Nothing pissed off Colton Mitus more than failing. This meeting with Robert Sethfield meant he had, or damn near had. His portfolio resembled a medieval bloodletting, with pools of money draining from his accounts. Something had to be done, so he’d made the call.

   But the moment—no the second—he’d laid eyes on that blonde in the conference room, his visit had been worth his swallowed pride. Hot and sexy was easy to find in the nation’s capital, but something about her compelled him to take that second look. Her vibrant eyes were laced with innocence and mystery. A deliciously dangerous combination.

   But this meeting was strictly professional. He needed to keep his thoughts on his financial affairs, which, last he’d checked, were one hot mess.

   “Coffee, water?” Seth’s voice jerked him away from much more appealing thoughts. As they entered his office, he tapped a guest chair before easing into his leather seat.

   “No, thanks.” Colton unbuttoned his coat and sat.

   “Hit a round since the Lansdowne tournament in July?” Seth asked.

   “A few.” Small talk bored him. “You?”

   “Same.” Seth leaned back. “All right, Colton, what’s going on? You said you could use my help.”

   “I need your best wealth manager.”

   “You’ve always used private wealth managers. Planning to steal one away from me?”

   “No. My previous wealth manager left the area last year and I’ve been challenged to find the right fit. I’m considering moving my investments under the Porter, Gabriel and Sethfield umbrella.”

   Seth grinned like he’d won the fucking lottery.

   Colton couldn’t help but crack a smile. “We should play poker. I’d make a damn killing.”

   Chuckling, Seth crossed his legs.

   “You know Mitus Mansion is my home and my office.” Colton strummed the armrest. “My staff also resides there. My wealth manager needs to be available beyond market hours.”

   “I see.”

   “There are overseas calls in the middle of the night, dinner meetings, Sunday strategy sessions for the coming week. I’m always working.” Colton raked his hair out of his eyes. “He’d move into the mansion. I’d be his only client. Your firm would make a bundle, as would the appointed advisor. I could sleep at night knowing that I no longer have to play nursemaid to my shrinking portfolio.”

   “You keep saying he. Not considering a woman?” Seth hiked his brows.

   “I’ve interviewed plenty of female wealth advisors over the years. Several had families, which I can’t accommodate. The remainder wouldn’t have been able to handle my intensity. I can’t have a Nervous Nellie managing my portfolio. I’m demanding. That can be intimidating.”

   “So, you’re not opposed to hiring a woman?”

   As long as I’m not attracted to her. “No. Why?”

   “My best is a woman and she’s no shrinking violet.”

   “Tough as nails?”

   “She’s the best wealth manager I’ve ever had. Extremely smart, team player, consummate professional. She’s got too many clients, she’s so damn good. Lately, she seems…I don’t know…restless. I don’t want to lose her, but if I recommend her for associate manager, she’d be relocated to our New Jersey branch. You hire her and everyone wins.”

   With his elbows propped on the chair’s arms, Colton steepled his fingers. He had several female staffers, so onboarding a woman wasn’t the issue. But hiring a female wealth manager wasn’t going to fly. He liked nothing better than admiring the softer sex, especially when naked and writhing beneath him. If he screwed his money manager and things soured, it would be too easy for her to return the favor and screw him out of millions. “I’ll speak with her. Then we’ll do it my way.”

   Seth tapped a button on his phone console. “Kaleb.”

   “Yes.” Kaleb’s voice blasted through the speaker.

   “Please send Brigit in.”

   Colton draped his coat over a chair at Seth’s corner table and stared out the window. This had better fucking work. He’d be losing more in commissions and brokerage fees than most people made annually, but he had to stop the hemorrhaging. Finding the right advisor was crucial to his success. The Francesco Company executives anxiously awaited his loan to begin production of Crockett Boxes. Without capital the project stalled and any misstep left them vulnerable to the competition. This wireless innovation was two years in the making and the biggest opportunity of his career. His commitment to fully fund the initial rollout meant complete control. There’s no way in hell I’ll resort to outside investors.

   Seth’s phone buzzed. “Yes.”

   “Would Mr. Mitus like a beverage?”

   “No,” Seth barked. “Where is she?”

   “I’m having trouble locating her. She’s not answering her phone or her texts. Oh, wait, here she is.” The line went dead.

