Will’s doctoring helped with the swelling, but my ankle hurt like hell during the meet and greet in his oversized living room. I forced myself to ignore the pain as I shook hands with all his senior staff members and matched names with faces.

My feet were bare, something no one seemed to notice since they’d all discarded their shoes at the door, but I felt naked wandering around without my usual stockings. I caught Will looking at my exposed legs more than once. Each time, he flashed me a grin that sent heat rushing to all manner of inappropriate regions. It left me questioning his attraction all over again, especially when he maintained a purely professional demeanor. The way he handled the meeting and deferred to me for the legal updates were with the utmost respect. Never once did he make a suggestive comment or look.

And then there was that nibble. Every time he smiled, whether seductively or amusedly, it reminded me of his teeth against my neck and elicited a shiver. Like now as he chuckled at something David said. The financial analyst seemed to be the joker of the group. He had a light air about him that kept everyone laughing.

Will shook his head. “You’re trouble, man.”

“So my wife tells me,” the redhead replied. “Speaking of which, she’ll kill me if I come home late tonight after pulling all those hours last week.”

“Can’t have that,” Will replied, still grinning. “I think we’ve all done enough for today. Next week is shaping up to be a success, and it’s thanks to all the hard work in this room and also to Rachel’s team at Baker Brown.”

There was a round of cheers and excited claps, then each member of Will’s team came up to shake his hand before leaving. Maeve, a slender woman with auburn hair, was the last to leave. Her lips curled into an adoring grin as she placed a kiss on Will’s cheek. The woman’s sharp suit fit her like a glove, leaving little to the imagination with all her curves and long legs.

“We need to review the Francis presentation,” she murmured.

“Send it to me and I’ll take a look.”

She glanced at me with a curious look, then back at him. “Or we can review it now.”

Will grinned. “Maeve, go home. You’ve worked far too hard already.”

“You know I don’t mind.”

“Pretty sure Robbie does, though.”

She sighed. “Yeah. Doesn’t matter how many times Mia explains our friendship, Robbie still worries.” Her kind brown eyes met mine and crinkled at the edges. “Have you met Mia yet?”

The name didn’t ring a bell. “I don’t think so.”

“My cousin,” Will explained. “Evan’s little sister.”

“Oh, the doctor?” Sarah briefly mentioned her to me. “She’s moving home soon, right?”

“December,” Maeve replied, her excitement palpable.

“She’s Mia’s best friend and practically grew up at the Mershano family home.”

“Hence the reason Will hired me.”

Will cast her a fond look that was more brotherly than romantic. The competitor inside me relaxed at that expression, while the sane part of me cringed.

Getting protective over a man who isn’t even remotely yours. Smooth, Rach.

“We both know that’s not why I hired you, darlin’. Your resume more than qualified you. Now seriously, get out of here before Robbie calls me to complain again.”

“Yeah, yeah. I can handle him.” She winked at me like I understood the dynamic between them all, then grabbed her bag. “I’ll send you the presentation when I get home.”

“Thank you, Maeve.”

“Nice to meet you, Rachel. I look forward to working with you more in the future.”

“Uh, me too,” I answered slowly, narrowing my eyes at Will. “What have you been telling people?” I asked after Maeve disappeared into the foyer.

“That you’re an amazing attorney whom I wanted to hire,” he answered with a shrug. “But you already know that.”

My brow crinkled in confusion. “We’ve been working together for weeks.”

“Sure, through your firm. That doesn’t dismiss the fact that I still wanted to hire you.” The intensity in his gaze matched the one I’d seen upstairs in his bedroom. My thighs squeezed at the memory, forcing me to take a step back to relieve the ache building there. Pain replaced desire as I stepped too hard on my injured foot. I’d spent most of the afternoon unconsciously balancing on one leg, and my other was quick to remind me why. Will’s hand snagged my hip, keeping me upright when I would have staggered back.

“I think it’s time for more elevation and ice,” he murmured as he guided me over to the couch. “I did recommend you stay seated for the meeting, and not stand up.”

