My sister muttered, “Ethan, her friend is heading this way.”

I shot a quick glance over and locked eyes with the sultry brunette. She veered left towards the restroom and I turned back to tell Tobias, “You see that?”

He smirked, “Follow her to the bathroom. Works every time.”

Hannah smacked her husband’s shoulder, her new wedding ring glinting in the candlelight. “Tobias!” He captured her hand and kissed her fingers, holding her look.

Emma grumbled, “Give it a rest.”

Hannah asked her, “How’s Cora treating you these days?”

“Still a bitch,” my sister answered, taking a sip of her Pinot Grigio. “I sold a house in the highlands last weekend and you know what she said?”

Before she launched into the story about her real estate job, where she worked under one of our uncle’s ex-girlfriends, I excused myself and headed to the patio.

Charlie Reed looked stunning that night, the suit replaced by a low-cut navy blue dress and nude heels, her red hair curled in soft waves. The part that killed me, other than those smooth curvy legs, was the smoky eyeliner she had on. It made the cobalt look ethereal. If more C.E.O.’s looked like her I’d stop mocking office jobs and take one permanently — the office right down the hall from hers. Get a nameplate and everything. She was so fucking beautiful to me.

Staring at the sky, she didn’t hear me walk up. This was twice I would take her by surprise, which wouldn’t have been my preferred choice but as I had limited time before her friend returned, I had no other option.

“You like the view?” God, it was lame, but I was on borrowed time here, and she excited me too much for my cool, don’t-give-a-fuck, A-game.

Like someone shot a gun next to her eardrum she jumped. “You like scaring people?” Her eyes flashed.

“Not really,” I flatly replied, bringing my glass to my lips and leaving it at that.

Charlie held my look like she didn’t know what to say. With neither of us speaking the tension grew. This kept happening, and I wondered if she was as dumbfounded by me as I was by her. I expected her to break the stare, but she didn’t. She was letting me know she was in control, at least of herself. I wanted to know if she wanted to be in control of me. The idea was intoxicating.

“What are you doing after this?” I asked.

Her lips parted. “You are incredible!”

I joked, “My reputation precedes me?”

“Not your reputation, your gall!”

“Gall? I haven’t heard that word used since my Grandpa Michael last shouted at my Uncle Jett.”

“Are you saying I’m old?”

“Old fashioned.”

Charlie’s eyes sharpened. “I am very current, thank you.”

“Your wardrobe is. Your vibe is not. You look stunning by the way.”

She blinked. “I don’t know how to take that.”

Glancing toward the bathroom for her friend, I blurted, “How about you tell me what you’re doing after this.”

“I’m going home.”

“Alone?”

Her lips parted again. She glanced down. I did the same. God, I couldn’t wait to hold those ankles up by my ears. See if I could hear the ocean as I dove down and tasted her salty little shell.

“Back again?” her sultry friend asked as she slipped back onto her seat, glancing between Charlie and I with interest.

“Mr. Cocker was just leaving.”

I corrected her, “No, Mr. Cocker was just asking if you’d like me to come home with you tonight.”

Charlie’s cheeks flamed red. “I’m your boss!”

“Then it’s not harassment.”

Her friend quickly accused me, “You say that a lot, don’t you?”

I stared at her, not sure how to take that. Slowly I answered, “Noooo. I don’t.”

Charlie cleared her throat and her friend’s eyes flickered before she said, “I just assumed you did because…you were so quick to say it just now.”

I muttered, “Uh huh,” not following her.

“I’m Vanessa.” She held out her hand and as I shook it she explained, “I’m her lawyer. So no, you’re not harassing her at the office or ruling your power over her in order to intimidate, because the truth is you don’t have any.” She pulled her hand back and smiled. “But you are here uninvited, asking for an invitation that clearly won’t be given to you, so either you leave now or it would be considered harassment.”

“I see.” My eyebrows twitched. “Vanessa, is it?”

“Yes.”

“What are you doing after this?”

She stared at me, her smile opening in shock. “You are something else!”

“Because if both of you want to come back to Ms. Reed’s place with me then we could have some fun.”

They made noises of stifled shock and laughter, but I knew there was no way Charlie would take me up on this offer. I’d pegged her right when I called her old-fashioned. Truth was I didn’t want her to accept. I’d be paying attention only to her and Vanessa would definitely get pissed. This brunette wasn’t the to-be-ignored type.

They looked at each other and Vanessa was clearly on board. “We could.”

Charlie stammered, “No, don’t be ridiculous.”

“Why not? It would be fun. Let’s do it!”

“No, Vanessa.” To me she demanded, “And why are you offering up my house?”

“Because I never bring women back to mine.”

“Too many empty pizza boxes and video games?”

A grin flashed on my face, then I shut it down. “You guess that from my work attire?”

“Yes, I did. What are you, thirty or twelve?”

I almost said I’m not quite thirty, but stopped myself because why the fuck was I defending who I was to her? There she was insulting me again, and the worst part was I was taking it personally.

One of the many things I liked about being a fucking billionaire was doing anything I wanted to, and that included wearing what I felt comfortable in.

My ego fired up. I held her look and smoothly asked, “Is that why you wanted me to call you Ms. Reed? Because I make you feel old?”

Her spine shot up and she flushed with anger. “I’m only twenty-eight!”

“You act fifty-eight. I bet you even play golf.” She glanced to her friend and they both frowned. “Oh, was that a hole in one?” Before she had a chance to tell me what a terrible joke that was, I blurted something I didn’t even know I was going to say, “I’ll tell you what, Ms. Reed, tomorrow morning I’ll pick you up and take you golfing. If I win you go out on a date with me.”

Vanessa tensely interrupted with, “And if you lose?”

I searched for something good. When it came to me I held Charlie’s slightly nervous gaze and smoothly told her, “If I lose I’ll finish encrypting Wyntech’s servers for free.”

Her eyebrows lifted and she glanced to Charlie. They exchanged a wordless conversation, the kind that only good friends and family can have. After the unspoken decision was made, Charlie and I locked eyes. “Deal.”

I stared at her and cocked my head as I realized, “You’re better than I think you are, aren’t you?”

“I was raised on the green, Mr. Cocker. You’re about to be my slave.”

My eyebrow twitched, and so did my sleeping shaft. I took a sip from my glass and murmured, “Promises, promises,” before turning on my heel and walking back inside.

I realized I’d forgotten something. I would have preferred to leave on that great line, but I had no choice but to turn around and give her my phone. “Put your address in here.”

She smirked and took it from me, muttering, “Smooth one, genius,” as she clicked away. Her eyelashes flashed up and she smiled, offering the phone.

My heart stopped as we stared at each other. I tried to recover but my, “I’ll pick you up at 9:00 A.M.,” came out a little shaky.

“Okay,” she quietly said, cobalt eyes flickering. She blinked and straightened her neck. “Be prepared to lose.”

“I never lose, Gorgeous.” Heading away for the last time I told myself, don’t look back.

I looked back.

She gave me a little wave and I chuckled, feeling anything but cool and detached as I rejoined my family.