Total pages in book: 42
Estimated words: 38887 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 194(@200wpm)___ 156(@250wpm)___ 130(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 38887 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 194(@200wpm)___ 156(@250wpm)___ 130(@300wpm)
I smile, small and tight, and make my way to the copier. I’ve not stopped either. Sulking. I set the papers on the glass and press a few buttons, resting my hands on the side of the machine while it does its job, falling into thought.
Australia. Fucking Australia. She has no one and she’s moving to Australia. I pout to myself.
“I think they’re done.”
Looking over my shoulder, I see Annie Ryan pointing to the machine. “Oh, right.” I pull the papers out of the tray and hand her a copy.
“Are you okay?” she asks, taking the paperwork.
I look up at her, and I have no idea what comes over me, no idea at all, but all of a sudden I’m talking and it has nothing to do with property. She just has a warm, friendly face, one that’s inviting me to ask. “You’re a woman, right?”
Her frown is deep. “Yeah, I think so.”
“If you had plans to move out of the country and you met a man before you were leaving, what would you say if he asked you not to go?” The next thing, I’m sitting next to her, getting comfortable.
Annie laughs, seeming a little uncomfortable. “I’m probably not the best person to ask. I don’t really do relationships.”
I retract, surprised. She’s a beautiful woman, and from what I know she’s smart, too. Self-employed, ambitious, driven. “So you’ve never had that spark all these people talk about?”
“Not even a sizzle.” She stands, collecting her things together, smiling as she does. “But it sounds like you have.”
I laugh under my breath, joining her. What the hell am I doing? I’ve completely lost my mind. “I’m sorry.” The poor woman only came to drop off some paperwork. “Bet you’re glad you stopped by.”
“Sorry I couldn’t be more helpful.” Taking the door handle, she pauses a moment, and then looks over her shoulder. “I guess, if I ever did get that spark, I’d have to follow my heart.”
“What if you don’t have a heart?”
She laughs, her eyes sparkling. “You must have a heart, or you wouldn’t be in such a tangle.”
I suddenly feel like a total tit. “I’m asking for a friend, of course.”
“Of course.” She smiles knowingly.
“It was nice meeting you, Annie. We’ll keep you up to date on the progress of the sale.”
“Thanks. Hope your friend sorts out his little dilemma.”
Little? I inwardly scoff.
I see out Annie Ryan and lock the door, gazing around the empty space of the front office. I should get a grip. Next thing I know, I’ll be letting Georgia put me in one of her princess costumes. On a shake of my fuddled head, I head for my office, but I’ve barely put one foot in front of the other when a knock on the door behind me halts me. I frown, turning toward the door…and freeze.
Raya stares at me through the glass, her face as straight as could be.
Air inflates my lungs, the sight of her instigating prickles all over my skin. Just the sight of her. I haven’t heard her, touched her. But I want to. I shouldn’t, but I want to. Little dilemma? It’s laughable. I know the reasons for her sadness now; my questions have been answered, but my want for her hasn’t changed.
For an age, we just stare through the glass at each other. If I open this door, I know what’s going to happen. I know I won’t be able to resist her this close. She came looking for me. What does she want, a parting gift? A good fuck before she disappears off on her travels and then makes a new life for herself in Australia? Falling further under her spell would be monumentally stupid. Tasting something, a personal favorite, knowing I’ll never get to ever again? No way.
So why do I reach for the latch and pull the door open? It’s beyond me, and now there is nothing between us. No protection. No barrier. “What do you want, Raya?”
She steps toward me tentatively, as if she’s questioning what she’s doing. And when she reaches me, her chest pressed to mine, she gazes up at me. “I don’t know.” Her eyes are wild and unsure. “But I know that every time we’re close, suddenly things are gray. I can’t figure you out. You’re warm and cold. I know what I’m scared of, but what are you scared of, Drew?”
“You.” My mouth is on her before I can think better of it, and I’ve lifted her from her feet before my tongue breaches the seam on her lips. We should talk, but this is the only thing I know what to say right now, and when her arms circle my shoulders, her mouth opening up, inviting me in, I know she’s okay with it. I know she gets it.
With one arm around her waist holding her to me and one secured on the nape of her neck, I walk to my office, my kiss deep, my blood racing, my heart bouncing off my ribcage. I set her on her feet and take the hem of her dress, pulling it up over her head, losing her lips for just a second in the process. And I lose the buttons on yet another shirt when she wrenches it open, her hands immediately finding my skin beneath. My forward steps encourage her backward, our kiss deepening as she unfastens my trousers and I push her knickers down her thighs.