“A one-time thing?” I freeze completely.
“Yes.” She focuses her attention on her plate with determined intensity. “You wanted to sleep with me, and it was clearly getting in the way of our professional relationship, so?—”
“How generous of you,” I say coolly. “Unfortunately, you opened a door that I have no intention of closing now.”
Lifting my hand, I gently graze the bite mark against her neck with my fingertips, and when she shivers involuntarily, I feel a surge of cold, smug satisfaction. “That’s definitely not the reaction of a woman who’s simply scratched an itch. Tell me, Natalie,” I lean closer, and she instinctively moves back against the chair, her eyes wide with awareness, “if I were to slide my fingers between your thighs right now, tell me I wouldn’t find you wet and ready for me again?”
Her skin flushes a deep, revealing red. “You?—”
“It’s a simple yes or no answer.”
“You’re so incredibly full of yourself!” She spluttersindignantly, but I notice how she presses her legs together more tightly. “And the answer is absolutely no!”
My lips curve in a knowing smile, and I whisper softly against her ear, “Liar.”
“Just go!” she glares with magnificent fury. “And it doesn’t matter what you think you know. I’m the one drawing boundaries here, and this is a big, fat line in the sand. We had our fun, and now it’s completely over.”
I would be more concerned if she actually believed that obvious falsehood herself.
“I’m going to go get changed for the meeting. We’ll talk about this later. The masseuse will be here in a bit. I’ve booked her for two hours. Take a nap during it if you need to. I don’t intend to let you sleep tonight either.”
As I walk away with purposeful strides, she calls after me with less conviction than she probably intended, “You must be crazy if you think I’m going to let you touch me tonight.”
The lack of real conviction in her voice gives me all the answer I need.
Stepping out into the hallway, I immediately call my sister. She picks up on the second ring with her usual energy.
“I’m in Chicago, Megan. I need a complete outfit for Natalie—dress, jewelry, shoes, and a professional makeup artist. Can you arrange all of that for me?”
“Natalie?” I can practically hear the delighted grin in my sister’s voice. “You mean your girlfriend, Natalie?”
“Megan.”
“Fine, fine,” she snickers with barely contained glee. “Send me your address. I’m actually in Chicago myself right now. I’m supposed to leave tonight, so I’ll come by in an hour.”
“Not in an hour.” I don’t bother asking why she’s in the city; my sister loves traveling when she’s not buried in her studies, and she has friends scattered across the country. “Come by around six.”
“Are you completely crazy? My flight is at seven!”
“Cancel it. You can take my plane instead.”
“I don’t like your private plane—it’s too stuffy and formal. I prefer traveling my own way. I’ll cancel my flight, but you’re definitely paying for the new ticket.”
“Fine. Just arrive by six.”
“Can I bring my date?”
“Absolutely not.” I pause, my expression darkening with big-brother protectiveness. “Did you come to Chicago with a man?”
“No,” she drawls in a way that immediately tells me she’s lying through her teeth.
“I see.”
“If you start probing into my private life, Ethan, I’ll find creative ways to make you suffer,” my sister threatens. “You all need to butt out.”
Making a mental note to thoroughly investigate who she’s been seeing recently, I reply, “Just bring a good selection of dresses for her. She’s not—” I clear my throat carefully. “She’s not feeling particularly well today. So bring her shoes and various outfits to try on, plus some elegant jewelry options.”
“She’s not feeling well?” I can hear the wickedly knowing laugh building in my sister’s voice, and I scowl.
