“And you.”
His brows creased.
“You’re the target, Ro. I mean, nothing like this has happened before.”
His face hardened. “Caden had mentioned there’d been some hate mail since the acquisition.”
I gasped.
“It’s normal. It happens. Whoever’s responsible for the pranks, they clearly don’t care who gets hurt. I’mnotgoing to let it continue.”
I suppressed a shiver. The steel in his voice told me that he was very used to getting his own way. Something occurred to me. “Several days ago, before the Mountain Masquerade, someone slashed the Langston Hotels banner we had in the lobby.”
He frowned. “You think it could be related?”
“Maybe?”
“I’ll let Caden know.”
I really hated the idea that someone had their sights set on Ro. Then I realized that he was stroking my hand. His fingers moved up, rubbing over my pulse point. My pulse was already going haywire from being this close to him.
Those amber eyes flicked up, and they looked warm. “Your pulse is racing.”
I sucked in a breath. “Is it?”
He shifted closer, his legs bumping against mine.
“Ro, we were ignoring this,” I murmured. “Putting it behind us.”
“It doesn’t seem to be working.”
My pulse tripped. “This…doesn’t work for either of us. You’re the boss, I’m the manager of your hotel, it…”
“I know all of that, but I still feel this crazy tug.” His fingers circled around my palm and I shivered. “I know you feel it, too.”
I shook my head.
“Surely you aren’t lying to me, Ms. Ashford. You promised not to.”
“This is crazy. You’re…you. I’m me. You’re my boss.”
“Boss’ boss’ boss’ boss. Do you feel coerced?” Something flickered across his face. “I’d never force?—”
I gripped his hand. “I don’t feel coerced, Ro. God, we just both know this is a bad idea.”
He leaned closer, his gaze on my lips. “Does it feel bad?”
His scent wrapped around me. Tantalizing and pure temptation. I remembered everything he’d done to me on that stolen night at the masquerade. My fingers curled around his. “No. It feels too good.”
He groaned. “I know. I smell that green apple scent of yours and I go hard. I wonder if it’s your perfume, or shampoo.”
I swallowed. “It’s my moisturizer.”
He groaned. “Every time I see you…everything seems a little brighter, a little better.”
My chest filled with warmth. “Ro…”
We both moved. I cupped his stubbled cheeks, and his arm swept around me.
