Free The Truth About Numbnuts and Chubbs by Cat Kelly

pretty. But there was only one pair of eyes he wanted to see that afternoon. One look should tell him if their night together had affected her as much as it did him.
    There she was, standing as he came in, looking especially hot in a navy pencil skirt and ivory silk blouse buttoned all the way to her neck. She wore her hair up today, minimal make-up. Still those high heels, he noted, glancing down slyly as she put out her hand to shake his. She wasn't wearing the red ones he'd sent to her. Yet.
    He liked the way she didn't feel it necessary to dress like a man just to blend in at the office. Confident in her abilities, she clearly enjoyed her clothes and had great personal style. She made no excuses for her beauty.
    Introductions over, he moved to a chair and sat, positioning himself directly opposite Bryony. She put on her glasses and shot him a warning look that was probably meant to freeze his dick off. Certainly hardened it. Slowly he smiled.
    Rostrop took a seat at one end of the long conference table and two other men joined the meeting, although Ben had no idea who they were. He'd shaken their hands, but wouldn't know them again if he met them again half an hour from now. There was only one person in that room he cared about. He barely heard a word. Just went through the motions.
    "We'd be honored, of course, to have your business, Mr. Petruska. Here at Rostrop and Philips we have a long tradition of working with the businessmen who built New York from the ground up and made it what it is today."
    "Uh huh."
    "When my great grandfather started..."
    Ben tuned out.  He already knew more about the shady history of Rostrop and Philips than he really wanted to know. Did they think he wouldn't have his people research the firm before he sat down in their conference room? And he wasn't there for them anyway.
    History? He could tell them history that would curl their toes.
    He watched Bryony's pale pink fingernails on the files she'd set down in front of her. He'd made it clear that he wanted Ms. Mulligan to handle all the accounts he gave them, but he knew Rostrop and Philips operated like an old boy's club. Still. She might think she had a chance of rising up in that firm, but she had limited uses in the eyes of Adam Rostrop.
    She was a hot, smart, damn sexy woman and even in this century that had its own set of problems. Her skills as an chartered accountant came second to that. She'd chosen the wrong firm. They'd never appreciate her.
    The way that slimy old letch, Rostrop, looked at Bryony and referred to her chillingly as " Our Miss Mulligan" proved he saw her only as bait to bring Petruska Industries into the fold. She'd never be allowed to take on the full responsibility of all his accounts, but they'd used her to draw him in.
    He wouldn't be surprised to learn that Rostrop sent her deliberately to Leonato's yesterday. The injustice made him angry. Often accused of being old-fashioned and using women for nothing more than sex, even he could see Bryony had much more to offer. She was keen, ambitious, bright and capable. As he'd commented to her yesterday, she didn't take bullshit. He liked that about her. He liked a lot of things about her.
    Everything in fact.
    And he wanted to know more. One night might have been enough for her; it wasn't for him.
     
    * * * *
     
    He'd better stop looking at her that way. Luckily, Adam Rostrop was getting into his stride and forgot anyone else was present. She shot a quick glance at Tom and Brad, but they were busy playing their role, nodding along with the boss. Might have known they'd be invited in on this. She couldn't be allowed to handle it herself, naturally. Annoyance flared through her, but she quelled it by pressing her fingernails into her palm until they made blood red moons. Looking up she caught Ben's eye again.
    He leaned back in his chair, stretched out his arms and said suddenly, "I'd like to have a word with Ms. Mulligan. Alone."
    Adam Rostrop was cut off