See you later.

What was that supposed to mean? And why was Annique inordinately disappointed that he didn’t even try to give her a smooch? She’d told him not to. He didn’t. Yet now, she kind of wished he had.

I apparently can’t make up my mind.

She did know that she didn’t trust herself around him. Time to make sure there would be no later, starting with getting her car back. Except that was proving more difficult than expected.

She frowned into the phone. On the line, she had the garage holding her vehicle hostage.

“What do you mean my car won’t be ready for a few days? It just needs tires.”

Actually, according to the mechanic, it needed a hell of a lot more, and Mr. Montgomery said to do the work.

Mr. Montgomery seemed awfully involved in her life as of late, and she was getting tired of it, which was why later that afternoon, she grabbed a cab and had it drop her off at his office.

Screw texting or calling.

She wanted to do this in person, and, no, she didn’t care to examine her reasons why.

The security guard asked her business as she strode past him in the vestibule.

“I’m here to see a realtor with Bad Boy Inc.” What a ridiculous name. As if they were some kind of motorcycle club, but then again, the marketing on it would be epic.

“Do you have an appointment?” the guard asked, rounding his desk.

“No. But Montgomery will see me.”

“I’m afraid I have to call ahead to be sure.”

“I’d rather you didn’t.” Her gaze narrowed. “I want to surprise him.”

“Are you a client?”

“No.”

“His girlfriend?” said with a lot more incredulity.

“He wishes,” she snorted. “And that’s the problem. Mr. Montgomery needs to be told that when a woman says no, it doesn’t mean go behind her back and approve car repairs she doesn’t need.”

The guard scratched his chin. “Reaper did this?”

“He did. Stupid man is bossy and thinks he can flirt his way out of it. Not this time.”

“Reaper, flirt?” The guard sounded quite faint. He waved to the elevators. “Go ahead, ma’am. I won’t warn Reaper you’re coming. But I will have to tell reception so they don’t shoot you on sight.” The man winked.

Another joker. She’d had enough of men who thought they were funny.

The elevator ride wasn’t long enough for her to fully decide what she’d say. It did allow time, though, for her to second-guess coming here.

In her office, confronting him in person had seemed like a great idea. She’d make it very clear he was to stop meddling with her and her life.

Now, with the elevator doors sliding open to reveal a posh office space, the reception area large, the offices glass-walled and easily viewed, she almost turned around and went back down.

What am I doing? She turned to step back into the cab, but the doors had slid shut and offered no escape.

Dammit. She turned to see the receptionist standing.

With a smile bright and welcoming, the older lady said, “You must be the woman Frankie was telling me about. You’re here to see Reaper.”

Again with that silly name. Then again, Charming was no better. “Mr. Montgomery and I have unfinished business.”

The blonde, with her big bouffant hair reminiscent of the eighties, couldn’t hide her curiosity. “Realty business?”

“Personal business, actually.”

She clapped. “Really? That old dog. I don’t think he’s mentioned you. Who are you, darling?”

“His matchmaker. At least I was,” Annique replied with a scowl. “He hired me to find him someone, but he’s impossible.” Impossibly perfect. “I told him we couldn’t help him, but he just won’t take no for an answer.”

“Reaper is the determined sort, but who can resist that handsome mug?”

“Handsome doesn’t mean he gets to do whatever he likes,” she grumbled.

“Oh, what has he done?” The woman sounded curious.

“He won’t leave me alone. Thinks he can tell me what to do.”

“Is he meddling in your personal life?” Said with a great deal of skepticism. His workplace obviously didn’t know him very well.

“Yes, he is, and it has to stop. I can’t find him a woman if he insists on flirting with me. I’m there to match clients. I am not available, and I am most certainly not what he needs.”

“Of course, you’re not. Out of curiosity, what do you think he needs?”

“For starters, someone who won’t mind he’s arrogant.”

“Very self-assured,” the receptionist agreed.

“Someone down to earth, given he’s way too handsome for his own good.”

“Indeed, he is.”

“And a flirt. A man shouldn’t flirt with a woman who says she’s not interested.” Even if the flirting made her feel attractive and alive.

The woman practically choked. “No, he shouldn’t.”

“Annie? What are you doing here?” Montgomery emerged from a room and stalked toward her, not scowling in annoyance that she’d invaded his place of work but smiling in welcome.

Jerk.

I won’t give in. I’m still mad.

She jabbed a finger in his direction. “You told the mechanic to fix my car.”

“Because your brakes were toast.”

“And my muffler?”

“Doing the environment a favor.”

Smug bastard had an answer for everything. “It’s my car.”

“Yup. You can thank me later for helping you take care of it.”

“Thank you?” she sputtered. “I didn’t ask you to meddle in my affairs.”

“A good thing I did, though, given you needed someone to.”

“Stop it.” She shook her head at him. “I see what you’re doing.”

“Can we talk about this elsewhere?” He shot a look at the receptionist, who avidly watched and only missed a bucket of popcorn.

“I am not going anywhere alone with you. You are not going to kiss me stupid like you did this morning.” A kiss that had her seated in his car on the way to work before she could formulate a reason why she shouldn’t.

“Get in my office, or I will use any means necessary.” He pointed.

She lifted her chin. “Oh no you don’t. I just came to say butt out.”

“I think you came for another reason.”

“No, I didn’t.” She backed away as he stalked closer.

“You wanted to see me.”

“No, I didn’t.” She totally did.

“I wanted to see you, too.”

Panty-melter. She held firm. “I want nothing to do with you.”

He stood in front of her. “Have dinner with me.”

“What part of nothing to do with you did you not get?”

“You really want me to go away?” He arched a brow. “I will if you tell me that you don’t like me.”

“That’s stupid.”

“Say it. Say, ‘Reaper, I hate you.’”

“You’re being infantile, Mr. Montgomery.”

“You’re the one being childish by refusing to admit you’re attracted to me. Tell me how you feel, and I’ll go away.”

“I hate you,” she growled. Hated the fact that she wanted to have dinner with him and kiss him some more.

“Do you always give tongue to the people you hate?”

“I can’t get involved.”

“Why not?” He loomed closer.

The elevator door dinged, and she dove into the cab.

He followed.

There really wasn’t enough room.

“This is harassment,” she stated.

“It’s a public place.”

“Why are you so adamant about forcing something between us?”

“I’m not forcing shit. You’re attracted to me.”

“And? I’m also highly attracted to chocolate, but it doesn’t mean I give in every time I see a piece.”

“Would indulging be so bad?” He crowded closer. His body almost brushing hers.

The doors opened, and people got on board. Forcing them closer but stalling conversation.

They reached the lobby, but he blocked her exit. She shoved at his arm, but he wouldn’t budge, and the doors closed before the elevator moved again.

“That was my stop,” she hissed.

“No, it’s not, because my car is two levels down still.”

“I am not going anywhere with you.”

“Not even if I said I had news on the restaurant attack?”

It was that and nothing else that got her seated across from him in a chic little bistro.

Liar. She’d chosen it knowing full well the tables were small enough for their knees to touch.

She had to escape…before she did something stupid. Like kiss him.