The Boss Assignment (Rogue Protectors Book 3) by Victoria Paige (red scrolls of magic txt) 📗

What the hell was she stressing about? They shared a kiss. She even got an orgasm out of it. But, for men like Antonio, obviously, that didn’t mean much.

There was a light rap on her door and she jumped.

“This has gone on long enough.”

Antonio.

What the hell?

“Why are you still here?” she called.

“This is becoming childish.” His voice held extreme irritation. “I told you I’m taking you with me this morning. You better be dressed.”

Knowing there was no way around this man with that bossy tone, she got up from the couch and opened the door.

Antonio was a blur as he barged past her into the room, imposing in his tailored suit and expensive shoes, every inch the billionaire he was. He had a shopping bag in his hand and tossed it on the couch. “I forgot to give this to you yesterday. You might need it.”

Curious, Charly walked over to the bag and peeked inside. It was a camel colored messenger bag very similar to the one she used when she was in college and work. It was her favorite brand too.

Stalker much?

“There’s a phone and wallet inside and enough cash. The phone is programmed with my number, Oscar’s and Ida’s.”

She lifted out the bag and slung it across her torso the way she always did then she looked at him. “Thank you.”

“Charly.” Antonio’s face looked frustrated and his dark hair was not its usual sleekness, as if he’d run through it several times with his fingers. “I don’t want things between us to be awkward.”

“Maybe you should stop yanking my ponytail and kissing me.”

“I’m attracted to you,” he said roughly. “Do you know how many times I wanted to kiss that smart mouth.”

Whoa! Blunt, much?

He took a step toward her and when she backed away, his face darkened, arms falling to his side, hands clenching into fists.

“Do you make a habit of kissing people you work with?” she asked.

His mouth tightened.

“You do!”

“It’s been known to happen,” he said, eyeing her warily as if not sure how she would take it. “I work long hours and I love to fuck. If a woman is willing and she appeals to me…” He shrugged. “Why would I deny myself the pleasure when they make the first move?”

“Might I point out I was running away from you—”

He scowled at her. “I got impatient. You were running away from me because you can’t stand that you’re attracted to me.”

“Oh my God, you have such an ego!”

An arrogant brow rose. “Are you saying you’re not attracted to me?”

“You’re ruining our working relationship—”

“I disagree. I get annoyed with unfulfilled sexual tension. Once we fuck and get it out of our systems, our work will be smoother, believe me.”

Charly stilled. “So, yesterday was just blowing off steam.”

He smirked. “You got yours, I didn’t get mine.”

Charly stalked to the door and out the room. “I can’t believe I’m having this conversation with you. You’ll be waiting a very long time, Mr. Andrade.”

He walked beside her in easy strides. “We’ll see about that.”

Charged silence lasted only until they reached the top of the staircase when Charly stopped and faced him, unable to contain her annoyance. “No more grabbing my ponytail to kiss me.”

“You have very kissable lips.” His eyes flickered with heat. “And how can I forget your moans through the door yesterday, eh? You were imagining me inside you, weren’t you?”

She inhaled sharply at the memory. “You’re impossible.” She skipped down the steps and was met by Ida with a paper bag and a to-go cup of coffee.

“Senhor said you don’t have time for breakfast.”

Antonio took his time descending the stairs. “Because this little mouse was hiding in her room hoping for me to leave.”

“I wasn’t hiding.”

“Oh, you were, gatinha.”

“Why do you keep calling me that?”

“Kitten?”

Charly grabbed the bag and coffee from Ida and stalked away from them. “Make up your mind. I’m a cat or a mouse.”

Such a combative woman. Half the time he didn’t know whether to throttle her neck or silence her with a kiss. But like Antonio realized yesterday, he’d never felt this alive. And it wasn’t only sexually. He glanced at Charly who sat on the end of the seat in the limo, eating the breakfast Ida packed for her and taking a sip from her tumbler. She was looking outside the window at the passing scenery. Antonio was sure she was trying to avoid talking to him.

This weird contentment he was feeling should scare him, but he could attribute it to the novelty of Charly Bennett.

Claudette had been like most of his relationships—built on a necessity for transient companionship to feed his need for sex, nothing more than temporary. Ariana represented an ideal. He’d fixated that they’d come from similar backgrounds, Antonio was convinced he’d found his perfect match even before spending any time of consequence in getting to know her. He saw Ariana’s attraction to Walker as a disappointment, a flaw. He imagined, given their similar backgrounds, she would treat love the way he did. As a lie. A liability if someone was a fool enough to believe in it. That was when his obsession broke, but he still wished the best for Ariana. She was a good woman.

The Christ the Redeemer statue came into view and he caught Charly looking out the window on his side.

“We should have switched places,” he said.

Charly shrugged. “I’ve seen it before. The beach is a better view.” She resumed ignoring him.

In a way, he was glad that Charly was aware of his track record with women. Fewer expectations from him would make sense because his attraction for her wouldn’t last. She would be like all his acquisitions. They amused him for a while, but like all his yachts, sports cars, and houses, they were now collecting dust. Yes, fewer expectations.

Scratch that.

No expectations.

He’d never been attracted to such a prickly woman before. Would it burn fast and die an immediate death? Would he lose interest