Chandler: A Standalone Contemporary Romance by Laurelin Paige Page B

passing. I should have taken credit. It’s still got merit but too small in scope, as far as I’m concerned.”
    I take half a second to bask in her acknowledgment that she’s into me. I’d like to spend more time on the topic, but that’s not what she needs from me. So after I get past my ego, I mentally make a note to tell Hudson about the subscription service before Hagan has a chance to claim it as his.
    Propping my head up with my elbow, I consider what else she said. “Now you’ve learned that you should hide your cards in front of others. And you did, for the most part. That’s smart. Sounds like A-game to me.”
    “Except that wasn’t my reason for keeping silent.” She continues to wear a path back and forth across the room. “I was too wrapped up in thoughts of you to even think of that.”
    This time my ego speaks before I can silence it. “Thoughts of me?”
    She ignores my interruption. “And then you whispered those crude words. How was I supposed to think strategy after that? Do you not realize how important this opportunity with Werner Media is for me?”
    Actually, I hadn’t really thought about it. I wish I had, and I want to rectify that now.
    Before she crosses by the bed again, I stand up and pull out the chair from the desk. “Can you sit please? You’re making me dizzy.” Actually, her pacing is adorable, but it’s keeping her wound up, and I want her calmed down.
    She stops short in front of it. “Fine.” With a reluctant sigh, she sits.
    I move around to sit on the edge of the bed, facing her. “Okay. I’ll admit that I did encourage some bad behavior. I take full blame for speaking inappropriately.” I don’t remind her she’d started it by practically grabbing my goods. “I do not take the blame for you taking off your panties, however—”
    She shoots to a stand. “I knew you were going to bring that up. I make one bloody mistake, and you’re throwing it back in my face. That’s your fault too, you know. It wasn’t like they were doing any good anyway. They practically melted off the minute you showed up looking like a crumpet in your black tie.”
    “Crumpet is a good thing, right?” There’s that damn ego again.
    And now she’s resumed pacing.
    “The point is that I have spent years focused on nothing but earning a place at Accelecom. All of college, my postgraduate work, my entire twenty-three years of being alive, has all led to right now. To this opportunity.”
    “Sit down, and we can talk about that.”
    She sits and crosses one leg over the other, bouncing the top one in a frantic rhythm. “Talk about what? How I’ve managed to go from no libido to hyper-drive in the course of one day? How I don’t recognize myself anymore? How I’m more caught up in when you’re going to touch me again than in what I’m going to do to get Accelecom this job?”
    Again, she springs up from her seat. “Talking to you doesn’t help. It just makes it worse.” She’s back to pacing and fretting. “I was fine after that first night. One-night stands are supposed to be one night for a reason. Then, today, you had to muck it up by being charming and amazing with your monster dick. This is your fault! Every bit of it.”
    “Genny. Sit down.” I’m as surprised as she is at the command in my tone.
    Needless to say, it works. She sits.
    “If you can’t stay put, I’ll tie you to the chair.” Damn, where did that come from?
    “Ha. I dare you.”
    Uh, did she really just dare me? Because that’s some bullshit if she thinks I can ignore the underlying invitation, and suddenly, I not only want to see her tied up—I need to.
    Without explanation, I stand and start stripping my belt from its loops.
    “Chandler!” Her exclamation seems to be as much thrill as admonishment.
    “Don’t worry. Monster’s staying put,” I assure her. “But so are you.” I circle around her, assessing. The easiest would be to strap her torso and arms to the back of the chair, but