Going Down (Quickies #1) by Cassie Cross

Author:Cassie Cross
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Published: 2014-11-04T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FOUR

The elevator doors opened right into Carter’s apartment, if that’s what one could call this bigger-than-my-whole-apartment, right-out-of-a-catalog room. And it was only the foyer. I stepped out, and Carter was right there waiting for me, somehow managing to look casual in a pair of dark slacks and yet another white dress shirt, sleeves rolled up to his elbows, again, like he just knew that was one of my weaknesses.

I was going to need strength to make it through the rest of this evening with my sanity intact.

“Chloe,” he said, smiling warmly as he reached out, his fingers sliding down the inside of my arm and coming to rest near my elbow as he guided me inside. I briefly wondered if he could feel the goosebumps slowly spreading across my skin, then I pushed that thought right out of my mind. “Welcome.”

“Thank you for having me,” I said stiffly, like this was some kind of charity event or staff dinner. My nerves were overtaking me, making me second-guess every movement, every word that came out of my mouth. Only the delicious smell wafting through the air was able to break through my frenzied, self-conscious thoughts. It was Italian, maybe? “It smells delicious in here. Did you cook?”

Carter gave me a sexy, mischievous grin. “No, I don’t cook usually. I like to spend my free time perfecting other skills.”

I almost asked him what other kind of skills he was talking about, like it wasn’t some kind of innuendo. Thankfully I managed to keep my mouth shut, saving myself the embarrassment. His stupid grin and his stupid, sexy mouth was going to get me into some trouble tonight, I could feel it.

“Let me show you around.”

He walked me through the living room, decorated in warm reds and browns, photos peppering the mantle and just about every available surface. I was a little shocked to see how lived-in the place seemed. It wasn’t a picture perfect, everything-in-its-place kind of apartment with generic furnishings and expensive-looking chandeliers and such. It was normal. Well, the luxury kind of normal, but nothing too over the top.

His apartment was large, but homey. It was warm and inviting, completely unlike his office. Like he could read my mind, he said, “You’re surprised?”

I could feel his eyes on me, watching me intently as I walked around, taking in the space. I slid my fingers across the back of his sofa, along the fringe of a lampshade, admiring the understated luxury.

“Yes,” I said honestly.

“Why?”

I shrugged as I took in a deep breath. “I thought your apartment would be colder. Less lived-in, maybe. I don’t know, more like your office? I kind of figured that place was a sample of your decorating style.”

Carter laughed. “I hate my office.”

“You do?”

He nodded enthusiastically, like he just loved it when people asked him about this. “It was the result of an ill-advised study about office environments. I’ve wanted to redo it forever, but my employees seem to be happy enough with it, and I could hire twenty people with the money I’d spend on redecorating.

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