Alpha Billionaire Series
Love to Hate You Chapter 9

CHARLIE

I end up converting the storage room at the end of the hall into an office for Nash. It's mean, but also a joke, and the next morning, I walk him down there. I wrote his name on a piece of paper and taped it to the outside of the door. "Welcome to your new office," I say and push the door open. I hit the light to reveal a desk which takes up 95 percent of the room. It's dim and smells faintly like disinfectant because there were cleaning supplies in here. Nash arches a brow and leans in to check it out.

"C'mon in and I'll give you a tour," I say, unable to hide the amusement in my voice.

The moment he steps inside, I realize that inviting him in was a huge mistake. The area is far too small for the both of us and I skirt around the desk, trying to make some room between us. Nash pushes the door out of his way, almost but not quite shutting it, so he can walk in further. "You're funny," he says, eyeing me like some sort of prey that he wants to devour.

I take another step back, my thigh bumping into the desk, as he stalks forward. "It's just a joke," I say, voice lower than I intend, unable to look away from his lips. They're not too full or too thin. Just delicious looking.

Nash corners me and I feel my heart kick up a notch. All night long I had dreams about him and the unspeakable, wicked things he did to me woke me up so hot and bothered that I had to grab my vibrator out of the nightstand drawer. And, God, I put it to good use. I hadn't come that long or hard since....well, probably ever. Picturing his cobalt eyes and pretending he was deep inside me left me shaking with multiple o*****s.

Now, though, with the actual man right in front of me, so close that I can practically feel his body heat, I clam up. I've never been the seducer and s*x has always just been a way to release tension. It's never been emotional for me, only physical.

The sexual tension hanging in the air between us now is off the charts and when he steps right in front of me, blocking me in with his big body, my chest heaves as I struggle to draw in a breath. His hand lifts and cups my jaw, and I freeze at his warm touch. "You never used to make jokes," he says, voice so low and deep that I almost have to strain to hear him.

When his finger traces my lower lip, my mouth drops open and I have to stop myself from sucking it inside. "What're you doing?" I ask, tone husky.

"Telling myself that I have no business doing what I'm about to do," he says and slowly lowers his head, lifting my mouth up to meet his.

The moment his soft lips sweep over mine, I am lost to sensation. I wrap my arms around his neck and savor the feeling. It doesn't take long until he's coaxing my mouth open, and his tongue invades, sliding against mine. So damn hot. He tastes like coffee, black and strong, and as the kiss deepens, I moan, pushing against him.

We haven't even been in here long and my vanilla perfume mixes with his sandalwood aftershave, filling the small space, and the smell is intoxicating. Nash is making me want to do all sorts of things that I shouldn't, and my body seems to have a mind of its own as it wraps around him and I shamelessly push my hips against his.

Nash tears his mouth away, breathing hard. "We're playing with fire," he rasps.

I let out a shaky breath. As if I don't know that. "There's no way we're having s*x," I tell him.

"Never," he affirms, fingers toying with my chignon. "Ever."

Our gazes lock and then our mouths collide again. Oh, God, this man knows how to kiss. He has perfected it into an art, and I love everything about it. From how he uses his lips and tongue to how he tastes. One of his hands moves back to cup the side of my face again while the other plays with my chignon, loosening it.

"Nash? Charlie?" The door opens.

Shit.I yank away, nearly falling back on the desk, and Nash reaches out to steady me as Ivy appears. I blink and stand up straight, smoothing my skirt down. We must look guilty as hell. "Sorry to, um, interrupt, but Jordan Lowe is on line one and wants to talk to you, Charlie."

"Yes, right." I try to step around Nash and the area is so small I'm having difficulty getting past him. He grasps my hips, pulls me flush against his front, and turns with a wicked grin. There's no way to miss the hard bulge in his pants and my stomach drops. I push away and make a shooing motion for Ivy to step back so I can get the hell out of here. "Line, uh, one, you said?"

Ivy nods.

"Great, thanks," I say and jog down to my office, swiping a finger around my lips to wipe away my smeared gloss. Once I reach it, I close the door and sink against it for a moment. Oh, no. What did I do? I catch a glimpse of my dazed reflection in a mirror on the wall and see my hair is falling out and I look a mess.

Actually, I look like a woman who was just kissed really well and thoroughly by a man who specializes in lip action.

Shit, shit, shit.

Pushing off the door, I walk around my desk and sit in my chair. After I compose myself, I grab the receiver and hit line one. "Hello, Mr. Lowe," I say. "How are you?"

"I'm well, Charlie, and please call me Jordan."

"Yes, of course, Jordan," I say. Jordan Lowe is a potential client who has a nice voice and is handsome as the devil. Even though he's flirted with me a few times, I've always kept him at arm's length. Our official presentation to his firm is coming up fast and I hope everything is still on track with him. "We're still on your books for our meeting, right?"

"Yes. I was actually calling to invite you to a charity dinner tonight."

Uh-oh.There's no way I can go as his date, and I hesitate. But I'm scared if I say no then he'll choose another firm over TB Tech. "Tonight?"

"I know it's last minute and I apologize. But I heard Nash Beckett is back and I'd love to see you both tonight if you can back it."

Oh, thank goodness."We'd be delighted to come," I say. There's no way I can turn Jordan Lowe down and bringing Nash makes it completely professional.

"Great. I'll have my assistant email you the details."

"Thanks. See you this evening."

After we hang up, I slouch back in my chair and touch my lips. They feel a little puffy from being kissed so thoroughly. I let out a sigh and relive our stolen moments in the closet.

