Chapter 3
Hallie was buzzed. She knew she was buzzed when she thought a third whiskey sour might be an excellent idea. She really knew she was buzzed when the song – good Lord, was that Ke$ha – started sounding good.
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She was a grown, strong, independent woman who was currently looking into gorgeous eyes the color of the sea, and that chin dimple looked like it definitely deserved a Twitter account of its own.
He finally swung her away from the dance floor, but his arm was still around her. She heard Valerie, over the headpiece still clipped to her ear.
“You’re out, Hallie. Excellent work. I’m taking you off wrap up. Have fun.”
It didn’t occur to her that maybe, Aldous Banks had something to do with that. She was just glad she could loosen up a bit and have some fun.
“Thanks, Val! I think I will.”
Aldous raised an eyebrow.
“Val has decreed that I’m done for the day, and I definitely hope I did enough for a bonus.”
Aldous smiled, slow, lazy, almost feline.
“As the client, I can decree that you definitely did,” he told her.
She beamed.
“You know, I thought you’d be a real pain to work for. I guess you’re not so bad. Just takes some getting used to.”
Aldous fixed her another drink – he made it much milder, having noticed that Hallie was quite tipsy – and grinned. She was quite the handful. And she wasn’t particularly impressed by him, obviously.
He was used to having women fall into his arms if he just crooked his finger. He was intrigued by this woman with her perfect skin, strong features, honest eyes and tempting lips that curved into a smile that was unexpectedly glamorous.
“Why did you think I was a pain?”
“Oh, you said our girls weren’t pretty enough. I mean, look at them. They’re all perfectly pretty. And you see that tray with three pitchers of beer? Do you really think your skinny models who haven’t eaten more than lettuce in weeks could even heft it?”
His grin grew wider when she scoffed.
“Possibly not. You did notice that I admit it when I’m wrong and take expert advice when offered.”
She was too happy drunk to begrudge him that.
“Yes, that’s why you’re not a pain, like I thought you would be. You thought I wasn’t pretty enough, too. I was in the folder.”
Aldous let his eyes sweep over her curvy body with that tiny waist, and indulged himself for a moment by picturing her naked and under him. He had already decided that she was going home with him. Now he’d convince her that’s what she wanted. But he wanted her to decide that without her senses impaired. A couple of drinks to loosen inhibitions and get rid of that client-staff barrier, that was fine. More than that and it’d be the alcohol talking, not her. He had deliberately added just a sprinkling of whiskey in her last drink.
“I guess I must’ve been having a very bad day, because you look absolutely delectable, Hallie.”
Hallie smiled.
“Damn right I do,” she agreed.
“In fact, I find myself wondering just how delectable you really are,” he said, and pulled her closer to him.
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Hallie raised her face towards his, welcoming the kiss that she knew would scramble her brains.
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*****
Hallie woke up with a start.
She also woke up with the hangover of the century.
She also didn’t wake up in her own bed.