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I took a stool by the bar, feeling anything but calm and composed. Maybe on the outside I looked like I belonged here, but on the inside freight trains zigzagged through my insides.
Why am I here? And of all things trying to seduce my boss?
Nerves wracked my body all day long. I discreetly tugged at the hem of my dress waltzing up my thigh and hoped I didn’t make a spectacle of myself in my silver stilettoes if Mateo wants to do much of any walking. My usual attire of flats and dress slacks hasn’t given me much practice. But at least they made my legs look about a mile long.
Fresh garland and silver ornaments like the moon elegantly hung or glinted through the entire lounge. In the corner, a piano player smoothly transitioned from “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” to “Silent Night” at the perfect volume to create a holiday atmosphere without overpowering conversations. Beyond the windows overlooking Luna's winter wonderland, fat snowflakes fell, their crystalline beauty sparkling in the massive amount of white lights covering the old mansion, lending a hint of magic to the night.
The scenery held me captive until the bartender’s voice pulled me back to reality. “The gentleman at the end of the bar would like to buy you another martini, Miss.”
I peered down to the end of the bar, hoping to see Mateo, but instead a heavyset man with a disastrous comb-over raised a glass to me. I opened my mouth, but nothing came out. I didn’t want to be rude and my throat was dry. Another martini certainly sounded good. But I wasn’t much of a drinker.
“Oh, that’s okay. I’ll have to pass, but—”
“No,” a deep accented voice spoke up behind me, cutting me off, “she most certainly will not let him buy her a martini.”
Mateo stepped up behind me, his tone that of someone used to having his orders obeyed, sending a shiver over my skin. “I’ll take care of her tab.”
The bartender gave a nod and moved off to serve another customer. I pivoted on my seat to face my boss.
Oh my fucking God. I’d always found him handsome, but I think this was the closest I’d ever been to him. Let’s just say handsome did not do the man justice. If I were wearing panties, they’d be soaked right now. He wore a navy blue three-piece suit that looked as if it was sewn directly onto his frame, fitting perfectly over his broad shoulders and tapering impeccably to his waist. This close, I got to see the fine lines of fatigue around his fathomless blue eyes. His lips were pressed into a grim line, leaving me in no doubt of his displeasure at finding me the object of another man’s attention when he arrived.
He stared hard at my face for just long enough to make me squirm a bit before he slowly allowed his gaze to travel down my body, lingering on my neck, the bare expanse of my shoulders and then on my breasts, plump and pushed up and out by the dress, as if on offer to him. By the time his eyes came back up to meet mine, they’d turned into blue flames, his desire plain to see.
I licked my lips and squeezed my legs together in anticipation, the friction of my thighs making me painfully aware of the wetness that pooled there from just one heated look.
Lord help me.What does this man do to me? At the moment, if he wanted to fuck me right there on the barstool in front of everyone, I just might let him.
“Ready, Angel?” His words were clipped and I realized before now he’d never spoken to me directly. He might be even more gorgeous close up than I thought, but he definitely wasn’t much of a verbal charmer. Well, um, unless you counted the way he’d charmed me out of my panties before he even got here.
I smiled softly, grabbing my clutch from the bar. I slid off the stool and my dress inched higher. I smoothed it down as best I could, but Mateo gave a throat-deep sound, stepped directly in front of me, removing his suit coat.
“Put this on.” He set it over my shoulders as he led me away from the bar.
“It’s o-okay,” I stammered. “I’m not cold.”
Mateo leaned close, his lips grazing my ear. “Every asshole in this place has a hard-on because of you in that dress.”
I gave the room a sweeping glance. Maybe a few heads turned our way, but come on. Me? Nah. They all stared at Mateo as if he just walked off the silver screen. Billionaire status can do that to a man, I guess.
Outside the bar, my heels tapped on the polished marble floor. The air seemed cooler and I drew Mateo’s suit jacket with its silk inner lining around me. His hand on my lower back guided me into a waiting elevator.
The doors slid closed, locking us away from any prying eyes of hotel staff or guests. Mateo took a key from his vest pocket and inserted it into the elevator control panel.
“Are you locking us in here?” I shrugged off his jacket and handed it to him. He took it from me and hung it from a hook above the panel of buttons.
“I’m making sure we’re not interrupted. Now, I have a question for you.” He unbuttoned his shirt at the wrists, rolling it back to expose his muscular forearms.
I pressed myself against the back of the elevator as my nerves fought their way to the surface again. Mateo did not look pleased.
“Are you Winter Angel?”
“I am,” I whispered. My throat dry as the dessert. I really wished I could’ve had that second martini. Mateo stood close, his warmth brushing against me. So male. So overpowering.
“I have a question for you, too.” My voice sounded tentative even to my own ears. I cleared my throat and dug deep for some courage before I managed to ask my question. “Why are you so angry with me?”
Mateo’s blazing eyes blinked. He took another long look from my head down to my toes.
“You don’t think I’m pretty?” I bit my lip, all my insecurities cutting off my breath in my chest.
