Way too much is going through my head. I can’t process it all right now. I need to get away from this lodge. Ideally, it would mean seeing Mr. Forer today. Heck, I’d take anyone from Tapped who would listen and have the decision-making authority to tell me yes.

I also need to forget that I just fucked my competition up against a wall—and I liked it so much, I was about to go back for seconds.

“Miss Henderson?”

The restaurant hostess steps towards me, a slip of paper in her hand. “A call just came in for you.”

I nearly rip the paper from her hand.

Lily,

I regret having to miss our meeting. As I’m sure you know by now, the roads are impassible due to the snowstorm. Feel free to contact my office after the holidays to reschedule. Happy Holidays,

Gerome Forer.

I stare at the hostess. “The roads are that bad?”

She wrinkles her nose and nods. “Unfortunately, yes.”

“And taxi cabs aren’t available?”

“I’m sorry, Miss Henderson. The front desk has been working hard to arrange taxis and shuttles for some of our other guests. Sadly, we have not been successful. The roads are closed in several places, so until the storm passes, I’m afraid that we’re all stuck here.”

The note falls to my side. “Thanks,” I mutter.

“Let me know if you need anything else.”

Snowed in. I’m actually snowed in. I’ve lived on Staten Island my whole life and this has only happened maybe once or twice before. But now here I am, stuck in New Jersey, on the wrong side of the bridge, and the most important meeting of my career ends before it gets started.

I need that Tapped deal. I need it bad. I’ve spent months creating this new digital platform. It’s perfect, exactly what Tapped needs.

And if I don’t sell it to them…

I can’t even think about that. After multiple loans and months of putting a job on hold so I can design and get my business off the ground, this deal is my last hope. If it falls through, I’ll have to move out of my apartment. I’ll be back living with my parents. I might even be back to working at the family deli. My NYU education will have amounted to nothing. I’ll be starting all over, desperately searching for clients and deals.

I’ll be royally fucked.

No.

That’s not going to happen.

Taking a deep breath, I look across the dining room. Nick is in the same spot, reading what must be another note from Mr. Forer. He doesn’t even flinch. Because this would probably be a fun pet project. His company is so successful, he’s got offices in Silicon Valley.

He’s my competition, and he may be set for life, but I could use a dick between my legs. I head back to him and take the seat I left. He looks up without a trace of surprise.

“Too bad about that meeting,” he says.

“Yeah,” I answer.

The waitress arrives with the wine. We’re quiet while she pours. After she leaves, Nick pushes my untouched glass towards me.

“Go ahead,” he says. “Have a drink. You may as well help me finish it before we leave.”

“We’re not leaving. We’re snowed in.”

The wine glass stops halfway to his mouth. “You’re not serious.”

“As the hotel reception. We’re stuck here.”

“Fuck.” Nick sets his wine glass back down. He’s only disappointed for a split second because his lips turn up into a playful smile. “Cleared schedules and nowhere to go can be a good thing.”

“Are you serious right now?” I say, but I don’t mean a word. After all, I was thinking the same thing, which is why I’m back at his table. But I like keeping a guy on his toes. He needs to work for it. I want to see if he’s any good at talking a woman down from a ledge.

“Not at all. Who wouldn’t want to get your hot little hands all over me again?”

“Uh, me,” I say, raising my hand for effect. “I don’t fraternize with the enemy.”

His mouth draws into a tight line. “You’re not my enemy. We’re like David and Goliath. Do you know that story?”

“Are you trying to say I’m too small to be in contention?”

“No, I’m saying I’m Goliath, and you…you’re the annoying fly that buzzed around David’s face as he readied his slingshot.”

My blood boils. “You think I can’t get this deal right out from under you?”

“Well sure, you can be under me, but I’d still land the deal.”

“You’re a piece of work!” I screech.

“I am.”

“You’re my competition. And you know what? I’m glad to learn what a massive prick you are…and I’m not talking what’s below the belt.”

“Those are pretty strong words.”

“Yeah, well...”

He cuts me off. “Yeah well nothing. Us being competitors doesn’t give you an excuse to be so rude. All I was suggesting is that we just enjoy our time here. It sounds like we’re snowed in and not going anywhere.”

“That’s easy for you to say. This contract is just another one to you, another notch on your belt.”

I didn’t mean for my words to have a sexual connotation, but they did. I look away, cheeks burning hot.

“You seem to have an anger management issue.”

I glare at him. He hasn’t seen anything yet. But really, I’m not frustrated with him. He’s just the easy target. It’s this situation. I was counting on having a real shot with Tapped. The fact that Mr. Forer blew me off says a lot about how important I am to them. This afternoon has turned into a mess. The only right thing to do is get out of here, and even that can’t happen.

I grab the wine glass and down half of it in one swallow.

Nick reaches a hand across the table and cups my cheek. “You should know…I’m hard as fuck right now. I love a little rage in my women.”

Anger fills my chest and makes my pulse pound at my temples. My fingers curl around the glass’ stem. It takes all my willpower to not fling the rest of the wine in his face. It’s not his comment that hits a button. It’s his casual attitude. It’s that relaxed look on his face. He’s one of them. Nick is in the boys’ club. Those cocky, smarmy dudes in button-ups and smart shoes that have probably never touched dirt. They made their first few millions before they could legally drink. Because it was handed to them in a trust fund. He’s used to getting what he wants when he wants it.

It's a shame I spread my legs for Nick before noticing he’s a self-absorbed, entitled assclown. No wonder he thinks he can fuck me once and assume he owns me.

“Fuck you, and your boner,” I say through gritted teeth.

He smiles. “Relax. You’re losing your shit for no good reason. Did I drag you into your hotel room? Maybe I’m wrong, but you seemed to enjoy every second of what happened.”

“Too bad you won’t get to enjoy another one.” I can’t look at him without my blood boiling. Reaching down to the floor beside me, I begin to pick up my purse. Nick is just fast enough to get to his feet before me.

“If you say so.” He smirks as he heads out of the restaurant.

My ears are hot and buzzing. This has turned into the pre-Christmas meeting from hell.

There’s only one thing to do.

I grab the wine bottle and fill my glass to the brim.