Seven Nights of Sin (Penthouse Affair #2)

“You know . . . you’re inexperienced. With a woman who’s been around the block, it’s more okay to play a little fast and loose, because she knows what she likes and doesn’t like, and she won’t be afraid to call a time-out.”

“But I did tell you to stop,” she fires back, crossing her arms over her chest. “Doesn’t that prove I’m capable of holding my own?”

I would laugh at her trademark resolve if I weren’t rapidly approaching exasperation. “I’m trying to apologize for not treating you better.”

“I know. And I appreciate that. I just need to know you see me as an equal. I don’t want you handling me with kid gloves. I agreed to this”—she waves a hand as she searches for a word—“arrangement of my own free will.”

“Even a casual partner still deserves to be treated right.”

She nods slowly, like she’s confused over my choice in words.

I tip my head toward the celling and draw a deep breath before meeting her eyes again. “So, would you like to go to dinner with me?”

She stares back at me for a moment before softening. “Yes. That sounds really nice.” Her expression turns the tiniest bit mischievous. “But it’s still not a date, right?”

I keep a poker face. “Right.”

“Just wanted to make sure. I’ll get dressed,” she says, then heads into the bathroom to get ready.

I should feel better having gotten that apology out of the way, but somehow I don’t. I only feel more confused.

• • •

platters of native Cornish oysters on the half shell

feel at all like work. It’s easy and fun, and highlights all

into each other’s wavelengths that our collaborating feels effortless. It’s nice. Relaxing, even. With a business partner like her, synergy isn’t just

meetings soon, I decide. I was a fool to ever think of restricting her to

unlikely dreams. “Someday we’ll be worldwide.” I smile, taking the last sip of my wine. “An Aspen property in every country—or at least one on

at me over her glass

but I go with the flow and joke, “Sure, why the hell not? An ice palace with

penguin-watching tours,” she says with

time I felt so good? Probably right before I found that fucking Genesis stuff in her bag. The worst of that is behind us now . . . but still, I can’t deny it was a useful

to earth. “On the other hand, I really need to start trimming back my hours. I

find good people to delegate

my chin. “Maybe. Easier said than

more time with them, and I’m not even their parent.” She gets a weird look

your family?” She rarely mentions her father—one of the

She giggles. “He keeps talking about this guy. Every time we talk, it’s Elijah

“Are

might see.” Toying with her last bite of dessert, she asks way too casually,

she always does. “I don’t see how I could fit any more obligations into my

romantic love affair. For some reason, I’m reluctant to shut her down cold. Even though I really should, because there’s no way

the two ladies who need more of my time than I have to give at the moment. It would be foolish of me to pretend we could make

cards for solutions.” She taps her