Page 25 of Tempting the President

George laughs, setting down the latte she’s been making with a flourish. “I’m serious, Professor. He really is into you, and he admits it.”

“Of course he is. And I’m sure the next thing you’ll say is he’ll prove it by suddenly spinning me around—aaah!”

All I can do is cry out as someone does spin me around, andoh...my...goodness.

Dark eyes gleam down at me, and my heart threatens to leap out of my chest.

“I knew it. You guys really look good together.”

First, it was Lis. This time, it’s George. Am I doomed to have traitors as friends or is this all because of Patrizio Steele’s evil charm working its magic?

“Would you like some coffee, Mr. Steele—”

Patrizio briefly turns his gaze to George, his expression softening slightly in a way that tells me these two have built some kind of rapport through my coffee habits.

“Or would you like one beautiful professor to go?”

What the—

I let out an indignant growl even as Patrizio throws back his head with a laugh, the sound rich and warm in a way that makes several nearby patrons turn to look.

“Have a pleasant evening, George.”

George beams while carefully avoiding my glaring gaze, busying herself with wiping down the already spotless espresso machine.

“You, too, Mr. Steele, Professor Jayne.”

I try wriggling free as soon as Patrizio turns around. “Will you please let me down?”

“Not a chance, darling.”

“How many times do I have to tell you to stop calling me that?”

“Probably as many times as it takes you to realize you’re simply wasting your breath.”

Argh.

“This is entirely inappropriate—”

“Since when do you care about appropriate?” His voice lowers to that velvety rumble that makes me forget my own name.

Patrizio finally sets me down on my feet...but only because we’re inside the elevator, and he has me trapped between the wall and his big, hard body.

“You didn’t care about appropriate when you let me make you come against my penthouse wall.”

“Don’t—”

“Don’t what? Don’t remind you how responsive you were?”

“What happened was a mistake—”

“What happened was inevitable.”

Patrizio takes a step toward me as he speaks, and my heart slams against my ribs.

I know I should warn him against coming any closer, but all I can do is stare as...the elevator doors slide open, and I find myself caught between relief and regret.

You’re doomed, Jayne! You’re absolutely doomed!