I mentally shake my head at my audacity. He’s not mine; he’s just being nice to me. And I don’t even really know why. I don’t know how he knows who my father is or why it’s important.
I have a lot of my own questions.
“You’re thinking way too hard.”
I startle at the rough words, but I don’t stop touching him until he takes my hand in his and kisses my palm before bringing them both to his stomach and resting them there.
“How long have you been awake?”
He opens one eye and peers down at me. “Since you started getting handsy.”
I bite my lip. “Not sorry.”
He huffs out a laugh. “I didn’t think you were.”
In the quiet of the next few seconds, it feels good to lie here like this, as if we do it all the time. As if we’ve done it for years and it’s the most natural thing in the world.
“Thank you for everything,” I whisper.
“Mm-hmm. Go back to sleep.”
I grin. God, I like this guy. “I can’t. I really do have to go.”
“No.” His hold on me tightens, and he rolls onto his side and hugs me against him. “You’re staying. Go back to sleep, firefly.”
I lean in and press my lips to his chest, and he stills. I couldn’t resist it. It’sright there.And his skin feels good against my lips.
“I have to figure out what I’m going to do, Rome. I don’t know where I am. I guess I’ll go to work tonight and tell them it’ll be my last shift, but I have to walk there, and I don’t know where we are right now or how far away it is.”
I feel his gaze on me and look up to find him frowning.
“You don’t know who I am,” he says as if he’s just now realizing this.
“You’re Rome. A member of the club. Kind of a scary guy, but I’m not scared of you, surprisingly, and you snuggle well. I sincerely hope you’re not married, but if you brought me to your house, I assume you’re not. Or she’s super understanding, which would make her a better woman than me because I would haul me out of here by the hair. Anyway. That’s about it.”
He blinks. “There’s a lot to unpack there. No, I’m not married or attached to anyone in any way. Well, Iwasn’t.I’m Rome Alexander. Rapture is downstairs, so the commute is pretty short. I own this building. We’re in my penthouse on the top floor.”
My jaw drops.
Oh God.
This is Mr. Alexander.
This is my boss.
Well, technically, my boss’s boss.
And what did he mean by hewasn’tattached to anyone?
“I’mso sorry.” I pull out of his arms, my cheeks flaming from being completely mortified, and roll awayfrom him, then cover my face with my hands. “Oh Christ, I’m so sorry. I amnotthis unprofessional, Mr. Alexander. Give me ten minutes, and I’ll be out of your way.”
“You’re cute.”
I peek through my fingers and find Rome—I mean Mr. Alexander—lying on his back with his hands tucked behind his head, watching me with humor-filled eyes.
“What?”
“Adorable. Tonight isn’t your last shift, by the way.”
