Total pages in book: 63
Estimated words: 57943 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 290(@200wpm)___ 232(@250wpm)___ 193(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 57943 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 290(@200wpm)___ 232(@250wpm)___ 193(@300wpm)
“No,” I muttered quietly, causing her eyes to dart to mine and search for where I was going with this.
“What do you mean, ‘no’?” she hissed.
In three long strides, I marched up to her petite frame and pinned her to the table with my closeness, never actually touching her. She didn’t shrink back like I’d somehow expected her to. Instead, she held that beautiful chin high, eyes glued to mine.
Leaning my head down to where my lips almost touched the skin below her ear, my hot breath assaulted her flesh. “No.”
Her body shuddered beneath that one spoken word. I pulled my face away to see her reaction. Those green eyes blazed with something I couldn’t put my finger on.
Desire? Anger? Fear?
She did tremble, however, when I delicately reached up and traced her chin with my thumb. My other hand slid up her neck, fingers resting around the back of it and thumb stroking her tender flesh around the front. Her eyes involuntarily fluttered shut when I used the thumb still on her lips to part them, pulling the bottom one down.
Who is this girl?
For a moment, I studied her soft skin and pert nose, allowing myself to marvel at her beauty. Whoever this mysterious woman was, she had me falling fast and hard, which was the last thought I had before I protectively wrapped my arms around her and crashed my lips onto hers.
SAFE. PROTECTED. MINTY fresh.
Wait, what?
My momentary bliss was interrupted when my damn rational brain started raining thoughts down on me. Crap.
What have I done now?
This couldn’t happen. For one, this man who was sucking my lip between his teeth went against my strict ‘no dating’ policy, and two, he was my client. Ugh, this was so frustrating!
I half-sighed, half-moaned into his mouth as our tongues continued their exotic dance. His lips felt so soft against mine. He tasted a little minty and a lot manly. And his hardness was poking into my stomach as we kissed, making me throb in my womb for him.
Reluctantly, I pulled away from his exquisite kiss, which would star in my dreams for years to come, and studied his searching expression. His arms, which were still wrapped protectively around me, heated my body to the core. I could feel his perfectly chiseled chest still pressed against mine.
I closed my eyes once more and inhaled his unique masculine scent. When I reopened them and found him staring with an unreadable expression, I sighed with defeat. I knew it couldn’t go on, and with that, I pushed him away from me, releasing a bitter sound from my lips, knowing that was probably as close to real happiness as I’d ever get. At least for that moment, I’d remember that Cale had been mine and I had been his.
Reality came crashing back down, causing me to reach down to grab my stuff and stalk out the door of the conference room without another word to Cale. It would never work. Could never work. Oh, God, but how I wish it would work.
I made it all the way back to my desk, set my things down, and plopped very unladylike into my chair. Cale slowly walked out after me. I could feel him silently staring at me, waiting for some kind of response. He must have realized the spell was broken because I couldn’t even make eye contact, so he casually tossed his business card onto my desk before slipping out the door.
Anger seethed through me—anger at myself for being weak and anger at my past, which prevented me from having a future.
It was a quarter to seven, and Sam would be here soon to pick me up. My nerves were a frayed mess between what had gone on with Cale this morning and my impending dinner with Sam. Even though I saw Sam every week, the idea with going out alone with a guy had my anxiety peaking at new levels.
Needing a moment of normalcy, I texted my mother:
Me: Mom, I love and miss you. See you guys soon?
Mom: Hey, sweetie! I love you too. We can’t wait to see you. We’ll for sure be there by Thanksgiving.
Me: I met a guy and it’s a big disaster. And tonight I am having dinner with a different guy. I am a hot mess like Anj claims!
Mom: Honey, you are not a hot mess…tell Anj I said to hush it! I am so PROUD of you for dating after all these years. While a career is important, having some sort of social life is too. About time you started listening to your mother! ;)
Me: I love you, Mom.
Mom: I love you too, sweetie. Tell me all about your date tomorrow!
When I heard the crunch of gravel outside, I quickly slipped my phone into my purse. Then I noticed Cale’s business card sitting on the counter and snatched it up. Rubbing my finger across it, I couldn’t help but remember our time-stopping kiss today. In an effort to hold on to the nearness of him, I pocketed his card.