back, looking at the spill rather than my face.

It was planned, of course, as was the fact that I wore the light pink lacy bra I put on under this very thin white tank. Both are so thin that when the ice-cold liquid hits, my nipples peak instantly. If you look hard enough, as Daniel does, you can probably see the entire outline of my nipple.

When his eyes go right there, I know in my gut my mission is already accomplished.

“Gosh, I’m such a klutz,” I say with a bit of a giggle and a self-deprecating smile that works every time. “I wasn’t looking where I was going.

“No, no, it’s all me. I can’t believe I didn’t see a pretty thing like you.” His hand reaches up and wipes some water off my shoulder, and I fight, making a face at the contact. Why do strangers think it’s okay to touch someone? “God, I’m so sorry. You’re absolutely covered in water.” I look down and give another small giggle before flipping my thankfully dry hair back over my shoulder.

“Oh, it’s no big deal. It’ll dry. Like I said, I’m a klutz. This kind of thing happens all the time.”

“Please, let me make it up to you,” he says, and I flutter my lashes, leaning in just a bit into his space, fully playing the part of an enamored, flirty woman who is super into him.

“Yeah?” I asked, touching the collar of his shirt and pretending to brush off something that doesn’t exist.

“Oh yeah. I insist, actually.”

“How would you do that?” I bite my lip and make my eyes go wide. His eyes move to my lips.

“Let me cover a dinner at Aces for you. Are you here with anyone?” He hesitates like he just realized he may have made a crucial mistake, then looks to my ring finger, finding it empty. “A boyfriend, maybe?” I shake my head and let out a laugh, the one I reserve for stupid men who always fall for it and shake my head. My body shifts with the over-exaggerated move, and I know my breasts also sway in the minimal support bra, something his eyes track.

Honestly, it’s almost a letdown when they fall for it this easily.Where’s the fun in it? “No, no. I’m here with my best friend, Rory.” His smile returns then.

“Good to hear. Come to dinner tonight, I’ll make sure you get the best table, the best service, I promise.”

“Will you be there?” I ask, twirling a lock of my hair around my finger and making my face pouty and hopeful. He looks around, like he’s afraid someone will see. Rowan, maybe? When the coast is seemingly clear, he lowers his voice.

“I can’t actually have dinner with you since I’ll technically be on the clock. But I can sit with you, get to know you a bit. But only if you promise not to tell.” He gives me a wink that looks more like he has something in his eye than a hot come on, but I pretend it hit its mark.

“Oh, I would love that. I feel like we would have so much in common.”

“Tonight,” he says. “Six?”

“That would be amazing. I don’t have any plans.”

He gives me a smile the big bad wolf would be jealous of before he gets my info for the reservation. Then I’m off, looking over my shoulder as I do to give him a little wink and a wiggle of my fingers before I turn the corner. As I do, my phone buzzes in my pocket. I grab it, expecting to see Rory’s name, but instead it’s Rowan’s.

Get to my office. Now.

I smile as I slide the phone back into my pocket, turn left instead of right, and head towards the office that is currently Rowan’s, conveniently located in a dead-end hallway that is currently empty.

I don’t have to knock as I approach the closed door, as it opens before my fist even hits the wood. His arm reaches out, hand wrapping around my wrist and tugging me inside and into him before he closes the door behind us.

“God, watching you work your magic was the hottest thing I’ve ever seen,” Rowan growls as his body presses me against the door, something he seems to really love doing.

“You were watching?”

“I’ve been watching you on the cameras every fucking chance I could since you arrived at this place.”

A thrill runs through me at the thought. He mentioned it once before, but I didn’t realize how often he’d been doing it.

“Too bad there weren’t any cameras in my room,” I whisper as he presses his lips to the skin of my neck. His body goes still before he pulls back, taking my face in.

“Why? What would I have seen?”

I smile wider then and lean forward, pressing my lips to his.

“Oh, I don’t know. Let’s just say anytime I was in the room alone, I really had to let out some… pent-up feelings.”