Page 30 of Perfume Girl

“When we met you assured me that you are the best.”

She was doing that thing with her mouth again, that pout, and it had been what had weakened my resolve last time and prevented me from seeing through her game.

“Let’s be honest,” she said, as she leaned against the railing, “you don’t know much about me.”

I shoved my hands in my pockets. “I know you own Perfume Girl.”

She blinked in surprise and looked as though she was searching for something to say.

“I had to wonder why you would be at my place for an interview, if that’s the case,” I added.

“I’m thinking… of closing it.”

“You’re having financial issues?” And then I realized her predicament. “Your husband owns half the store?”

She broke my gaze, realizing I knew more about her than I’d initially let on.These are the consequences of you coming to my home uninvited,Raquel.

And there would be more…though I wasn’t in the habit of seducing corporate spies. I let myself imagine the way her body would react to mine, the way she’d resist her desires at first, fight against my control, but then she’d have no choice but to surrender.

I wondered how much Raquel had been offered by Dazzle and Bazaar to infiltrate my lab. They had no doubt offered her the kind of money that would save her store. Right there was her motivation. My contact at D&B had informed me that Ms. Wren had attended a meeting with Anna Rosenthal. That phone call had ruined my day.

“How come you’re here?” she asked. “In this harbor?”

“Champagne run.”

She stared at me, and I held her gaze.

With a nod, she looked away. “This is a nice yacht. Why do you need another boat? I mean the one inside it?”

“For speed, of course.” I leaned toward her. “Thirsty?”

“Excuse me?”

I smiled. “Champagne?”

“Well, as you went to all this trouble.”

“No trouble.” I fought this irrational desire to pin her against the wall and press my body against hers. “Wait here, please.”

“Yes, sir, Captain,” she replied, smirking.

I rounded the boat until I was out of sight and rested my back against the dome, trying to get a handle on my feelings and fight off the effects of her sultriness. No one had gotten under my skin like this before. I desired nothing more than to turn back and demand the truth from her…

Raquel was flirting into my consciousness and my cock was quick to alert me to the danger of her seductive prowess. I was usually immune to this kind of attack. I shifted myself in my pants so the pull wasn’t obvious. I knew how to curb this ache—all I had to do was lead her off to one of my private cabins, bury myself deep inside her and bang her into blinding pleasure until she confessed.

My counterattack would leave her spent and moaning. Within an hour I’d have cracked her secret wide open. I was willing to go that far if necessary.

Ignoring all of my other guests, I headed off to fetch our drinks with that idea burning up my brain with its ingenuity—and with my dick in full agreement.

As I was carrying two flutes of champagne back to Raquel, I heard Penelope’s voice coming from around the corner, and I paused for a second. When I joined them they looked like they were having a strained conversation.

“I see you’ve met my sister?” I handed Raquel a glass of Veuve Clicquot.

She immediately took a long sip as though needing more courage.

Penelope’s voice rose. “Did you invite her?”

I smiled. “Why, yes, as a matter of fact. Allow me to introduce Raquel Wren.”