Page 16 of The Boss and the Adoption Mess

“I just wanted one hot night with a hot guy.”

“Thanks a lot.” I should’ve kept that to myself. I clear my throat loudly, and of course, he smirks. Oh man, what a damn mess. When he looks at me like that, my pulse jumps.

“You were charming, I’ll give you that. The rest didn’t matter to me.”

“So, you didn’t just reduce me to my body?”

“I couldn’t see under your suit...”

“Okay. Go on. What else?”

“You didn’t even let me shower. That was unbelievably rude!”

"I already heard you helped yourself to the guest bathroom in the foyer. But my niece comes first." That actually makes him seem a little likable.

"I admit..." I wrestle for a second with whether I should say this or just bite my tongue.

"Yeah?" he pushes, flashing an even bolder, arrogant grin.

"You're a good uncle; I'll give you that. But the rest is a train wreck. You're arrogant, and you stick women in boxes. You act like you're so important and fake being rich, and you think we're all the same. You never give a woman a real chance to actually know you as a man."

"So, you would’ve gone with me if I’d shown up at the Midnight Lounge in jeans and a T-shirt?"

"Of course."

"Really?" He chuckles.

"If you’d been just as charming, then yeah. Sure, a suit always looks good on a man, but it was your presence. You gave off something. That drew me in. The rest was blurred out thanks to the alcohol."

"Now it’s my turn." Gabriel leans back all relaxed, and it annoys me that he wants to psychoanalyze me.

"Save it. I don’t care what you think of me."

"You’re scared of the truth." I try to tune him out. "And scared you won’t land the job. The fact that you hooked up with a guy like me last night just shows you wanted to close a chapter. Onelast good fuck before you throw yourself into work and don’t have time for hot one-night stands anymore."

"Since you clearly studied the job listing, you know there’ll be overseas trips. I might be gone from London for a week or two at a time. Maybe longer. A relationship wouldn’t even be possible like that. So yeah, it was supposed to be a little goodbye. But as far as I remember, I fell asleep..." I lift my brows, making sure he gets that I’m blaming him for it. That should bruise his ego.

"So, you’re faithful in a relationship?"

"That’s none of your business."

"I’m just curious. After all, you gave me a lap dance in the limo."

Fantastic. It’s just wonderful that he has to bring that up now.

"If your new boss—assuming you even get the job—asked you for something like that..."

"Hey! I’m a professional, just so we’re clear! I keep business and personal totally separate!"

"So, Mr. Kensington can’t count on a hot little hip shake from you?"

"Absolutely not. But you know what you can count on?" I’m two seconds away from clawing his eyes out, he’ll see!

"Hmm, what?" He leans closer while I glare at him.

"Orange juice in your lap." I’m going to do it. No matter how nuts it sounds, I’m not letting this job slip away. And I’ll be damned if I lose to someone like him.

"They’ve got cameras here. Go ahead. I’m sure your new boss will be thrilled to see you trying to take out the competition with cheap shots." Gabriel chuckles again, which just makes my blood boil.