“Max,” I start.
“We will talk, Iris. Give me a minute to finish breakfast. I want to give you my full attention.”
I can’t argue with that request. I sit back and sip my chai while he finishes making breakfast.
When he finally slides a plate in front of me, I look down at the over-medium eggs, buttered toast, hash browns, and crispy bacon. When I glance at his plate and see his scrambled eggs, English muffin, homestyle potatoes, and sausage patty, I feel all warm inside.
He made a whole separate breakfast for me because he knows this is the way I enjoy it.
We eat in silence, neither of us wanting to talk now that we are here. Once we finish, I move to the sink to wash the plates.
“You don’t have to do that,” he tells me.
I shake my head. “Let me.”
He does as I ask, stepping beside me with a towel to dry them.
Once the kitchen is clean, he makes me a second chai tea latte and a cup of coffee for himself before he leads me to the living room, setting his coffee down before he sits on the couch. I sit next to him, setting my drink next to his.
“You wanted to talk,” he starts.
I nod. “About last night.”
He looks down at his hands before he turns toward me, staring me in the eye.
“I know kissing you last night was not what friends do. It wasn’t what a boss should do. I need to know, do you regret it?” he asks.
I’m shocked. Here I was downstairs thinking that he might have regrets, and he was up here thinking the same thing. I wish he hadn’t left last night. We could have resolved this then.
“I don’t. I enjoyed the kiss, and I’ll be honest, I would love to do it again,” I admit.
He lets out a relieved breath, leaning forward to grab my hands in his. “I’m so happy to hear it. I stressed all night that I kissed you and ruined everything. I liked kissing you. I want to do it a lot more, if you’ll let me.”
He moves one hand to cup my cheek. I lean in, waiting for him to meet me halfway. He doesn’t leave me waiting for long.
He presses his lips to mine, kissing me softly. Gently.
I want to deepen the kiss. To lose myself to him. To this moment. To everything I ever wanted, but as much as I want to keep this simple, I need more. I need to know what this means.
This can’t be casual. Not for me. Not with all the feelings I have for him.
“Max, we need to talk,” I whisper against his lips.
He presses another kiss to mine before he pulls away.
“We do. I have too much to say.”
Before he can say anything else, his phone rings. He pulls it out and goes to silence it before his face falls.
“I’m so sorry, Iris. It’s Florian. I need to take this.”
I nod, recognizing the name of one of our board members. We have a board meeting next week, so I’m sure it’s important. Otherwise he wouldn’t have called on a Sunday.
“Of course. Take it. I can wait.”
I watch as he answers the phone, retreating to his office.
I’m finally getting everything I want.
