“Are you sure you have an appointment with Miss Kingsley?” The X Enterprises receptionist squinted between Gabe and her computer screen. “She didn’t tell me you were coming.”

He held up the CD case and flashed her a smile. “I’m here to follow up on the photo shoot from last week. Gabriel Marx.”

She consulted her screen and frowned at him. “All right. Follow me to the conference room, and I’ll send her in.”

The receptionist led Gabe down a different hallway from last week and deposited him in a huge room dominated by a large wooden table. He settled into one of the plush executive chairs and read the banner centered over the back wall of the room: X Enterprises. Our customers come first.

Gabe chuckled. Points to them for both the play on words and the mission statement. Effective and straight to the point.

Bex appeared in the doorway a few minutes later in a pencil skirt and a sleeveless green blouse that highlighted the specks of green in her eyes. Her hair was pulled up into a ponytail that displayed her elegant neck, and he longed to lock his lips over that delicate, delicious skin.

“Gabriel.” Her voice was steady and challenging, a question and an invitation.

He lifted his gaze back to her eyes. “Rebecca.”

Bex strode into the room, and as she walked, her ponytail swished from side to side in a mesmerizing pendulum of color. She took a seat across from him as if putting physical distance between them would change the fact that their bodies leaned toward each other. There was something strong at play here, like a magnetic force or gravity or something. It took everything in Gabe’s power not to close the distance between himself and Bex, and his body shook with the effort of staying still. Of denying himself. He was in her territory now, which meant he needed to play by her rules.

Bex folded her hands together on conference room table like she wanted to reach for him just as much as he wanted to touch her. Like this was the only way to restrain herself. “Why do I have the feeling you’re not here on official business?” she asked. A small smile curved her lips.

Gabe slid the CD case across the table to her. “I totally am. I’m just bringing over the images from last week’s photo shoot.” He cleared his throat. “Very official.”

Bex’s eyes narrowed in mock-suspicion as she reached for the case. “Aren’t you supposed to deliver these digitally? Avery in PR is over in Seattle, and she’s expecting them.”

He grinned. “Well, sure. She already got her copy first thing this morning. But this disc is for you.”

Bex tapped a finger against her lips, trying to hide her smile. “Why would you bring it to me?”

“So I’d have an excuse to see you again.” He held out his hands.

Bex’s lips twitched. “I see.”

Did she? Maybe this game would pan out after all.

“So how did things turn out?” Bex asked.

It was so easy to provoke her, and he couldn’t help himself. “I’m here. You tell me.”

She wrinkled her nose. “I meant with the photos. Not with us.”

“I know.” Gabe tapped his fingers against the table. “They’re beautiful. Avery in Seattle is going to be very pleased.”

“Well, I heard you have a good eye.”

He smiled at her. Now she was flirting back, which was the point of this whole visit. “Among other things,” he muttered under his breath.

Bex’s eyes widened, and she shook her head at him. “You’re not going to let that go, are you?”

He shrugged. “Probably not.” If he were ever going to have a chance, it was now. “Can I see you again, Bex?”

The flirt fell off her face, crowded out by hesitation. “I don’t know if that’s a good idea.”

“But we had fun the other night, didn’t we? And not just at my house. At Trivia, too.”

She looked torn. “We did have fun.”

“And yet you ran off once again without leaving your number. Like Cinderella with vibrators instead of a glass slipper.”

She laughed. “It’s not like I left a vibrator behind.”

“Even if you had, I wouldn’t be intimidated.” She raised an eyebrow, and he tossed a challenging look back at her that made her blush. “I know exactly how to push your buttons without pushing any buttons.”

She snorted. “So elegantly put. Anyway, I told you. That’s the problem.”

He hung his head. “Right. Too good in bed.”

“I like you, Gabe.” Her voice went quiet. “But I told you, I don’t date.”

“Why is that?” Bex was holding back on him, but he had an effect on her. He could see it in the way she looked at him, like she wanted more. Well, dammit, so did he. He wasn’t going to run away from that. And maybe if he stood his ground, she’d stop running too.

Bex reached for the CD case again, gripping the edges like she needed to hold onto something. “It’s safer for all parties.”

That wasn’t going to be good enough. “I’ll take my chances, Rebecca Kingsley.”

“Gabe…” she warned, but she was smiling.

He grinned and leaned his elbows on the table. “You know, you should probably just give me your number. They’re going to get suspicious if I keep showing up at your work.”

“Mmm.” She nodded. “I am tight with our security guard.”

He laughed. “You have a security guard?”

“Obviously. Who else would watch over the dildo babies at night?”

“Do the dildo babies get all cuddled up with their siblings? Or is it more of a nest thing where the Mama Dildo keeps them warm while they sleep?”

She groaned. “You did not just say that.”

“You started it. You put a picture in my head. I wish I could see that in real life.”

Bex shook her head. A smile stretched across her face, and those gorgeous eyes flashed with amusement. She pushed back from the table and stood. “Don’t make me regret this,” she said, looking down at him. “But since you came all this way, do you want to take a tour?”