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I straightened just in time to catch him adjusting his suit jacket, the smooth tug of the fabric drawing my eyes to his hands—veiny, calloused, and frustratingly attractive. My throat went dry, and I cursed my body for its betrayal.
“Well, quit it, you fucking grump,” I muttered, shoving the stack of papers into his hands. “I’ve made this as idiot-proof as possible. Just read the prize and the winner’s name. Even you can manage that.”
Colton rolled his eyes just before his dark gaze locked on mine. “I’m not an idiot, Sunshine.”
“Stop calling me that,” I snapped, my tone sharp enough to cut glass.
The faintest of smirks flashed on his face, a flicker of triumph I nearly missed. He enjoyed provoking me, the bastard. My fists clenched at my sides as I spun away in a huff. Let him mess this up. I’d almost relish it—except I couldn’t because my reputation was on the line.
That thought spiraled into others I’d been trying to suppress. Like how, despite the infuriating pull he had over me, I couldn’t afford to indulge it. As much as I wanted to push him against the nearest wall and kiss the scowl off his face, I had a career to protect.
COLTON’S ANNOUNCEMENTS, TO my surprise, went off without a hitch. His voice, steady and deliberate, even held the faintest note of warmth. By the time the final name was called, he almost sounded grateful.
The rest of the night passed in a blur of handshakes, smiles, and farewells as I thanked the donors on their way out. My feet were killing me by the time I reached the door, heels dangling from my fingers as I waited for the last stragglers to leave.
Colton approached, his gaze on the floor, his suit jacket slung casually over his shoulder. The sound of his expensive cowboy boots echoed softly against the wooden floor.
His sleeves were rolled up to his forearms. The picture of effortless sex appeal with the way his hips swayed, lost deep in his own thoughts.
When he finally looked up and saw me standing there, he slowed, his expression flickering between mild annoyance and resignation. I had to make my intentions clear before tomorrow, before we started this contract and lines blurred further.
“Walk me to my room,” I said, my tone making it clear it wasn’t a question but a demand.
He didn’t bother responding. Instead, he gave a subtle wave of his hand, motioning for me to lead the way.
We walked in silence, the tension between us crackling like static electricity. But as we neared the hallway to the elevator, I decided I couldn’t keep what had been on my mind bottled up any longer.
“What happened last night can’t happen again,” I said, my voice firm and resolute.
Colton’s jaw tightened, the muscle ticking in irritation—or maybe frustration. If I had to guess, he’d been feeling the same magnetic pull I had all night because he seemed more disappointed than anything.
It was obvious my body wanted him, but his constant scowl and brooding demeanor grated on my nerves. Even after a wildly successful event, he couldn’t muster a genuine smile.
“And why is that?” he asked, his tone even, but his blue eyes sparked with challenge.
I blinked, thrown off by his question. I’d expected him to snarl something about how he didn’t want a repeat either or maybe deliver a smug, asshole comment about last night being a mistake. Not genuine curiosity.
“Because I have a reputation and a career to maintain. If it gets out that I was sexually involved with a client, do you know how that would look?” I crossed my arms and turned to face him fully as we neared the elevator.
“Clearly, you care a lot about how people see you.”
“And clearly, you don’t care enough,” I snapped back.
The elevator doors slid open, and we stepped in. Thankfully, it was empty, giving us the privacy to continue this verbal sparring without an audience.
“I don’t see a problem with that,” he countered.
I huffed and let out a humorless laugh.
For a moment, there was silence. His lack of a comeback annoyed me even more. My career wasn’t just a job—it was my life’s work, something I’d built from the ground up through grit, late nights, and sheer determination. I wasn’t about to throw it all away over a rugged CEO and a fleeting moment of weakness.
He leaned across me, brushing against my front, leaving heat in his wake. Before I could react, Colton slammed the big red button on the elevator panel.
The sudden jolt as the elevator ground to a halt stole my breath.
“What the hell was that for, you buffoon?” I sputtered, spinning to face him. I searched his face for any sign of rational thought. Nope. This man had clearly lost his mind.
“Do you have any idea how infuriating you are?” he asked, his voice low and dangerous, arms crossing over his chest in a move that only emphasized his broad shoulders.
