I glare at the wall, shaking my head. “You want to meet and discuss business? And only business?” Why am I even considering this? Because he could bring in a shit ton of clients besides just him.
“Of course.” He snickers. “What else would I want?”
“Use your fucking imagination. You just said you say what you mean.”
“Jesus, you’re so high strung and direct.”
“Yeah, I am, it’s why this conversation is pissing me off.” My phone finally reads seven and I grab my shit and haul ass through the door. I stomp toward the elevator and realize I jab the lobby button so hard it damn near breaks the plastic.
This man frustrates me so much. I want to choke his ass, just long enough so his life flashes in front of his eyes for a second, that’s all. Nothing too serious.
“Now, now. No need to get all verbally abusive. Dex said you could help me a lot with marketing. He says a lot of great things about you. I’m just curious to peruse your offerings.”
I wince the second he says Dex’s name. Then I think about all four of my cousins. How they would react if they knew I fucked Cole Miller. They’d go nuts, and they’d really lose it if I told them it was the best sex I’ve ever had, and that I think there may even be a feeling or two floating around in my stomach. That I might actually want to do it again.
Why do people make life so complicated?
“I don’t think it’s a good idea.”
“Yeah you do.”
“Excuse me?”
I look down at my phone and realize this might be the longest phone conversation I’ve had in a month, including business calls. And I’m the one who called him.
“You heard me. I think you want this meeting to happen. I think you want it to be more than just business too. I can hear it in your voice, and if I was there, I’d see it written all over your beautiful face.”
“Yeah, well, this meeting is not happening.” I get in my car in the parking garage and head toward my apartment. The phone clicks over to the car speakers when the Bluetooth connects.
“Yeah, it is.”
“Fucker, you don’t tell me what to do. You don’t tell me shit unless I want you to tell it to me. Got it?”
He snickers into the phone. “Hey, Harlow?”
“What?” I yell at my dashboard.
“It’s happening.”
Just hang up. It’s so easy to fix this problem. Just hang up on him for crying out loud.
Why are you doing this to yourself, Harlow?
Because you secretly like it.
I lower my voice. “You may be the most arrogant prick of all time.”
“Thanks.”
“It’s not a compliment.”
“Weird, I thought it was. Anyway, time and place is on the phone. Business casual dress. Be ready to present your marketing strategies and tactics and tell me what sets you apart from the hundred phone calls I get every day from other firms who want to work with me. You get all that?”
“Suck my dick. You get all that?”
“You can handle that under the table, after we talk business. Business first, always, Collins.”
“Rub one out under the table solo, because only one person is going to be at that meeting, Miller.”
I pull into the parking garage for my condo. How the hell did he keep me on the phone the entire drive? I know exactly how he did it. I always have to have the last word, and it’s eating me up inside. I need to get off the damn phone. I don’t want to bring this negativity into my home. My home is my sacred resting place to unwind.
“You’ll be there. I’m not worried.”
“What the hell makes you think that? I’m genuinely curious.”
“Because I think you like this.”
“Like what?”
“This little back and forth. I think it gets you all worked up. I think it makes your pussy wet, and you fucking hate yourself for that. It’s the reason you haven’t hung up, when you could’ve at any time over the last what, ten minutes? But you can’t help how you feel and what does it for you. And I think you need my company. Of course, if this thing between us stays strictly business, that’s totally fine with me. I would never want you to think I was trying to use that to leverage you into bed again. That’s not my style at all. If you want to keep things professional, I will totally respect that. But one way or the other, you’ll fucking be there.”
“You’ll be wasting your time if you show up.” At the same time I say it, I realize I’m breathing hard and I am in fact, wet. God, I want him so bad. Just one more time. It really was incredible. Phenomenal even.
“We’ll see.” He hangs up.
Why did I let him hang up? That was a power move and should’ve been mine. Fuck, this dude has my number.
I get out of the car and head toward the elevator then up to my apartment. The second I walk in the wine comes out, the shoes come off, and I’m pacing.
“Fucking goddamn Cole Miller. Fucking goddamn Cole Miller.” I just say that, on repeat, under my breath.
I look down toward my bedroom.
Don’t you do it, Harlow. Have some respect for crying out loud.
My vibrator is just inside the room, in my top drawer. I could totally get a release and get this Cole Miller situation out of my mind for a few hours. The whole time I was on the phone with him, it was like we were both back in that hotel room. Why does his confidence and cocky attitude turn me on so much? Is it because it’s a challenge? Like I want to tame him or something? There has to be some psychology to this I can figure out, then remedy. Science must be able to explain this somehow.
Maybe it’s because he’s a mentally tough guy. I can’t walk all over him like I do a lot of men, especially the ones my age.
My eyes flit back and forth from the kitchen to my bedroom.
Ugh!
I finally stomp toward my room, grab the vibrator and my dress is off. All this happens in an instant. Within seconds I’m spread out on the bed with the vibe between my legs.
“Shut up and put your goddamn mouth where it belongs, Miller.”
I pray this will let me stop thinking about him, even for just a little while. Because he was right about one thing, even though I’d never tell him on the phone; I’m probably going to show up for that meeting.
My head flies back as the vibrator touches my clit.
I’m definitely going to show up.
Chapter Seven
Cole Miller
I head out of my apartment building on foot, down toward the train station. I don’t feel like driving and I like to get out in the city, mix with the people. The weather is nice right now, getting into late summer. Football season is right around the corner.
This Harlow Collins situation has me confused as hell. On one hand, the back and forth is incredible. The banter, making her frustrated, getting under her skin. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t thoroughly enjoy squaring off against her. At the same time, it makes me wonder who the fuck I even am? I’m the guy who swears off relationships. Women don’t dominate my thoughts twenty-four hours a day.
I have a billion-dollar company to run. I’m a CEO. We literally just hired our one thousandth employee a few weeks back. A thousand people, their livelihoods, their families, all depend on me. I don’t have time for a woman in my life.