He liked her. He wanted to get to know her better. If there was a rule against it at Trendsetters, he hadn’t come across it. As for FinCEN? As long as it didn’t get in the way of him doing the job he came here to do, why should it matter who he became involved with?

Yeah, tell that to the boss.

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Eleven

You’re not ready?”

Samiah looked up from her computer and experienced a sudden flush of warmth throughout her body. Daniel leaned against the wall just inside her door, looking like a midday snack. The least he could do was try not to be so damn gorgeous all the time.

It was the cheekbones. She was supremely jealous of those high, angular, pronounced-without-being-too-pronounced cheekbones. And don’t get her started on his deep brown eyes or that flawless warm, golden skin. His African American and Asian makeup forged a medley of the most scrumptious features.

So. Un. Freaking. Fair.

“Am I ready for what?” she asked.

He made a point of looking at his watch as he pushed away from the wall and strode into her office. “I do believe we’re supposed to have lunch.”

“Oh, really?” She propped her elbows on her desk, folded her fingers, and rested her chin on them. “I don’t remember agreeing to lunch today.”

“Didn’t we establish this already? Me and you. Lunch. Until you’re comfortable enough with me to explore some of the hiking trails around town?”

“But we had lunch yesterday.”

“Hey.” He held his hands up. “I don’t know how they do it in Houston, but up in Philly we tend to eat lunch every day.” He shrugged. “Maybe it’s a regional thing.”

Samiah clamped her lips together, taking a moment to collect herself. If she laughed she would only encourage him.

“You think you’re cute, don’t you?” she said. The moment she did, she wished she could snatch the words back.

That delectable dip in his cheek appeared with the emergence of his smile. He advanced several steps and perched his hands on the edge of her desk. His eyes glittering with amusement, he said, “The question is, do you think I’m cute?”

His unrepentant grin was evidence that he was enjoying this way too much. So was she.

And that was the problem.

She couldn’t do this. She’d decided last night that resisting—no matter how irresistible the dimple and the man who possessed it was—was her only option. She’d made a pact with London and Taylor to focus on her personal goals. Getting involved with anyone, even on a casual basis, would blur that focus.