Madison
I swallowed hard. “Just tired. Someone kept me up rather late last night.”
“And early this morning,” he added with a smirk. His fingers inched higher on my thigh. “Perhaps you need more coffee to stay alert.”
“What I need is for my boss to keep his hands to himself so I can focus on work.”
Instead of withdrawing, his hand slid higher, disappearing under my skirt. “Are you sure about that, Ms. Harper?
“1
My breath hitched as his fingers traced the edge of my panties. “Alexander, we’re almost at the site.”
His eyes darkened with desire, but he didn’t remove his hand. Instead, he leaned closer, his breath warm against my ear. “Change of plans. We’re stopping for coffee first.”
“Coffee?” I squeaked as his finger dipped beneath the elastic, teasing me.
“Yes, coffee.” His voice was low, controlled. “I find myself needing the… stimulation.”
I bit my lip to suppress a moan as he withdrew his hand, adjusting my skirt with infuriating casualness. “You’re terrible.”
“So I’ve been told.” His lips quirked into that arrogant half–smile that made my knees weak. “Driver, take us to Élysée first.”
The driver nodded without comment, changing direction smoothly. I pressed my thighs together, trying to ignore the throbbing between them.
“That wasn’t fair,” I whispered.
Alexander’s hand returned to my thigh, this time more innocently positioned. “I never claimed to play fair, Ms. Harper.”
Élysée was one of those impossibly chic cafés where a single espresso cost more than my usual lunch. It was the kind of place where the baristas wore bow ties and customers spoke in hushed tones about their portfolios.
Alexander helped me from the car, his hand lingering on the small of my back as we entered. The café smelled of rich coffee and fresh pastries, with soft jazz playing in the background.
He guided me to a secluded corner booth with plush velvet seating and a view of Central Park. “What would you like?”
“I can order for myself,” I said, reaching for the menu.
“I’m aware of your capabilities.” His tone was amused. “I was merely being polite.”
I scanned the extensive coffee selection, settling on “a vanilla latte with an extra shot, please.”
When the waiter arrived, Alexander ordered my latte and “an Americano, black” for himself.
1/3
Chapter 288
“No food?” I asked after the waiter left.
“Not hungry for food,” he replied, his gaze trailing down my body.
Heat flooded my cheeks. “We’re in public.”
“Merely stating a fact.” He leaned back, perfectly at ease. “You look particularly delectable today.”
I fidgeted with my napkin. “I need to talk to you about something.”
“That sounds ominous.”
“It’s not. It’s just…” I took a deep breath. “My mother invited you to dinner.”
His eyebrow arched in surprise. “Did she now?”
+25 BONUS
“Yes, and before you say anything, I need you to promise me something.” I leaned forward, lowering my voice.” If she asks anything about our relationship, please don’t elaborate or get into details.”
Alexander’s lips quirked into a half–smile. “Worried I’ll tell her about how you begged me to-”
“Alexander!” I hissed, glancing around to make sure no one heard. “I’m being serious.”
“As am I,” he replied, eyes dancing with amusement. “Your mother already thinks we’re dating. What’s the harm in playing along?”
“The harm is that she’ll start planning our wedding and naming our future children if you give her even an inch.
11
“Madison Knight does have a nice ring to it.” (1
“Stop it,” I warned, though my heart skipped at the sound of our names joined together. “Just… avoid the topic if possible. Change the subject. Talk about the weather, sports, politics–anything else.”
Alexander leaned back as the waiter delivered our coffees. After taking a sip of his Americano, he fixed me with those intense blue eyes. “Alright, I’ll behave. But only because you asked so nicely.”
“Thank you,” I said, relieved. “And for the record, I’ve never begged you for anything.”
His hand found my knee under the table. “Not with words, perhaps.”
Heat flooded my cheeks as his fingers traced lazy circles on my skin. “When is this dinner happening?” he asked, casual as could be while his hand inched higher.
I took a steadying breath. “Maybe this weekend? I’ll let you know once I confirm with her.”
“Okay.” His fingers reached the hem of my skirt. “I look forward to it.”
I grabbed his wrist before he could venture further. “We have a meeting in thirty minutes.”
“Plenty of time,” he murmured, his eyes darkening.
“For coffee,” I insisted, though my body betrayed me with a shiver of anticipation.
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Chapter 288
Alexander’s lips curved into a knowing smile as he withdrew his hand. “As you wish, Ms. Harper.”
+25 BONUS
The rest of our coffee break passed in charged silence, with Alexander occasionally brushing against me in ways that seemed accidental but were anything but. By the time we left Élysée, my skin felt too tight, and focusing on work seemed impossible.
In the car, Alexander maintained a professional distance, reviewing documents on his tablet while I tried to collect my scattered thoughts.
“Ready?” Alexander asked as the car pulled up to the construction site.
I nodded, grateful for the distraction. “Ready.”
The moment we stepped onto the site, Alexander transformed. Gone was the seductive Playboy, replaced by the commanding CEO everyone respected and feared. He strode toward the temporary office trailers with purpose, nodding curtly to workers who scrambled to acknowledge him.
I followed close behind, tablet in hand, ready to take notes.
The site manager, Frank Turner, a burly man, greeted us at the trailer door with a firm handshake.
“Mr. Knight, Ms. Harper, welcome to the Riverside Plaza site,” he said, gesturing us inside. “The team’s waiting.
TS
The trailer was cramped but functional, with blueprints covering most available surfaces and a large conference table dominating the center. Six people rose as we entered, their expressions a mix of nervousness and anticipation.
Alexander nodded curtly. “Let’s not waste time. Show me what you’ve got.”
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
