Cat Schield - With Love From Las Vegas

While Sebastian grappled for words to change her mind, Missy exited the suite, successfully ending the conversation with the last word.

The cell phone she’d left on the table buzzed. Sebastian pulled the phone toward him and checked the display. Instead of it being someone from the office or a member of the hotel staff about the arrangements, the incoming number belonged to someone named Tim. The boyfriend. Wasn’t he out of the picture?

The call went to voice mail. Sebastian didn’t hesitate before hitting speed dial to listen to the message.

“Hey, babe.”

Babe?

Sebastian couldn’t picture anyone calling Missy by that pet name.

“I just realized I missed your birthday. I know you must be pretty pissed at me, but I want you to know that I still care about you.”

That wasn’t the speech of a man who was done with his ex-girlfriend but one who was covering his bases in case things didn’t work out with the new squeeze. Sebastian deleted the message. An ex-boyfriend unable to make a clean break was only going to distract her. He needed her focused on the leadership summit this week—and on him.

At seven, Sebastian surveyed the transformed suite. Two fully stocked bars awaited guests. Wait staff flanked tables loaded with mouthwatering finger food. The atmosphere was relaxed and elegant.

Missy had come through again. He’d never really doubted that she would.

Even if the scent of her perfume hadn’t reached his nose, the way his nerves began to buzz told him she was close by. Sweetness and sin. An intoxicating blend that made him crazy.

“Everything is exactly as we discussed,” she said from behind him, her crisp tones reassuring Sebastian that his efficient assistant had returned to the fold.

“Good.”

He glanced over his shoulder and saw a goddess. Missy wore a strapless dress with alternating bands of black and white sequins that hugged all her curves and emphasized the fiery brilliance of her hair. She’d pinned it up. The sleek updo emphasized her long, elegant neck and the delicate hollows below her collarbones.

Cool and composed, she regarded him through eyes more brown than hazel tonight. Hard to believe this tranquil beauty was the same spitfire that propositioned him last night. His senses crowed in appreciation of every luscious inch of her while his thoughts grumbled about unnecessary distractions.

Where had his practical assistant gone? The old Missy had taken his orders without question. She’d never distracted him from working with her intoxicating perfume or her provocative curves.

“Is this what you’re planning on wearing tonight?” Frustration with her allure jolted the blunt question out of him.

“Yes.” Her curt reply told him she had not appreciated his tone. “Why?”

“It’s not exactly appropriate for a business meeting.”

Picking a fight with her was simple self-preservation. He needed her as annoyed with him as he was attracted to her. Otherwise, the door that separated his suite from her hotel room wouldn’t be much of an obstacle for him later.

“This is a cocktail party.” She inclined her head, her tone vibrating with restraint.

“And you’re my employee, not my date.”

Her eyes widened at his severe tone. “I’m aware of that.”

“Are you?”

“Of course.” She looked piqued that he’d even ask. “You don’t think I got the message loud and clear earlier?”

“What message?”

“That I’m not your type and this attraction between us has nowhere to go.”

“What makes you say that?”

She rolled her eyes. “Come on, look at the women you date when you take the time for a social life. They’re all sophisticated, beautiful, wealthy, and half-starved to fit into all those gorgeous designer clothes.”

Yet not one of them stirred his blood the way Missy did.

“It’s okay,” she continued. “I’m not in your league. I never thought I was.” When he didn’t deny her claim, the corners of her lips wobbled before achieving a brave smile. “I never expected anything beyond last night.”

And that’s exactly how it should be. So, why did his mood sour at her admission?

“Forgive me if I find that difficult to believe when you were wandering around here in my shirt and nothing else this morning. Were you hoping I’d spend the day in bed with you? Our deal was for one night.”

Her eyes widened in dismay, but her clenched fists told Sebastian she wasn’t going to be cowed by his bad mood. “And one night is all you’re going to get.”

“All I’m going to get?” He leaned forward, feeling her sharp inhalation like a punch to his solar plexus. Her parted lips drove him mad with longing. He wanted to taste her again. Cherries and lemons. The memory of her kisses was carved into his brain. “The bet and the terms were your decision, not mine.”

“You went along with it happily enough,” she shot back.

Why were they fighting when all he wanted was to haul her tight against him and claim her mouth? “I didn’t think I was going to lose.”

“But you did.”

“And I honored my part of the bargain.”

Her eyes almost popped out of her head. Her mouth opened and closed like a fish on land. Her hands formed tight fists at her sides.

“Well, excuse me for forcing you to have sex with me.”

Seeing that she was completely exasperated with him, Sebastian pulled her phone out of his pocket and extended it. “You left this behind earlier.” She took the phone, but he didn’t let go. Fighting with her hadn’t eased his suffering. In fact, he wanted her more than ever. The urge to sweep her into his bedroom and find out what she was wearing under that black and white dress was close to driving him mad. “Someone named Tim called you.”

“Tim called?” Obviously that gave her hope that their relationship wasn’t over. Her lashes lowered to her cheeks but not fast enough for Sebastian to miss the delight shining in her eyes.

Annoyance growled like a cornered badger. “I suppose he wants you back.”

She reined in her emotions until nothing showed in her expression. “I doubt that. He broke up with me because he found his soul mate online.” She checked her phone’s display. “There’s no voice mail. I’ll bet he called because he wants his anime collection back.”

“Maybe he forgot to wish you a belated birthday.”

“Maybe.” Missy’s gaze sliced to Sebastian. “Did you listen to my messages? You did.” She speed dialed and put the phone to her ear. “And deleted one from Tim.”

He stared at her impassively.

She shook the cell phone at him. “Why?”

“You deserve better.”

“Did it ever occur to you that I can’t do better?”

Is that what she thought? From her downturned lips, Sebastian gathered that’s exactly what she believed. Foolish girl. She was better than a hundred Tims put together.

“Any man would be proud to call you his girlfriend.”

“Any man but you.” The slight lilt at the end of her statement made it sound more as if she asked a question.

Sebastian ignored the desire to assure her that he had not excluded himself. To tell her that would create possibilities, and he couldn’t do that to her. He needed an executive assistant—not a lover or a girlfriend.

“I’d like you to change,” he said.

“And I’d like world peace. Seems neither one of us is going to get what they want tonight.” A smile curved her lips, but her eyes resembled granite. “Excuse me. I’d better make sure everything’s perfect.”

Once again her cheeky attitude left him without a comeback. She slipped past him and headed toward the buffet table. He stared after her, the delectable sway of her hips turning his mouth into a sand trap. He remembered trailing his fingertips from her nape to the small of her back. She’d shivered. Her body’s reactions had been exquisite, delicate perfection.