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The Big Apple ht be the center of the fashion industry but as far as I was concerned, I wasn’t in any hurry to get there I was content to stay right here in Portland and open a sht Besides, Portland was quickly beconers I was determined to be one of them

The winter breeze and light drizzle hadmy shoulders bare I flinched when I felt a hot hand touch my shoulder

I turned and came face to face with Bear Dalton

“Hello, Chloe,” he said, his voice a deep velvety growl

“Hello, Mr Dalton,” I replied

“Let’s talk,” he said, squeezingmy skin, his touch so intimate that it shook me to my very core

“Excusemy shoulder away from his hand

His eyes peered into aze

“Just a quick word, Chloe Co a stern look over his shoulder I hesitated for a quick second, butbehind hi in his fit frame, his perfectly tailored black suit, his expensive Italian loafers, and cursing the manners that had been beaten into my brain at the same time

Later, I would think back to thisWhat would have happened if I hadn’t followed hi polite to Mom’s boss wasn’t my responsibility?

But I did

Willingly

With only a moment’s hesitation, I followed him like a loyal labrador follows his master

The dih the place like a maze Whispered conversations froh the air as alked past I turned ing on the wall, but my eyes quickly darted back to Bear

The deep blue lighting made his wavy black hair shimmer like jewels He turned down another hallway and then opened an un me in before him

I looked inside—a private dining roo the mirrored walls My sto look in his eye catching uard

“I don’t think —,” I began, shaking my head

“Go on in,” he said, gently placing his hand onme inside

“Mr Dalton, I —,” I protested as I walked in, turning back to watch as he closed and locked the door behind hi across his face I took a deep breath and tried to relax

“Chloe, I’ve told you already—call ht Listen, my mother will be just fine without me There’s

really no need for you to waste your ti to persuade me to move She’s just—”

“— No, Chloe Listen to rowl as he closed the distance between us He brought his face close to ne “Your mother cares about you She cares about this job and she’s unbelievably good at it I want her for the position, and I’m not afraid to take what I want Do you understand?”

“Yes,” I nodded, , and now that they were this close, I couldn’t help but reolden flecks scattered throughout the deepest blue I’d ever seen I’d only met Bear once before, at a coo He’d unnerved ain

“But I don’t need to be there—,” I continued my protest

“—No You’re co to New York, Chloe,” he said, firmly

“I’h it was shaking I lifted hed softly

“You’ve always intriguedat ain “You’re strong, aren’t you? Determined Won’t take no for an answer I like that,” he reached up, pushing a strand of hair behindhis face even closer as lowered his voice “We have that in common”

I was speechless Bear Dalton knew nothing about me We’d shared one dance at that coed me to and I hadn’t seen him since

Here he was, thinking he knew me inside and out Who did he think he was?

“Unfortunately for you,” he continued “I never lose”

“Is that so?” I asked, hating the quivering in my voice

He was so arrogant! Sure, he was fucking handsoland

And yeah, okay, he's got that fucking body - the one that could melt most women into puddles of sex, but so what?

He wasn’t really my type

He was ten years older than me, first of all

Did he really think lowering his voice and flashing those se my mind? What kind of weak, naive woman did he think I was?

“Would you like a de his head to the side, a teasing s the corners of his full lips even wider My breath caught in my throat

“A what?” I asked, ain, his fingertip tracingdown to ers wrapped around ently squeezed for a fraction of a second, before sliding around to the back of my neck