“I’ve never noticed this quote part of your tattoo before,” he said, his voice low. “I thought it was just a straight line.”

“It was, before I changed it.”

“When was that?”

“During our Cold War …”

“Hmmm.” He rubbed his finger against it again, keeping his gaze on mine. “I feel like I’m learning one too many new things about you that I should already know. Anything else you want to reveal?”

“I once bought a voodoo doll that bore your likeness when we weren’t talking,” I said. “It had blue eyes and everything.”

“Oh?” He smirked. “How many times did you stab it with the pin?

“Thousands. I wished that you would fail at life with every prick at it.”

“I’m sorry to inform you that it didn’t work.”

“Clearly.” I smiled.

“Anyway—” He cleared his throat. “This is the first bit of my advice that you didn’t follow.”

He grabbed the glittering clip from my up-do and pulled it out, forcing the curls to fall to my shoulders. “I told you to wear your hair down. You look sexier this way.”

“Tatiana thought it looked better up.”

“Tatiana isn’t a guy you’re trying to get, and from what you’ve told me, she’s been single for years.” His lips curved into a slow, sexy smile. “You need to take everything she suggests with a garage full of salt.”

“You mean grain of salt?”

“No.” He ran his fingers through my hair, making sure all the curls were down. “I mean, she spends every night watching Sailor Moon marathons and playing with crystal wand toys, so it’s a whole fucking garage full.”

I held back a laugh. “Fine.”

Sliding his hand around to my necklace, he gently adjusted the silver skate charm that hung between my breasts.

“I also told you not to wear panties.” His eyes met mine in the glass again. “Why are you wearing them?”

“I’m not.” My cheeks flushed red. “I’m not wearing any.”

“You can’t lie to me, Pen …” He slid a hand under the slit of my dress, setting my skin on fire as his palm grazed my thigh. He slowly looped his fingers under the band of my lace thong, and yanked it off in one smooth motion. Then he stuffed it into his pocket.

“Much better.” He smiled. “Don’t you agree?”

“I can’t believe you just did that.”

“Believe it.” He looked at his watch. “You only have a few hours left before people start hogging him for photographs and favors. I highly suggest that you walk out of here with me. You can also say, ‘Thank you for your much-needed help’ at any point.”

“Thank you for stealing my panties.”

“You’re very welcome.” He laughed and walked over to the door, holding it open for me. He started to walk away, but then he turned around.

“I don’t think that I can trust you to do this right,” he said. “I think it’s better if I make him come to you.”

Huh? Before I could ask him what that meant, he pushed me against a window. “How close are we, Penelope?”

“What do you mean?”

“It’s a simple question.” He lowered his voice, looking into my eyes. “How close are we?”

Too close. “Pretty close.”

“On a scale of one to ten?”

“Twenty.”

“I agree.” He tucked a few strands of hair behind my ear. “So, I need you to tell me something. What did you think of my dick?”

WHAT? “What the hell are you talking about?”

“You heard me,” he said. “I want to know what you thought when you saw my pictures.”

“Hayden Christopher Hunter.”

“Penelope Nicole Carter.” He mocked me. “Glad we’ve established our full names.”

“I’m saying your full name so that you can come to your senses.”

“I’m fine.” He smiled. “I’m asking you a simple question.”

“A very inappropriate question.”

“How?” He ran his fingers through my hair. “If your nudes ever leaked, I would give you my honest opinion. I wouldn’t even wait for you to ask.”

“That would never happen to me because unlike you—”

“You’re deflecting.” He cut me off. “Stay on the topic of my dick.”

“Fine.” I lowered my voice to a whisper. “I thought that you were very well-endowed. Happy?”

“Ecstatic.”

“How the hell is this line of questioning supposed to help me get Simon’s attention?”

“Because no man wants a woman that another guy isn’t into, and if the so-called Untamed Playboy of Manhattan is making you blush in a corner, I think that speaks volumes. Don’t you?”

“No.”

“I do.” He laughed and stepped back, looking over his shoulder. “Don’t stay too long and don’t drink too much. You’re welcome.”

He walked away without another word, and Simon was suddenly strolling toward me.

“Wow.” He grabbed my hand and brought it to his lips. He didn’t say a word for several seconds; he just looked me up and down. “You look stunning, Penelope. Thank you so much for coming. I was beginning to think you were standing me up.”

“Not at all.” I blushed.

“Was that Hayden Hunter that you were talking to?”

“Yeah, but—Wait. How do you know who he is?’

“He’s on the cover of GQ this month, and I have a subscription.” He smiled. “He’s also the CEO of Cinder and pretty famous, I believe.”

“Right, well—I, he,” I stuttered, feeling butterflies flutter as he pressed his hand against the small of my back. “He’s my brother’s best friend. I mean, he’s more like my best friend, but—”

“Is he my competition?” He interrupted, gazing at my lips. “Should I be worried that he wants you, too?”

What? My cheeks heated all over again. “No, not at all. Hayden is like an older brother to me.”

“Good,” he said. “I’d hate to watch him lose if the alternative was true. Are you available for dinner with me afterwards?”

I bit my tongue before I could blurt out “Hell yes.” “No, I can’t stay past the party.”

“How unfortunate.” He grabbed two glasses from a passing waiter’s tray. “In that case, let’s go to the top of the ship and make the most of the time you have.”

The yacht set sail around the river and I leaned against the railing as Simon grabbed the railing on both sides of me.

The years that we’d spent apart collapsed into an hours-long conversation, and I felt as if we were back in his old dorm room all over again. His lips brushed against mine a few times, but he never let them linger for more than a few seconds, and he never took his eyes off of mine.

Before I knew it, I broke both of Hayden’s suggestions without even trying.