“You’re worth it.” His gaze dropped to her lips, her kissable lips. He leaned in.
Dana scooted out the other side of the bench. “Alex, I’m flattered, I really am. But you’ve made it clear you’re interested in me, you know, as more than just an employee.”
“True.”
“So how do you reconcile that with offering me a job?”
“Easily. There are plenty of couples out there who work together.”
“Yeah, but how many of them slept together before the work started?”
“Are you trying to confuse me with facts?”
She leaned across the kitchen bench and kissed him on the cheek. “Thank you. You’re sweet and it’s a very tempting offer, but I really do love my job. I get to talk to people from all over the world, sharing the best that Vegas has to offer. Visitors trust me to help them sort through the maze of attractions on the Strip. They may be here to work, but I have the privilege of making sure they have fun while they’re at it. I get to put smiles on people’s faces every day, and I can’t envision a day where I don’t get to do it.”
“That sounds an awful lot like fulfillment.”
“What do you know?” Her face grew pensive. “I never really thought of it that way.”
“And I wouldn’t dream of messing with that.”
“I appreciate your offer.”
“Fair enough. It doesn’t mean I won’t try again, though.”
“And it doesn’t mean my salary won’t have gone up by then.” She hummed in amusement and sat back down. “I hope you have deep pockets, Mr. Markov.”
Alex grinned and let her get back to work.
***
By nine o’clock that night, Dana knew she should really be getting home. Tomorrow was a work day for both of them, and she’d trespassed on Alex’s hospitality long enough.
His Summerlin “retreat day” had done the trick. She’d managed to do far more work than she would have done at home. In her condo, she would have found ways to avoid her laptop. Eventually, errands and chores would have dragged her away. At Alex’s place, she could forget all those things and concentrate on her job.
Of course, now she had all sorts of chores to catch up on before she went to bed. She hadn’t even done any grocery shopping for the week ahead.
They had enjoyed a long, leisurely dinner in each other’s company. Alex had ordered in. Something made out of eggplant and chick peas for him. Steak for her. She’d felt guilty eating meat in front of him but he didn’t make an issue out of it. He’d offered her some of his dish and she’d been surprised at how delicious it was.
Alex surprised her in many ways.
They sat around the kitchen table now, enjoying the last of their coffees. Neither of them had said anything for a while. Alex kept looking at her, desire darkening his gaze. No matter how much coffee Dana drank, she couldn’t seem to quench her thirst.
She didn’t want to go home. They may not have done anything exciting today, but it had been the best day she’d had in recent memory. Just being with him in his space was comfortable, natural.
Alex put down his coffee and loosened his splint. He prodded the skin underneath.
“Is your arm hurting?”
“It gets sore at the end of the day. I’m dying to take this thing off.”
Dana got up and moved her chair in front of his. She sat before him and held out her hand. “May I?”
Alex removed the splint and extended his arm.
“Where is it sore?”
“Near my elbow.”
