Page 29 of Clock Strikes Paradise

But that couldn’t happen.

I might be an asshole. Hell, I was an asshole. But not that kind. I wasn’t a predator.

So instead, I climbed into my bed.

Alone.

Horny.

Miserable.

And with a strong sense that I wasn’t making the right decision here. But Icouldn’tlet anything happen between us. Yet as sleep claimed me, my last thought was of that breathtaking, unforgettable kiss.

I woke up early,before it was fully light. How the hell was I going to backpedal from this? We couldn’t just pretend like that kiss never happened, but I didn’t know what to do now. And I didn’t want her thinking I was a cold, aloof prick. I was becoming very aware I hadn’t treated her well over the past three years.

Appreciated her as an assistant and part of my empire, yes.

But now I was seeingher. The very desirable, intelligent woman.

I couldn’t allow us to cross that line again, especially not after what she experienced with Bart. But maybe we could form a new baseline. After dressing in casual drawstring pants and a T-shirt, I called room service to have a light breakfast delivered. In the living room, I tried not to pace as I waited for her to emerge from her bedroom.

I poured some coffee to distract myself. We were diving again this afternoon, but my morning was completely open.I’d seen a stack of paddleboards and kayaks on the beach and a smile raised my lips. Kayaking and exploring the island might be just the thing to get my mind off Elise.

I heard the door open, and an entire flock of nerves took off in my stomach. It was an unusual sensation and one I didn’t like, which only reinforced that I needed to make things right between us.

Elise moved hesitantly across the floor. She was dressed in shorts and a pretty blouse, and her hair was coiled into a messy bun.

A lock of hair had fallen over my forehead, and I swept it back. “Morning. Coffee?”

“Please,” she replied, taking a seat in an armchair adjacent to me as I handed her a steaming cup. She wrapped both hands around it and took a long inhale, giving me a tentative smile.

“Listen,” I said, diving in. “About last night... I want to apologize again for kissing you. After what you went through with Bart, that was the last thing you need to deal with. It was a lapse in judgment, and I hope you’ll forgive me.”

“Of course,” she said quickly, her throat bobbing as she swallowed. And an emotion flickered through her eyes, something I couldn’t quite decipher before it was gone. Could it have been disappointment? Then she nodded firmly. “We just got a little swept up in the tropical night. Let’s just forget about it.”

“Agreed,” I said crispy, and realized I sounded like her boss again. Dammit. “I, uh, ordered us both breakfast.”

A smile graced her face as she surveyed the yogurt, granola, and fresh tropical fruit, and spooned some of each into her bowl. “Thanks. It looks delicious.”

As I started with my own breakfast, I searched forsomething to say. A way to connect. And I realized I knew almost nothing about the woman sitting next to me. How was that possible? “You know, I don’t even know where you live in the city.”

She took a sip of coffee and barked a laugh. “Queens. It’s not much, but I can afford my own place. And that’s because you pay me well. Thank you for that.”

I thought of my four-thousand square-foot penthouse apartment overlooking Central Park and felt like a complete dick. And I didn’t want any reminders that I was her boss. “You’ve more than earned it. What do you do outside work?”

She gave me a long, even stare, like she understood perfectly that I was only now realizing that I didn’t know much about her. “Night school has taken up most of my spare time. But now that I’ve graduated, I’ve joined a gym and I’m taking painting classes.”

I grinned. “You have a creative streak?”

She laughed and a beautiful flush crossed her face. “I don’t know about that. My paintings so far have been pretty awful.”

“Still, at least it’s something. I usually exercise in the evenings, or just continue working until I go to bed. Maybe I should join you in that painting class.” Which might have been the most idiotic sentence I had ever uttered. Nate would be on the floor laughing if he’d heard it.

But Elise just smiled broadly, as if she found the idea charming. “I’ll save you a spot at the next class, then.”

We continued to chat over breakfast. I found out she was an only child, and a shadow crossed her face when she talked about her parents, but she quickly smiled again as she told me she graduated top of her class.

When we were on the last of the coffee, her eye fellon my appointment book sitting on the coffee table. “Your schedule is clear until our dive with Nate and Camille later. Any plans?”