CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Tia reminded herself not to fidget as she stood in the waiting area outside the CEO’s office. She smoothed her hands down her black jacket and pants. Her gun was snugly nestled in her shoulder holster. Yup, she was armed and ready for action.
Her instructions had been to report to the CEO of Treasure Hotel at eight-thirty in the morning. She glanced at her watch and saw that she was right on time. In fact, she was half a minute early.
Tia blew out a breath slowly as she watched the tall bespectacled secretary enter the CEO’s office. The secretary had smiled pleasantly at Tia when she approached her desk. “Please wait while I let Mr Taylor know you’re here,” the secretary told Tia in a brisk, efficient tone as she got up and went to her boss’s office.
Tia looked around the spacious waiting area. She had passed some security officers on the way in, and she recognized some of them from Chase Security. Would she be stationed here on the top floor, or at the ground floor near the hotel entrance?
As she worried her lower lip, thoughts of Caine rose unbidden in her mind. She remembered how he had kissed her and made love to her. She could still taste him on her lips and her skin tingled at the memory of his touch.
Last night had been so amazing. It had taken all her willpower and resolve to leave Caine. She wanted to stay in his arms forever and see that sexy, devastating smile every single day.
Instead, she had grabbed her things, jumped into a cab and gone straight home. She had showered and lain awake for hours, her body still burning and aching. Caine had given her the most intense, incredible pleasure and yet her hunger for him wasn’t sated. In fact, he seemed to have awakened a gnawing, unrelenting hunger in her. She wanted him even more.
She just couldn’t seem to get him out of her system. No matter how hard she tried to keep him out of her head, she just couldn’t stop thinking about him.
What the hell was wrong with her? She wasn’t a delusional, clingy female. She would never mistake sex for love.
They’d had a good time. And that was it. Caine had been a gentleman and a passionate lover. One night stands were fun, casual encounters, and she knew that she would probably never see Caine again.
She shouldn’t harbor any hope that Caine would even remember her if they ever happened to meet again.
“Mr Taylor will see you now,” the secretary announced brightly, breaking into her confusing, chaotic thoughts.
“Thank you.” Tia straightened up smartly and held her head high. Geez, she was behaving like a lovesick schoolgirl. She would put Caine out of her mind once and for all. Last night was fun, but it was over.
She was now here at the client’s office. She would do her job well and give the client no cause for complaint. This was her first day on the job and first impressions were important.
The secretary smiled and held the door open for her. Tia stepped into the brightly lit, sprawling office and approached the large polished desk. She saw the CEO standing at the floor-to-ceiling window, his back to her. He was reading a document in his hand.
The door closed behind her, and Tia blinked at the imposing, broad-shouldered figure of the CEO of Treasure Hotel. His white shirt stretched across his powerful frame and his sleeves were rolled up, showing tanned, strong arms. Her eyes widened and she froze.
She had been in those very arms last night.
Tia stared at his handsome, chiseled side profile and literally stopped breathing.
Her eyes darted to the name plate on his desk.
Caine Taylor, CEO.
Caine.
Her one night stand.
Caine turned around, his hazel eyes locking on her. They stood staring at each other for a timeless moment before his lips curved.
“Miss Tia Scott,” he drawled.
“Mr Taylor,” she managed in a steady voice even as her heart lurched violently in her chest.
Didn’t she wish she would see Caine again? Well, her wish had come true. Caine was right here, in front of her.
Caine Taylor was her new client.
Way to go, Tia, way to go.