I snorted. More like he ordered me to remain in my chair, which was why I ignored him. “I like to be on equal footing with clients,” I muttered as I fell into the plush cushions. They felt like clouds, which was the only reason I didn’t argue as he nudged me onto my back. Those clever fingers drifted down my leg as he snagged a pillow with his opposite hand.

“Yes, I’ve learned that about you.” He gently lifted my ankle and propped it up on a pile of fluff. “Your assertiveness is sexy, if a little dangerous.”

“Dangerous?” I repeated, incredulous. “Why, because it intimidates you?”

“No, darlin’. Because it excites me.” The grin that accompanied those words had me swallowing my tongue.

Wolfish didn’t even begin to describe that look. It was the kind of expression a woman wanted to see in the bedroom. The type filled with promise and confidence, and screaming, I know what you need. It scattered goose bumps down my arms and caused delicious sensations to coil tightly in my lower abdomen. It usually took a man several minutes of foreplay to entice that sort of reaction, but Will managed it with a wicked curl of his lips.

He let the moment simmer, heightening my arousal with each brush of his thumb against the hem of my skirt. My fingers twitched with the need to reciprocate, to touch him, to do something other than curl tightly at my sides. But I couldn’t move, captivated by that look, entirely at his mercy. I’d never felt so completely floored in my entire life, but I luxuriated in it. Ryan’s control left me quivering in terror, while Will’s subtle dominance thrilled me. It was utterly fucked up, yet I had no desire to fight it.

“No more standing,” he murmured as he stepped away.

I glowered after his perfect ass, irritated that he broke the intimacy between us. “Or what?”

His response was a low chuckle that stoked the flames higher inside. How did he do that? It was both enthralling and infuriating. I considered standing again just to piss him off, but my ankle protested the idea. He returned a few minutes later with another towel and a bag of ice, as well as a glass of water. “Too soon for another anti-inflammatory, but hydration helps. You finish this and rest while I go figure out dinner.”

“You’re going to cook?” I hadn’t meant for it to sound so dubious, but from my limited experience, most men did not know their way around the kitchen. Ryan considered it a place for his staff, or the occasional woman, like me.

“Any vegetables you’re particularly averse to?” he asked, ignoring my question.

“Brussels sprouts.” I detested them.

“Noted,” was all he said as he disappeared down the hall. I hadn’t been to the back of the house yet, but I imagined it contained a large kitchen and dining area and maybe another entertainment-style room. This one lacked a television but did contain a few bookshelves and a myriad of seating. It had housed his team of twelve comfortably while we all introduced ourselves and reviewed various documents. Considering everyone’s comfort, it seemed obvious they met here often.

Savory notes tickled my nose after what felt like a lifetime of staring at the ceiling. I considered asking for my phone, but I didn’t want to see how many missed calls I had from Ryan. He likely wanted an update on my business trip, which was not his concern. Those words were on the tip of my tongue every time we spoke, but I could never force them out. Yet I had the sudden desire to send him a message stating just that. Maybe it was the security of being in Will’s home that left me feeling so bold. Ryan couldn’t touch me here, but he could the minute I left. That latter thought was what kept me from following through on the notion. He’d be waiting for me, and then all hell would break loose.

The last time I tried to stand up to him had not ended well. My sprained ankle had nothing on that experience. I rubbed my healed ribs as the memory assaulted me. No. Never again. Shoving it away, I pushed off the couch and grabbed the ice pack. The scents wafting in from the hallway were far more appealing than the recesses of my mind. I hobbled toward what I assumed to be the kitchen and found myself staring at a wall of windows overlooking the wooden deck outside. Mountains littered with trees sprawled beyond it, causing me to pause. I was a city girl at heart, but I couldn’t deny the tranquility in this view.

“Wow,” I breathed.

A chuckle had me glancing left to find Will leaning against a marble counter, arms crossed. He glanced at his watch and tsked. “Fourteen minutes of rest is not going to help your ankle.”

“That was only fourteen minutes?” Shit. It felt like closer to an hour. I did not do idle well.

“Thirteen and some change, to be precise.” He pushed away from the mahogany cabinets and crooked a finger at me. “You can sit at the table while I finish dinner.”

