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“Arnie is an ass for such a rule, but all right. Anything else?”
I have a son.
“I can’t think of anything,” Marissa said quietly.
“I know what you’re doing,” Bruno said.
“What?”
“You’re testing me, to see if I walk away. To see if what we shared was real. It was very real, and I’m not going anywhere. In fact, I’m going to walk down to your boss’s office right now and let him know I no longer want to be a client.”
“You are?” She hadn’t expected him to say that.
“Of course. I no longer need to look for a wife. I have you.”
The words were said in a teasing tone, but they cut with the sharpness of a sword through her heart. Did he mean them the way they came out?
“Enjoy your meal, meet with your client, and then go home and put your feet up. I’ll send a car for you to come to my house. We might as well take advantage of the fact that Theo is with his father in Florida.”
Marissa set aside her hurt feelings. Bruno might enjoy her company, but she knew the type of woman he was searching for, and she didn’t fit the description. She was the interlude before he found the woman he wanted to marry. She should focus on the positive. She got to spend more time with him.
“Should I bring an overnight bag?” she asked.
“You should bring a bag for the week,” he replied. “Good?”
A whole week! Happiness bubbled inside her. He was right. She didn’t realize she had been testing him until he called her out. He wanted to spend more time with her, and she wanted to spend more time with him. She was adult enough to accept those terms and be happy with them.
“Yes, chef.”
He growled low his throat and pulled her in for a hard kiss that made her core flutter.
“I’ll see you later,” he said and slapped her bottom.
Marissa jumped and let out a shocked squeak. He chuckled and strutted out of her office.
Very masculine. Very male. All Bruno.
Since she had a little time before her evening appointment, she opened the bag and pulled out the burger. Seated at her desk, she moaned softly, indulging in the seasoned steak fries and the juicy burger with tomato, lettuce, and melted cheese.
“Damn,” she murmured, her foodie taste buds going berserk.
She ate all the fries and half the burger before Lori called to let her know her appointment had arrived. She put away the leftovers and popped a mint in her mouth before she rushed from her office.
“Mr. Jackson, how are you?” she greeted the elderly man.
He looked dapper in a charcoal suit and red tie. Mr. Jackson had lost his wife a few years ago and was seeking companionship—younger companionship. He didn’t care if the women were only interested in his money. He wanted someone who looked good on his arm, who he could spoil.
Marissa had pulled together three women open to dating older men.
“Hello, Marissa, how are you? Please tell me you have options for me.”
“Of course I do. I wouldn’t have asked you to come if I didn’t.”
He beamed his pleasure.
Bruno entered the foyer at the same moment, and their eyes connected. The look he sent in her direction was filled with nothing but pure heat, and she quickly glanced away before Lori guessed there was more between them than client and matchmaker.
Tucking her arm into Mr. Jackson’s, she led him into the conference room and then ducked out to get the files in her office. Snatching up the folder, she was about to rush out but pulled up short when she almost ran into Arnie.
