Total pages in book: 135
Estimated words: 134706 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 674(@200wpm)___ 539(@250wpm)___ 449(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 134706 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 674(@200wpm)___ 539(@250wpm)___ 449(@300wpm)
“How so?”
“I was only going to stay at the conference for the opening day.”
“Yes.”
“I’ve decided that I’m staying on for the week. There is an . . .” I pause as I search for the right wording. “Opportunity . . . that I would like to investigate further.”
“Okay, when will you be back?”
“Monday, next week.”
“Yeah, of course. Listen, I’m in a meeting. I’ll call you later.”
“Okay.” I hang up and put my phone back into my pocket, and my eyes rise to watch Claire Anderson across the room once more.
This conference just got interesting.
Claire
“I’m just going to get a drink,” Nelson says. “Do you want another?”
“Okay, thank you.”
“I’ll be back shortly,” he replies, and I watch him as he walks over to the bar.
He’s a nice guy.
I’m surprised—this has actually been a great night. We had dinner, and then there was dancing. I’ve been chatting with everyone, being sociable. Marley would be so proud of me.
“Ahh, alone at last.” I hear a voice. I glance over to see Tristan Miles standing beside me. Great. I roll my eyes.
“Where did your disciple go?” he asks as he sips his drink.
“Who’s that?” I frown.
“The boring Goody Two-shoes.”
I bite the inside of my cheek so that I don’t smile. He hit the nail on the head. “I don’t know who you’re talking about.”
“Nelson Mandela or whatever his name is.” He waves his glass in the air toward Nelson.
Unable to help it, I smile. “I have no idea what his surname is, but I’m pretty sure it’s not Mandela, Mr. Miles.”
“I told you to call me Tristan.”
“And I told you to go away.”
“You know . . .” He pauses, as if getting the wording right. “If I wasn’t at a work conference and being professional, I’d have a lot to ask you.”
“Such as?” I question.
“I’m working,” he says as he straightens his tie.
Eager to know what he wants to say, I reply, “Consider yourself off the clock. Anything you say to me will be considered a private matter.”
“Why do you hate me so much?”
“Well, there’s a lot to dislike.”
“Such as?”
“You want my company, Mr. Miles.”
“No.” He sips his drink. His tone makes me think he’s annoyed. “I made an honest offer for your company, and you rejected it. End of story. I haven’t approached you since, and I have respected your wishes.”
Our eyes are locked. I can feel the energy, and it bounces between us. It’s almost as if our bodies are speaking to each other without words. I can pretend not to notice it all I want, but the truth is Tristan Miles is a sensory overload.
Feeling foolish for my over-the-top hatred, I reply, “If you must know, I find you rather annoying.”
His mouth falls open as he fakes shock. “Are you always so coldhearted, Claire?”
I chuckle. “I think we both know who is coldhearted out of the two of us.”
His eyes hold mine, and then he raises his eyebrow. “What about your blood?”
“What about my blood?”
“Does your blood run hot?”
He’s so naughty.
Hmm . . . I hate to admit it, but there is definitely something about this guy.
I smile broadly at his audacity. “I don’t think you need to know about the temperature of my blood.”
“Oh, but a man does wonder.” He sips his drink with his eyes locked on mine. The air swirls between us. “Perhaps we should talk about it . . . outside.” He gives me a slow, sexy smile and then raises his eyebrow. “Off the clock, of course.”
“You want to go outside and talk about the temperature of my blood, Mr. Miles?”
“Yes,” he whispers as his eyes drop to my lips.
I lean in. “Mr. Miles,” I whisper.
“Yes.”
“I’m not attracted to you, on or off the clock.”
He puts his lips to my ear. “Liar.”
His breath tickles my skin and sends goose bumps scattering down my arms.
“Will you stop it?” I whisper as I look around, uncomfortable with my body’s reaction to him. Traitor.
His eyes hold mine. “Call me Tristan.”
“No.” I sip my drink. God, I wish I could tip my head back and drain the glass.
“Claire.” He leans in to whisper in my ear again.
“What?”
“Don’t be scared of calling me Tristan.”
I roll my eyes.
“Because one day very soon, I predict that you’re going to be moaning it.”
I smirk. “Are you always this delusional?”
“Just saying.” He gives a casual shrug and then turns and walks off, and I watch him walk through the crowd.
Nelson appears. “Here’s your drink.”
“Thanks.” I take it from him and look across the room to see Mr. Miles arrive at a group of women. They all gush and smile, and then he turns toward me. His dark eyes meet mine, and he gives me another slow, sexy smile before holding his glass in the air toward me, as if to signify the opening of the Olympic Games.