Free Breaking Free by C.A. Mason Page B

until tomorrow. Tonight I have a room upstairs, which means I can drink as much as I want. So can you.”
    Her breath escaped her lips in a slight gasp. “Are you propositioning me?”
    “You’re a stunning woman. I’m willing to bet everything I own you haven’t been with a real man in a long time.”
    She leaned back, putting some distance between us. “You’re so used to getting what you want, aren’t you? You think I’ll fall into bed with you just because you’re wealthy and handsome and powerful—”
    “You think I’m handsome?” I picked up one of the forks before spearing a square of cheese. I hadn’t expected her to make this easy for me. In fact, I would have been disappointed if she had. There was nothing I liked more than a challenge, and nothing I wanted more than Maura Lancaster back in my bed. “Come here.”
    She moved in hesitantly, opening her mouth as I brought the cheese to her lips. Her eyes locked with mine as she chewed slowly.
    “Your drink, sir,” the waiter said, setting it beside me.
    I wanted to mutter a curse instead of a thank you. He must have sensed my annoyance because he rushed off to tend to another table without awaiting my response.
    “You didn’t answer my question,” I said, watching her stack a slice of prosciutto on a cracker. “Do you think I’m handsome?”
    She chewed carefully as she looked me over from head to toe. She touched the corners of her mouth with a linen napkin before she spoke. “Too handsome.”
    That’s my Maura. Sassy, sexy, and brutally honest. She was right, of course. The cosmetic surgeon had gone over the top. I’d told him I wanted my face to look different, but I’d never said I was going for perfection. I was almost tempted to step into the ring with one of my fighters because I thought a broken nose may make my face a little more… real.
    “Is there such a thing as too rich or too handsome?” I asked, breaking off a piece of bread and popping it into her mouth.
    She covered her mouth with one hand as she pulled her perfectly arched brows together. I was glad she hadn’t opted for Botox. She was perfect exactly as she was.
    I cursed myself for letting my thoughts wander into forbidden territory. She was the woman who put me behind bars. My old lover, the woman who’d stolen my heart, and slipped off my radar the day I heard the verdict passed down. At least I thought she had. Seeing her again, being so close to her, was blurring the lines. I couldn’t afford a mistake at this stage of the game.
    “Why do you keep feeding me?” she asked when she finished chewing.
    I knew there wouldn’t be many opportunities for honesty in our relationship, so I took advantage of that one. “I like taking care of you.”
    She seemed caught off guard. “I don’t need anyone to take care of me.”
    “But you like knowing that your man can take care of you.” It wasn’t a question.
    Her current lover was a prosecutor, which made me hate him all the more. He was also half my size and had a whiny voice that grated on my nerves. Yeah, I’d cyber-stalked him. I had to know everything I could about my competition.
    “My man can take care of me,” she said, squaring her shoulders.
    I laughed, drawing the attention of a few guests at surrounding tables. Once they realized it was me, they quickly looked away. “I’ve seen him. I’m pretty sure you could take him.”
    “You’ve seen him?” she asked, narrowing her eyes. “How do you know Jeff? He didn’t mention that to me.”
    “I said I’ve seen him, not that I know him.” I knew I had to confess that I’d offered her the contract because I was attracted to her. She’d either be flattered or offended. The latter would make my job more challenging. Not that I wasn’t up for a challenge.
    “When did you see him?” she asked, folding her arms over her chest.
    It drew my attention to her incredible tits, and I wasn’t above letting her know I appreciated her... assets.
    “Stay