“I’d rather sit outside,” I admitted, surprising myself. Bugs and nature were not my thing, but the lounge chair on his deck appealed to me, as did the small pool beyond it. I didn’t wait for him to agree, just ambled over to a set of glass doors and slipped outside with the ice still in my hand.

“Oh yeah,” I murmured as I folded myself into the cushioned chaise outside. I placed the ice on my ankle and sighed in contentment, only to jolt upright when warm fingers wrapped around my calf. “What are . . . ?” He lifted it with ease and settled a pillow he’d procured from God knew where beneath my heel. The reproach in his gaze did not go unnoticed, but he said nothing as he returned to the house.

Our dynamic seemed to be shifting to a new phase that combined flirtation, professionalism, and something other. He wasn’t admitting his attraction, but he wasn’t necessarily hiding it either. Instead, he left it out there like an open door inviting me to enter at my own risk. I sensed myself faltering just outside, lingering and waiting for the inevitable desire to run in the opposite direction, but it never came. On the contrary, the only pull I felt was the one drawing me closer, enticing me to take a chance and see what Will had to offer. Which was ludicrous because I knew what to expect—fantastic sex, followed by awkwardness as we continued to work together on the merger.

Or maybe the sexual affair could last for the duration of the project . . .

My hormones piqued at the thought. Pleasure without remorse, and since it would happen away from Chicago, Ryan would never know.

“Do you want to eat out there?” Will called from inside the house. He’d left the door open, something I noticed was also the case upstairs on the balcony. The air in the mountains was cooler than I expected for North Carolina but was still warm enough to warrant the abundance of fans decorating each room of his home. There were also a few built into the ceiling covering his deck, including the one directly over my head.

“I definitely want to stay outside,” I replied. Eyeing the glistening water a few yards away made me regret not packing a swimsuit. Stones decorated the edges, giving it a lagoon-style appeal that seemed to invite sunbathing. I would float in the center with a book and a margarita and wish to never leave.

“Bon appétit,” Will murmured as he sauntered outside with a tray.

I eyed the offerings with trepidation, but I needn’t have worried. “Stir-fry. Nice.” I accepted the food with a grin. “Thank you.” He even gave me chopsticks and paired it with a glass of wine. This was much better than a motel down the street.

He joined me a minute later with his own tray and kicked back in the opposite chaise under his own fan. We ate in companionable silence, my foot resting on the pillow and my stomach rolling in contentment.

“You know, I think this is the first Mershano white I’ve tried.” I savored the fruity notes on my tongue and licked my lips. “Which one is this?”

“It’s a Pinot Grigio with apple notes from one of the South Carolina vineyards.” He deftly plucked a piece of chicken from his plate and popped it into his mouth—such a subtle thing that he somehow managed to sexualize. Or maybe that was just my hormones talking.

I focused on my plate and enjoyed the sautéed zucchini. “So you can cook,” I finally conceded after several more delicious bites. “Like, you can really cook.” Because this meal was restaurant quality, maybe even better.

“I considered opening a wine bar and restaurant about a decade ago but decided preparing food for customers wasn’t really my passion. I much prefer dividing my time between the vineyards and business tasks. But I still enjoy cooking for myself.”

At first, I thought he was joking. But nothing about his expression or tone suggested humor, just fact. “Well, my stomach thanks you for the experience.”

He raised his glass in a mock salute. “Cheers.”

I lifted mine in response and took another savory sip. “I’m almost glad I lost earlier, Mershano. Not so much about the ankle, but I could get used to living like this for a week.”

An emotion teased the edge of his lips, but it disappeared too quickly for me to catch. He stood a few minutes later and glanced at my tray. “Done?”

“Yeah, but I can—”

“Your only job right now is to rest that ankle,” he stated, effectively cutting my offer to help clean the dishes.

“Bossy,” I accused with a roll of my eyes.

“You have no idea.” Wickedness touched his gaze as he tugged the tray away from me. “I’d tell you to stay put, but we both know how you’ll respond to that.”

I grinned. “You’re learning.”

“Oh, we’re just gettin’ started, darlin’,” he drawled. “I’ll be back in a minute to take you to bed.”