Page 43 of Nefarious
“Why are you here, Selena?”
She laughed. “I had the cab driver follow you.” She staggered a little as she approached. How had Dane missed that she’d gotten good and drunk at the bar. He’d been so intent on the battle of wits, he’d lost sight of the girl with the crush.Not good, Dane.
“Come on. Let’s get you back home.”
She sauntered clear up to him and touched his chest. She walked her fingers up the buttons on his shirt until she reached the knot in his tie. “This is a very sexy tie.”
He realized she’d taken off her glasses at some point and batted doe eyes at him. He wrapped his hand around hers and drew it away from him.
She pouted. “Did you know I’ve been fascinated with you for years? I wonder what it might be like to kiss you.”
He ran his eyes along her lips, trying to push that image out of his mind.
“Would you get into my car, please?” He opened the door for her, but she leaned against it, pulling the elastic out of her hair and shaking it in a way that might have left him desiring her. But he hadn’t forgotten that she worked under him. This could get him in more trouble even than the stunt he’d pulled with that sys admin, Connor. Maybe.
He thought he could sober her up with a cold reminder. “Your dad would not be very happy about this.”
“Screw him. He told me I can’t work with you anymore.”
“Oh, so he found out.” He knew that. He remembered Noelle’s email. He’d wondered how long it would take for him to berate his daughter. Poor thing. He was almost tempted to carry her into his house just to help her get even. Geraldo deserved it. But he’d grown to like Selena, and the last thing he wanted to do was have Geraldo on his mind if he took her in his bed. He knew how that went.
“He did.” She clenched her fist and punched nothing in particular. “He said I have to go back to New York, but I told him I wouldn’t. This is a prestigious internship program. And I’d never get into another at this late date. He has to let me stay.”
“Did he agree?”
“Yes, but.” She lifted her eyes up to his. “But he told me he wants me to work under a different mentor. I couldn’t get him to hear reason. He’s got the wrong idea about you.”
Dane chuckled. “Maybe not.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Oh, like he’s one to talk.” She shook her head. “He’s the worst, most controlling, selfish—” Her voice dropped. “It’s my life. He can’t treat me like one of his employees.”
Dane wanted to press her to go on, but she swayed a little. She needed someone to protect her. There were predators about. He dipped his head to look into her eyes, voice lowered. “Is that why you came here tonight?”
“I thought. I just thought.”
“I might mentor you on the sly maybe? Teach you about securities at eleven p.m. on a Tuesday in my kitchen?”
She stepped away from the car and laid her hand on his cheek. “I just thought you might have other things to teach me.”
He hoped she couldn’t see his eyes roll in the darkness. This was the weakest come-on he’d ever witnessed. “Look, Selena. You’re a beautiful girl. But I’m your supervisor. And that means you’re off limits.”
“Not anymore. Not if I work with another mentor.” The girl was learning to work the loopholes. Her hand slid down until her palm skimmed his neck inside his shirt collar, and he shivered. “And I’ve thought about this for such a long time.”
She was cute as hell. But she was an intern, he reminded himself. The worst cliché. Taking advantage of her would be so easy, it would be criminal. Possibly literally.
“No, still.”
“Nobody would have to know.”
He considered it for a half a second. Nobodywouldhave to know. And the risk was tempting. If he wasn’t absolutely sure he was being followed, he might have taken her up on it. He had half a mind to anyway. But he wasn’t nearly drunk enough, so he pointed to his car. “Get in. I’m taking you home.”
He dropped her off and ended up walking her to her door with her holding onto his arm. This would be exactly the kind of scene he didn’t need anyone documenting, but he couldn’t drop her at the curb. His car stood out in any case. He waited while she pulled out her key. Her dark hair fell over her shoulder, and he resisted the urge to push it back. But she lurched and giggled, reminding him that she still hadn’t sobered up.
She held up her key triumphantly, then squinted one eye at the keyhole. Once the door opened, she turned back, stood on her toes, and planted a quick kiss on his cheek. “Goodnight, sexy.”
He laughed as he walked back to the car. Normally, he recoiled when the interns professed their adoration, but she’d somehow charmed him with her wide open devotion. Maybe because he really liked her.
It gave him an idea.