When my email dings, I open up the invitation from Jordan. After skimming through it, I forward it to Nash with a message that we need to go. I should walk down and tell him in person but I'm too nervous to go see him right now. I'm still shaky from those kisses and the intimate feel of his body pressed against mine.

I have so much I need to concentrate on, especially figuring out how to lure Square Enterprises on as a client. But Nash is proving to be a huge distraction that I didn't expect. At least not in this way. I thought he'd be annoying and bossy, but I had no idea we'd have this crazy, all-consuming chemistry between us.

Where the hell did it even come from?I wonder.

I have no idea, but things are different and he's got me distracted in the best kind of way.

When my email dings again, I see Nash's quick response: Looking forward to it. I'll pick you up at 7:00 p.m.

Pick me up?This isn't a date; it's dinner with a client. Besides, I'm not sure I can handle being one on one like that with him. I planned on meeting him there because I was going to go straight from here.

I email him back: I'll be going straight from here.

As if waiting for my response, he responds right away: Me, too. We can go together.

God, he's so pushy but a part of me is getting excited. Spending the evening outside of the office with Nash is a first and, as the hours tick by, I replace myself unable to concentrate on work and daydreaming about tonight.

Not that anything is going to happen. God, no. A part of me knows I have to keep it professional and the more wicked part of me can't wait to get him alone.

What is wrong with me?I wonder and shake my head.

When the clock hits 6:00 p.m., for the first time that I can remember, I call it a day and stop working. I open my closet and look through some dresses that I keep here in case a last-minute event like Jordan's dinner happens. It's more common than one would think and it's important that I can throw an evening gown on and go.

And thank God, I have the Versace one here.

Tonight, I'm going to take my time getting ready. It's silly, but I want to look extra nice and there's no denying why. For Nash. Just the thought makes me mad at myself. I know I shouldn't waste so much effort getting ready for a man, but when Nash walks into my office at 6:30 p.m., the look on his face makes it well worth it.

As I lift a tube of red lipstick, I catch a glimpse of him in the mirror and I meet his stare. "Almost ready," I say and swipe it across my lips. I can see him watching me closely and there's no missing the way his gaze dips down to check out my a*s and long legs. I'm wearing a very sexy, white Versace gown that doesn't leave a whole lot to the imagination. It hugs my curves and the slit up my thigh is dangerously high. The most provocative part, though, is the way it's cut. My entire back is nearly bare, and the dress has partial slits on the side, beneath my breasts, that show glimpses of skin.

I don't have the nerve to wear it often and from the look on Nash's face, he approves.

"You look amazing," he finally murmurs.

"Thank you," I say and turn around, patting my lips together. "Just let me put my shoes on and I'm ready."

I sit down in a nearby chair and slip the elegant gold heels on which match the gold cuffs on my wrists. I can feel the heat of his gaze watching every movement I make, but I don't make eye contact. My nerves kick in and I hope I didn't overdo it with the dress. When I stand up, I finally meet his hot, blue gaze and it practically sears me.

"Ready?" I ask and grab my clutch.

"Yeah," he says.

We walk over to the elevator and step inside a moment later. I don't know what to say and the intensity in his gaze makes me shift and let out a small sigh.

"You should wear your hair down more," he finally says in a low voice. The attraction between us is palpable. "It's very pretty."

My stomach flutters with butterflies at his compliment. It's the first one he's ever given me, and I can barely replace my voice. "Thank you."

The ride over in Nash's Tesla begins in silence but he starts talking as we pull into traffic. "I feel like we need an icebreaker game." "What do you mean?"

"It's like I'm just getting to know you. We're both different people than we were before."

"Are we?" I ask.

"Aren't we?"

"How would you say you've changed?"

"I think I've done some growing up. A little, anyway," he adds and tosses me a charming smile.

I know that smile has melted the panties off quite a few women, but I will not be included in that number.

Damn, it's attractive, though, and doing something strange to my insides. Twisting them all up.

"What about you, Charlie? Have you changed these past couple of years?"

Have I? I'm honestly not sure. "I don't know. Maybe."

"Trust me when I say you have."

"So can we safely assume we've called a truce tonight while we're in front of a potential client?"

"For tonight," he agrees and flashes me that stomach-dropping smile again.

When we arrive at the fancy hotel where the charity dinner is being held, I remind myself that no matter how dreamy Nash looks or how combustible our chemistry, I need to keep my guard up. The man simply can't be trusted, and his eyes are on the prize- TB Tech. Which means mine need to be, too.

Jordan Lowe swoops in out of nowhere and slips a glass of champagne into my hand. "You look stunning, Charlie. My God, I thought Margo Robbie just walked in here."

I give him a smile and take a sip, eyeing him over the rim. He's a silver fox, no doubt about it. "I am surrounded by charmers tonight," I say and glance over at Nash whose cheek twitches. "Jordan Lowe, I'd like you to meet Nash Beckett."

"Thank you for coming tonight," Jordan says and offers his hand.

Nash pastes a grin on his face and shakes the other man's hand.

"My condolences. Your father was a good man. When I heard you were back at TB Tech, I wanted to meet you before the presentation in a couple of weeks. I assume you and Charlie will be doing it together?"

His choice of words makes my face flush and when I glance up at Nash, I can see he is highly amused. "Yes, we'll be doing it," he says, blue eyes darkening and holding mine. "Won't we, Charlie?"

I look away and take another drink of champagne. God, that look communicated so much. More than I am ready to handle, if I'm being honest.

Shit.I have no idea how I am going to get through this evening.