   Seth’s door opened. Colton turned from the window as the woman sashayed in. Fuck, it was the blonde from the conference room. He wanted to blurt out, Not her, but all the blood rushed from his head to his groin.

   She was drop-dead gorgeous.

   Her sparkling green eyes jolted him to his core and his chest flamed with heat. The thought of burying his hands in her silky blonde hair and kissing those pouty lips made his balls tighten. He’d speak with her to placate Seth, then hire a man from Seth’s secondary pool of candidates. Problem solved.

   Though Colton towered over her, her sexy figure grabbed his attention. Weights, aerobics, running? Whatever her poison, he’d chase that tight little number anywhere. A primal need shot through him.

   Her tailored black suit highlighted her curves and the hint of a white camisole clung to her taut body. She was hot, too damn hot. Someone he’d want to interact with daily, nightly and weekends, in all the best ways. She smiled at Seth, but the chill in her eyes belied her sweet expression. Most women noticed him right away, but this one wouldn’t even glance in his direction.

   “Brigit, this is Colton Mitus of Mitus Conglomerate.” Seth stood. “Colton, my best wealth manager, Brigit Farnay.”

   As she pivoted, she raised her piercing gaze, slowly, to meet his. Her eyes grew fiery, then she gave in to a smile. Not the oh-my-God-you’re-Colton-Mitus smile he was accustomed to receiving, but a forced one. He liked that she wasn’t drooling. Gushing nauseated him.

   “My name is—” She paused. “I’m Brigit Farnay.” Her sultry voice danced in his ears, but carried with it a touch of defiance that struck a chord all the way down to his toes. She did not want to be there. Again, unexpected.

   Two easy strides and he stood in her personal space. She stiffened. Her emerald eyes turned stormy. No batting of her thick black lashes. No pink hue settling over her cheeks. No over-the-top smile. Hell, no smile at all. Full lips he wanted to taste, but her sexy mouth wouldn’t crack. A hint of sweet coconut floated in his direction.

   When he smiled, her shoulders relaxed. Much better.

   He extended his hand and she glared at it like it would bite her. As she slid hers into his, energy surged up his arm. She stared into his eyes as if trying to glimpse his soul. Some days he wondered if he still had one. Her cool hand hugged his and he wanted to warm her ivory skin before letting go. Seth was right. She was no shrinking violet.

   “Brigit, this is the possible opportunity I intimated earlier,” Seth said.

   Even though her hand dropped like a brick, her intensity poured into him. Women cowered under his power, but she seemed to draw strength from it.

   “Please, let’s sit.” Seth returned to his worn leather chair.

   Colton waited, assuming she’d slip between the two chairs. Instead she kept her distance and hugged the wall. She sat and crossed her legs. Unbuttoning his suit jacket, he eased into the seat. Damn, she was pretty with lustrous blonde hair that trailed down her back. He imagined her plump lips nestled around his cock. Hire her? No fucking way.

   “Colton, why don’t you present your idea to Brigit?”

   Could I reject her outright? That would be cold, even for me. “I’m in need of a wealth manager and Seth recommended you.”

   “Brigit, you indicated you were ready for a change,” Seth interjected. “How about we lighten your load? Exchange your dozens of clients for this one. What do you think?”

   Brigit leaned back and clasped her hands in front of her, creating a shield. Her full breasts stole his attention, but he quickly flipped his gaze back to her eyes.

   “I’d interview you to ensure your coming on board would be the right fit, for us both,” Colton said.

   She’d been staring at Seth like he wasn’t even in the room. What was it with this woman?

   Shifting her attention toward him, she arched an eyebrow. “Coming on board?”

   An undeniable undercurrent sizzled between them. “Yes, you’d live at Mitus Mansion with me and my staff,” Colton said.

   Brigit jumped to her feet like her ass was on fire. “It’s not something I’ll entertain, so please remove my name from your candidate list.” She turned to face him and her eyes flashed with determination. “Colton.”

   “Brigit.” The huskiness in his voice sounded more like a growl.

   As she walked between the two chairs, the roundness of her tight ass made his dick twitch. He crossed his legs.

   She was perfect. Not because she was beautiful and sexy, but because she wasn’t interested. Winning was all that mattered. The greater the challenge, the better, and Brigit Farnay was proving to be quite the firecracker.