Because Of Love

“I ah,” she began but the air was so thick with sexual tension she couldn’t breathe well enough to get the rest of the words out. Then suddenly, he let go and she fell backwards, but thankfully against her desk.

“Cosa ci fai ancora qui?” he demanded, a meter away, his hands in his pants pockets, his gravelly voice harsh.

Talia stared at him wide eyed and huffed her surprise. What in the world was he mad about? His attitude was a cold splash of water to her libido. She was the one who should be pissed. She almost became Triple-D!

“I asked, what are you doing here?”

“I heard, and understood, you the first time,” she retorted tartly. She pushed off the desk and stood straight, straightening her clothes and responded, “Waiting for you. Isn’t that what a good assistant does?” She was hating the role more and more and it was officially just day one.

“Enzo left,” he shot back.

“That just makes him smart and fortunate,” she returned. If her job wasn’t being dangled in her face, she would have left too. How had she gotten herself in this predicament? Oh yes, her project and promotion.

His eyes narrowed behind the frameless glasses with clear irritation and his lips pulled up slightly on the right side with belying casualness. There was something there in his expression, a little dangerous, but she chose to ignore it.

Before he could say anything she announced, “Joe can’t come. I was about to call the night driver for you.”

“Don’t,” he commanded.

‘Why?” she retorted.

Hands still in his pockets, he took a step forward, a third of the large one he took when he jumped away from her, she noted with ire. He took another and she wasn’t sure why but there was something in that second step, the way his body swayed forward that instinctively made her move back, but her escape was curbed by the desk. What am I doing? She wasn’t the type to get easily intimidated and she was letting this man and his sexual vibe unnerve her.

“You’re only other option is a cab,” she spat out before he could take another step towards her.

“You don’t own a car?” he asked with a raised eyebrow.

“No,” she answered shortly; no need for long explanations. It wasn’t that she didn’t know how to drive, she did, she just didn’t enjoy it. She lived walking distance to everything and her office was just ten minutes away by cab so owning a car was unnecessary.

“Purchase one tomorrow,” he said bossily.

“You want me to buy a car? Why?”

“Because I need one.”

What did that have to do with her? “So I should buy one? Why not just use the night driver?”

He took another step forward and she stiffened her muscles to remain still.

“Buy one for me, I can drive myself.”

Buy one for him? People bought cars for long term use. He was only going to be around for, what? A few days. Her body grew instantly cold. Unless he was planning to stay here for months. No, she wouldn’t be able to handle that. As things were at the moment, she was giving her resistance a week tops before she found herself under him, if he was so inclined to put her there. He needed to leave as soon as possible.

“How long will you be staying?” she asked, internally crossing her fingers and toes.

“Perché lo chiedi?”

Talia was beginning to notice a trend here and it was annoying her. “I ask because it makes no sense to buy a car if you’re here-are you testing me?” she demanded, unable to keep pretending not to notice. One proud brow went up in response and Talia plowed on, “You always speak Italian when a topic remotely close to you being here comes up.”

“You are spying on me,” he stated bluntly.

Talia didn’t bother to act surprised or affronted. She heard the accusation in each word and that trapped feeling she always got when he played that stupid mind game with her flew away. It was better this way, she decided. She refused to be anyone’s pawn or chew toy. It would be one less uncomfortable thing between her and DeLuca.

“You are right, but inaccurate.”Belongs to (N)ôvel/Drama.Org.

That raised brow went up higher, but he didn’t speak.

“They want to know what you are up to,” she continued honestly and he just stared at her blankly.

“How many people speak Italian in this office?” he asked after a beat or two.

That wasn’t the question she was expecting, but she went ahead and did a head count in her mind and answered, “Five.”

“You are the most fluent,” he stated matter of factly.

She appreciated the vote of confidence, but sadly that wasn’t it.

“No,” she responded with a slight shake of her head, “I’m just the one who needs the carrot they’re dangling.”

“What would that be?”

Someone else in this situation would be showing some sort of emotion -anger, impatience, betrayal, hell amusement- but this guy was just blank, even his tone of voice was one level. That famous mask of his was firmly on. Being in a relationship with him must be frustrating.

And how is that any of your business?

A small voice in the back of her mind chastised her. It wasn’t. The man probably collected women the way he did his cars and yachts. She refused to have a designated number stamped on her ass.

“Their signatures on my project,” she responded, getting her mind back on track.

With a slight lift in his right brow he asked, “So, you decided to be my PA because you need their approval on your project?”

She shook her head. “Yes and no. Truthfully, I have my own agenda.”

That brow went a notch higher. “Really?”

There was emotion in that one word, Talia noticed, and it was the type that would lead a weaker woman to become a collectible item. She was not a weak woman! She felt the sudden need to put on her jacket when his eyes roamed her body, taking a long pause at her breasts.

“You can approve the project,” she said. She wanted to add ‘ethically’ but that would insinuate something that might ruffle his feathers. She would just pretend she hadn’t noticed him scoping her out just as she was pretending not to notice how affected she was by the suggestive look.

“What’s to stop them from sending another person to spy on me?”

The words ‘that’s a you problem and none of my concern’ sat at the tip of her tongue but instead she said, “You’ve done a great job fielding me so far, I’m sure you can handle another nosey nellie.”

He slowly nodded. “Mhm, I’ll think about it, for now, get me a cab.” He turned on his heel and began to walk away.

“Think about what? The new PA or the proposal?” she called after him.

He stopped and turned around. “What’s your name?”

What? She wondered at the ridiculous question. He couldn’t remember her name? Seriously!

“It’s McKenna.”

“First name,” he demanded.

“Talia.”

Something shifted in his eyes and that slow burn inside her began again.

“Talia,” he repeated.

The way the L in her name rolled off his tongue in that heavy Italian accent was like he was licking. She could actually feel that wet tongue over her sensitive nipples. It made her breasts tighten and her panties wet. Oh hell no, she was about to become Becky. How long was he going to be in town for again?