“Ha! You told me the first day you were here that you working for Chandler had nothing to do with me.”
“It didn’t and it doesn’t. I was hoping to woo you outside the office, but you’ve made that nearly impossible. Hell, you would barely evenacknowledge that you knew me previously. You’re the most stubborn woman I know.”
I had to smile at the irritation I had apparently been causing him and the title he had given me. I took it as a compliment, but he was still a liar. “So, you’re telling me you, by happenstance, came to work for Chandler and it had nothing at all to do with me?”
“Heading up Chandler made it convenient, but I could have and would have come to Nashville, regardless.”
I nudged him with my elbow. “I don’t find your Greyson white lies charming anymore.”
He took my plate out of my hands and set it next to his before resting his hand on my unbruised cheek. “Kelli, can you please forget about Chandler and tell me how you feel?”
“Not until you admit you lied to me.”
He groaned. “I didn’t lie to you. When I met Gary last year, I had no idea that you worked for Chandler, but when I found out, I felt like maybe it was Kismet or something. Like the universe was giving me a second chance. And I meant what I said, your software idea is unique and challenging. I didn’t want to mix business with pleasure, I still don’t, but I want us to be together.”
I sighed. “Ian, you’re my boss and I’ve spent thirteen years wondering why you left me.”
His thumb glided across my cheek. “I’ll resign right now and then spend the rest of my life trying to undo the past.”
“Ian, it’s not that simple.”
“I know that. I’ve spent the last thirteen years trying to forgive myself for letting go of the best thing that ever happened to me.”
“You think I’m the best thing?”
He tucked some of my loose hair behind my ear. “I know you are.”
“Ian,” I breathed out and breathed him in. He was close enough to taste.
“Kelli,” he closed the gap, “tell me what you want.”
Oh, him.Wait. This was moving too fast. There was so much to talk about.
His lips skimmed mine.
Who needed to talk?
He pulled my legs across his lap. His lips pressed against mine, but this time he didn’t stop there. His tongue slid across my lips, parting my own. My sister was right. It was all in the kiss, and no one kissed like Ian. His hands did all the right things, running through my hair and gliding down my back, drawing me closer to him. When his mouth wasn’t entangled with mine, he was pressing gentle kisses down my neck and even on my bruised cheek, as if he could kiss the hurt away. It was helping. I felt nothing but him.
“I missed you,” I admitted between kisses.
“I missed you more,” he nuzzled my ear, sending shivers down my entire body.
“I think we’ve crossed the professional boundary line.”
“No, Kelli, this is all personal.”
I WOKE UP EARLY IN the afternoon laying in his arms after a long nap. The accident and residual pain medication were kicking my butt. Ian was peering into my eyes the second mine opened.
“I could get used to this.” He kissed my nose.
“Me too.” The contour of my body seemed to fit perfectly with his, like two puzzle pieces. Like he was my missing half. “But we need to talk about how we’ll make this work, and about your past.”
His jaw clenched.
“You don’t want to tell me about your ex-wife? Or Alexa?” I spewed her name.
“I fired her,” he snarled.
