Page 24 of Silver Fox's Christmas Scandal

"The age difference…"

"Is twenty-two years. I'm aware of the number." Oh, how wretchedly I was aware. It was the only part of this that made me even slightly doubt whether I should continue chasing her.

"People will say you're taking advantage of me."

"Are you going to let them?"

The challenge in my voice seemed to spark something in her. Her chin lifted slightly, and I recognized the stubborn streak I had witnessed in the office when she dealt with difficult clients.

"No," she finally said. "I'm not."

"Then we understand each other."

She nodded slowly. "So, what exactly are you proposing?"

"A partnership. Professional development during business hours. Personal time after hours, if we both choose it." I stepped closer but resisted touching her yet. "Two adults who are attracted to each other and smart enough to handle both aspects of their relationship professionally."

"No strings?"

"No strings you don't want." And somehow, those words were hard to get out. Why? Did I want strings? Was it a relationship I was asking for or just to have her in my bed whenever my itch needed to be scratched? I hadn't thought that far.

She considered it, her gaze moving from my face to some point beyond my shoulder. "And if one of us wants to end it?"

"Then we end it. Clean break, no drama, no impact on work—or the mentorship." I raised my hand and extended my palm outward toward her. "Scout's honor."

Tessa chuckled. "You were a Boy Scout?"

"Not a single day in my life," I said, grinning.

She extended her hand toward me, and I took it, her skin warm against mine. "Deal."

"Deal."

But as she moved closer and settled into the space between my arms to kiss me, I felt my self-control slipping.

The careful compartments I had built around my emotions, the walls that kept personal feelings separate from business decisions, started to blur at the edges.

I knew myself well enough to recognize the warning signs. This arrangement we had just agreed to, this careful balance of professional mentoring and personal attraction, would not remain as controlled as either of us believed.

I was going to lose control in a catastrophic way and I knew it.

But as she leaned against my chest and I breathed in the scent of her hair, I found that the prospect of losing control didn't terrify me as much as it should have.

7

TESSA

I arrived at Cross Capital forty-five minutes earlier than usual, ready to prove my worth the way Lucian said I could.

The security guard nodded at me from behind his desk, accustomed to my early arrivals, though this morning was much earlier. Typically, I was here at a quarter 'til eight, not at seven.

My stomach twisted with anticipation and dread as the elevator carried me to the fortieth floor.

The executive suite was dark, the gunmetal sky out the picture windows not adding much light to the place.

I flicked on the lights and started my morning routine—brewing Lucian's coffee, reviewing his calendar, preparing briefing materials for his first meeting.

But the tasks were no competition for the lingering thoughts of what we did last weekend—what we'd done every evening this week as soon as the employees clocked out and his car got us to his penthouse.