Stoic, Hayden made herself stare at Griffin and the woman who’d found him and attached herself to his side as soon as dinner ended. She was golden. Perfect. This was the partner his parents wanted for him. Not the second generation Latino daughter of their housekeeper. At one time, she’d fooled herself into believing love could conquer all. That her and Griffin’s disparaging backgrounds and lifestyles didn’t matter—not when they loved each other. That naïve, glass-slippers-dancing-in-her-head girl had died a painful, disillusioned death. The woman born in her place knew better. Love was an excuse, and at times a weapon. People used it to rationalize their behavior and wielded it like a broadsword to maim and cut down.
Most of all though?
Love was a crock of shit.
“Hello, Hayden.”
She turned and met a dark gaze identical to her employer’s. Probably because Joshua had bequeathed it to him.
“Hello, Josh,” she said, surprise winging through her. Griffin’s older brother by two years—and the eldest sibling—was a replica of their father. Black hair, dark brown-almost-black eyes, handsome. While she and Griffin had shared a close relationship, hers with Josh had been distant, polite. And that hadn’t changed in the years since childhood. Other than courteous greetings at the office when their paths crossed, they weren’t friends. So him voluntarily seeking her out had her what-the-hell radar dinging.
“You look beautiful tonight.”
She blinked.O-kay. “Thank you,” she said slowly. “I don’t mean to be rude, Josh, but is there something I can do for you?”
A corner of his mouth quirked up in a half-smile. The man truly was good-looking. If she peeped over his shoulder, she would probably catch at least a dozen women eyeing him. Sexy, successful, and a Sutherland heir. A prize catch. So what the hell was he doing talking to her instead of charming the panties off of those women?
“I missed you around the office today. Dad said you were helping Griffin out while he was in town.”
“Yes.” She forced herself not to glance in Griffin and his new…friend’s direction. “For the next couple of weeks I’m his assistant instead of your father’s.”
“How’s it working out?”
She hiked up a shoulder. “It’s only been one day and no blood has been shed so I’d say we’re off to a fabulous start.”
Josh chuckled. “That sounds about right with Griffin.” His laughter eased into a smile, but the intensity in his dark stare belied the softness flirting with his mouth. “You two always were close, though. If I remember correctly, you were the only one who could handle him. So I think he’s in the right hands.”
Unease flickered inside her chest. “I don’t think ‘handle’ is accurate. No one can handle Griffin.” Even Joshua had found out forcing Griffin to do anything he didn’t want to do was like trying to saddle a gust of wind. Unwise and dangerous.
Josh cocked his head to the side, his regard still unwavering, incisive. “And I believe you underestimate yourself, Hayden,” he murmured.
The unease breathed and expanded into an agitation that crawled under her skin.He couldn’t know…could he…?It was possible if…
“If you’ll excuse me.” She didn’t wait for his reply but skirted around him and headed toward the exit. Dinner was over, and she was officially off the clock. Griffin had made her attend the gala so they could both suffer. Well, he didn’t appear tormented. And she’d served enough time tonight; she was granting herself probation.
Fresh, warm night air hit her face and bared arms. The inside of the ballroom hadn’t seemed cloying until she tilted her head back and inhaled a deep, perfume-and-cologne free breath. Tension eked from her body, and a weight shifted off her chest. Freedom from pretentious conversation, false laughter, fake people and the glittery trappings. Was this really what she worked her ass off to have? To be a part of? If she were accepted by them, would that make her feel whole?
“Where are you going?”
A shiver danced down her spine. She closed her eyes. So much for early probation. “I didn’t think you would mind if I called it a night.”
Not when he held court with Ms. Texas on his arm. God, she needed to go home. The snarkiness was getting out of hand. Maybe after a hot shower and a good night’s sleep, the tight band that had been constricting her chest since she’d first spied him with the other woman would ease. Maybe after some time and distance she could convince herself that she didn’t give a damn.
But with the image of him and the blonde fresh in her mind, with his dark and delicious scent tickling her nose, neither was possible.
“Well, I do mind. You came with me, you’ll leave with me.”
“I’m sure your mother and new friend would have something to say about that.” Damn. If she could kick her own ass, her size seven would be firmly planted back there. Heat streamed up her neck and poured into her face. She’d sounded like a shrew. Worse. A jealous shrew. “Never mind. Forget I—”
“What? Forget you said it?” One moment, the night air caressed her back and shoulders, and in the next, hot, hard muscle pressed against her. Jesus, he must have a furnace burning beneath his skin. Or maybe that was the flames of arousal inside her. Licking at her, searing her. “Answer me, Hayden,” he growled. “Do you want me to forget?”
A tremulous puff of air escaped her lips. Notthatvoice. The one that had instructed her, commanded her to touch him, suck him…fuck him. That voice had happily led her skipping down a path of sin. “Yes,” she whispered.
“Why?” He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, his long, blunt-tipped fingers teasing the outer shell.
She locked her teeth against the groan that crawled up her throat, but couldn’t do a damn thing about the tremble in her thighs. Or the beading of her nipples. Or the empty,hungryclenching in her pussy. The power of her need—need elicited by one rather innocuous touch—sent desperation surging through her, combating the desire. This fucking unwanted, resented desire.
“Why, baby?” He grasped her shoulders, turned her around to face him. Cradling her face in his big palm, he pressed his thumb to her bottom lip. Her teeth scraped the tender skin inside her mouth, and she moaned at the slight edge of pain his firm, dominant touch elicited. It echoed inside of her, its call expanding and rebounding until need resonated through every organ, every limb like an erotic sonar. “You want me to make you answer my question?” he purred.
