TONY: Slow Burn (Raging Fire Book 1) by Kallypso Masters (the false prince TXT) 📕

He could find his own dates, most of whom wouldn’t see a second date, but that helped keep things casual and fun. No intense relationship issues.

Then again, maybe he was overthinking this and Mama really just wanted to throw a birthday party. He at least needed to play nice and help out until proven otherwise.

“Sure. Text me when you’re ready to work on it, and I’ll help in any way I can.” At least they wouldn’t have to meet face-to-face. Right? Yeah, he’d have to show up for the party, but they’d be surrounded by lots of other people, and he wouldn’t let his cock rule his thoughts and do anything stupid.

“Great. I’ll be out most of this week with a group of New York businessmen on their annual fourteener climb, so it’ll probably be closer to the weekend before I have a chance to put some ideas together.” She glanced down at his T-shirt and furrowed her brow before meeting his gaze once more. Her face looked a little flushed.

Was the box she carried heavier than she was letting on? He didn’t want to offer to hold it again, though, so he’d better wrap things up and let her be on her way. “Are you climbing with them?”

Her eyes narrowed as if offended—again. “I’m leading them. I took over that role after Marc went into the Navy.”

Now here was the Carmella he was used to, although the thought of her climbing a mountain in those same tight pants he’d envisioned moments ago…

Before he embarrassed himself, he’d better get that image out of his head.

“I thought you did more administrative work after your parents retired.”

“I do, but there are some groups that I continue to work with. We have a long history—and I know they’ll be fun to be with.”

Don’t think about having fun with Carmella. She’s not your kind of girl.

And yet she sure as hell cast some kind of spell over him every damned time she was near.

“I’d better hit the road.”

“And I need to get these to the conference registration hall. My events coordinator is probably waiting for me. Have a nice day, Tony.”

He missed having her call him T.G. For some reason. “Yeah, you, too.”

With that, she turned, and he watched her cross the lobby and head down the hallway to the ballroom where the reception had been held last night.

Even without his seeing her ass encased in tight pants, he couldn’t take his eyes off her. Man, get a grip.

Carm set the box on the table and sighed. What on earth had just happened? Why did she let Tony Giardano rattle her—again? And why in the name of all things holy hadn’t she been able to keep her eyes off the way he filled out his fire department tee so perfectly?

She’d vanquished her pent-up frustration with the use of her vibrator eight or nine hours ago. Normally, that would last her days if not weeks. Now she was horny again—for Tony?

His mother had suggested Tony might be able to come up with some fun activities for the party, but she could plan a party like that in her sleep. She didn’t need him to help.

Then why did you ask him?

Carm was at a loss to answer that question. Moments later, Martina joined her. At least she hadn’t kept her event manager waiting. That would be so unprofessional and out of character.

Martina helped her empty and reorganize the now jumbled contents of the box on the registration table. After a quick assessment of what went well and what the staff could improve upon after last night’s wedding reception, the two women worked in efficient silence preparing the area for the arrival of Nick London’s group from New York.

All too soon Carm’s mind wandered back into dangerous Tony territory, and she took a swig of coffee from the mug Martina had brought her, hoping it would help bring her focus back to where it should be.

Still, flashes back to the way Tony filled out his shirt this morning floated before her mind’s eye. Not to mention those tight-fitting jeans. While she grudgingly admitted he’d been sexy as sin in that tux last night, his rugged good looks were off the charts today in casual clothes. Carm imagined stroking his biceps to find out if they were as hard as she imagined them to be, while he gently traced a trail up her arm and down her chest to flick over her nipple…

“Everything okay, Carmella?” Martina asked.

Pulled out of her lust-filled fantasies, her face heated, Carm refused to make eye contact for fear the savvy woman might guess what—or whom—she’d been daydreaming about. After all, Martina had witnessed that embarrassing garter scene last night, along with most of the staff.

Feeling she’d composed herself well enough, she glanced up. “I’m sorry?”

“You’ve mangled the safety brochure you’ve been folding for the last few minutes, and your breathing got a little erratic. You were up late last night. Do you need a break?” Martina had worked with her for years and could make such a suggestion to her boss knowing Carm would take it as a sign that she cared about her.

The multi-creased paper in front of her was beyond saving, so she tossed it in the trash bin before picking up her mug and taking a long gulp. She needed to recover her professional demeanor. Unsuccessful and disgusted with herself for having such thoughts when she should have her mind on this evening’s safety refresher for the New York group, Carm waved off Martina’s concern before excusing herself for a short break in the ladies’ room.

Afraid of further daydreaming lapses, she ran herself ragged over the next two hours, being much more hands-on than she normally would, but needing the distractions of running the hotel to keep at bay her unwelcome thoughts about Tony Giardano.

Unfortunately, when everything was set up and ready for registration to start and there were no other tasks she could take from other staff