Free Whatever He Asks (Writer for the Billionaire) by Thalia Frost Page A

old drunk guy — near the door to the kitchen.
    My cheeks grew warm. Had he heard the conversation?
    I stopped a few feet from him, feeling awkward and exposed with my cleavage on display.
    Damn you, Rick. I don't get paid nearly enough for this.
    The business hottie's jacket was slung over the back of the bar chair, and his shirt was so white it nearly blinded me.
    Now I know what a really expensive dress shirt looks like.
    “ Hello. I'm Magnus Gray. ” He gave me a searing stare, his blue eyes like slow - moving glaciers, shifting shades of ice and sky. His accent said he was local but wealthy and educated. Probably one of the Scots-Irish who'd live in the area for generations. But a blond like he was a rarity. Scots-German, I'd bet money.
    “ Melinda Louis. ” I clenched the edge of the bar, wondering what he wanted from me.
    “ You're a waitress here? ” He played with his beer bottle — an expensive import, of course.
    “ Yes, among other things. ”
    “ I see. Would you like to have a drink with me? ”
    “ Huh? ” I'd been staring at his golden curls — waves really. One fell right over his left eye. His cheekbones were straight out of silent films and Hollywood.
    “ Would you like to sit down for a while? ” He smiled, and one dimple popped out.
    I thought I might faint, so I gripped the bar harder. “ I'm sorry I can't since I'm working. ” I tried to smile, but my cheeks were frozen.
    Snap out of it.
    “ That's too bad. When do you get off? ”
    His dimple and cheekbones had me thinking all sorts of naughty things about that question, and I nearly laughed. “ I'm closing tonight, so it won't be for a while. ”
    “ Perhaps I could stick around till then. ” I kept my tone casual. I wanted nothing more than to do just that, but the last thing I wanted this man to think was that I was desperate or a total floozy.
    “ Great. I have a proposal for you. I'll talk to you when you're done. ” He paused. “ Oh, I'm done with my drink. ”
    I stood there for a long moment like an idiot. Then I moved toward him and reached out for the cold bottle. My skirt brushed against him, and I almost squealed when I felt his warm hand on my thigh.
    I'm going to pass out. This sexy man has a hand on my leg, but for all I know, he could be a serial killer.
    “ Till then. ” He ran his hand up my leg, and our gazes locked. I had time to register that his eyes were the coldest blue I'd ever seen.
    I didn't breathe, but my pussy clenched in response.
    Then I pivoted on my high heel and walked back to the kitchen. It took me a moment to catch my breath. The heat of his hand was still imprinted on my thigh.
    What the hell was that about?
    I moved through the rest of my shift in a dream, totally unable to look in his direction. I stayed in back as much as I dared.
    “ What's with you? ” Steve asked as he soaped down some glasses in the sink in back.
    “ Nothing. ”
    “ You look...worried. ”
    “ I'm okay. ” I flashed a smile in his direction.
    He frowned. “ You sure? 'Cause I got your back if you need it. ”
    “ Nah. I'm fine. ”
    “ All right. ” He shrugged. “ You good to close alone? ”
    “ Yeah, great. ”
    “ I'm gonna jet then. The new Halo's out today — well, yesterday now. ” He grinned.
    “ Have fun. ” I waved.
    “ I will. Call if you need me. ” He raised an eyebrow.
    “ I'm fine. I swear. ”
    He nodded and scooted out of the back room. The front door jingled. Steve was gone.
    The question was whether Viking Romeo was still out there waiting.
    Glancing at my watch, I tried to still the beating of my heart, but that was nearly impossible. 1:50 a.m. Closing was officially in ten minutes. Time to talk.
    I took a deep breath, straightened my dress and hair and walked to the bar casually.
    “ You're still here. ”
    “ Of course. ” Magnus Gray smiled, and I noticed there were only two bottles in front of him. He'd sat there this whole time and not gotten stone drunk. What self -