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“I am thinking about us being naked together again and so are you and don’t say I’m your boss. I get it. I know how hard you’ve worked. I know what this job means to you. I will protect you. I will help you. But we aren’t going to stop wanting each other.”
“I’m a challenge,” I say, voicing a concern I’ve tried to bury, but it refuses to be hidden. “That’s what this is.”
His hands come down on my waist, scorching me where they rest. “You still think I’m a player?” he demands. “Is that what that was in the kitchen?”
My hands go to his hands. “No. That was me saying that I’m sorry for not asking you about that woman. I’m sorry for assuming you were with her, but let’s be real here. I am a challenge. I’m the one that got away and if you once again have me—”
“I’ll want you again. And again.” He lowers his head, cheek next to mine, lips at my ear. “And again.”
Heat rushes through me but I manage to whisper. “You can’t know that.”
He pulls back, and his lips linger above mine. “I do know. Come home with me tonight and I’ll make you believe that.”
“Cole—”
He kisses me, a deep slide of tongue that has me melting, in every possible way before he says. “After the party. Say yes.”
Chapter twenty-four
Lori
Standing in the foyer with Cole’s hands on my body, his breath a warm trickle on my cheek, I feel like this is déjà vu of the night we met, only instead of a spanking, he’s asking for more. That spanking had been a getaway, a daring night that had no consequences until now. Going home with him has consequences. It means I’m sleeping with my boss. It means my career and my love life become tied together. Nevertheless, Cole really does feel like everything I have ever wanted in one perfect package. I want to say yes. I want to know where this goes, but right when I’m about to throw caution to the wind, just when I open my mouth to say yes, heavy footsteps head in our direction.
“You’re coming home with me,” Cole says, as if he’s read my unspoken answer, and he’s unwilling to allow me to change my mind. With that command, and it is a command, he releases me, and puts a good two steps between us.
Desperate to appear professional, I quickly say, and not quietly, “Did you want to go over that cheat sheet I emailed you for the party guests?”
“Not necessary,” Cole says, his lips giving a sexy little curve as he adds, “I’ll have you by my side keeping me in check, I’m sure.”
I’m still way too warm and ready for this man, and that is not good considering Reese rounds the corner. “That client I told you I was on the fence about,” he says, focused on Cole. “He wants to meet for coffee this morning.”
Cole motions to his clothes. “We’re not dressed for a meeting. He can’t come to the party?”
“If this guy is innocent, I want to help him,” he says. “But something is holding me back. I’d like to give him some time. I told him we’re on our way to run. He doesn’t care about how we’re dressed.”
“All right then,” Cole says. “Let’s do it.” He looks at me. “I’ll pick you up for the party at six.”
“I would say that won’t be necessary,” I say quickly, eager to sidestep any idea of this man coming to my crap apartment, a reminder that we are not equals. We are not the same. We are not right now. “Cat is never going to let me leave in time to change at home.” And because he’s obviously going to ask about my change of clothes, I reluctantly head him off with, “And I’m wearing one of her dresses anyway.”
His expression doesn’t shift, but I feel the probe in his stare. “All right then,” he says, this time to me before he glances at Reese. “We headed out now?”
“We are,” Reese says, glancing at me. “Take care of my girl.”
“You know I will.”
“I do, actually,” he says. “And I appreciate it.”
With that, they head to the door and disappear. The minute the door shuts, I breathe out, and not with relief. Those two just suck all the air in the room and you have to hold onto what you have. Like I need to hold on with Cole, but I’m not sure if that means hold onto him or hold onto my determination to not be “that” girl sleeping with her boss.
Right now though, Cat needs me and Lord only knows I owe her the world in friendship and support. She is fast becoming a sister. I round the corner and quickly make my way to the kitchen. I find her at the island, frowning at her computer screen.
“It sucks,” she says.
“Are we doing this again?” I ask, crossing to grab my coffee that is now cold.
“We never stopped doing this,” she says.
I stick my coffee in the microwave. “Have you found another assistant?” I ask. “Because being overwhelmed has to be part of this.”
