"I'll say," I quip as I tug my phone from the front pocket of my pants. "I'll call for a car. Don't worry. I won't follow behind in the shadows."
"I know you won't," she says, her voice a more even tone. "You're not up to the chase."
"Challenge accepted." I look her dead in the eye. "I want you, Sophia. Don't expect me to give up easily."
A small smile ghosts her lips. "Surprise me, then, Nicholas. Prove me wrong."
"I intend to." I lean forward to kiss her forehead. "I'm a better man than you think I am. I'm also persistent when I see something I want."
She opens her mouth to say something but I stop her with a quick kiss to her lips.
"I'll give you a head start." I move to grab her coat from the chair I placed it on when she arrived. "Then the chase is on."
"You seriously think you can catch me?"
I move behind her to help her with her coat. "I will catch you. This thing between us is too strong to ignore. We will happen. Mark my words."
She turns quickly on her heel, her eyes raking me from head-to-toe. "We'll see. I'll find my own way home tonight."
With that she scoops up her purse, tosses her hair behind her shoulders and walks out of my apartment without a single glance back.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Sophia
I admitthat I want him to work for it, even if it's just a little bit. I was tempted to give in when Nicholas was kissing me. My body was screaming at me to let him inch his fingers up the skirt of my dress so he could feel my arousal, but I stopped it. I had to. If I would have slept with him last night, I doubt I'd be sitting at my desk now staring at the dozen light violet roses that were delivered this morning.
I knew instantly that they were from him. I didn't even have to open the card that was attached to the bouquet, but I did.
Thank you for last night, Sophia. Nicholas. xx
"Those are beautiful." Gabriel stops at my desk on his way into his office. "Would it be out of line if I asked if those were from Nicholas Wolf?"
It wouldn't be. Our relationship has slowly morphed from being strictly business to having faint touches of friendship woven into it. It's the main reason I agreed to go to the booksigning when Isla, Gabriel's wife, asked me to. She told me that she planned to go herself but Gabriel's brothers Caleb and Asher decided to throw him a pre-birthday surprise dinner party. She had to be there, so I ventured out to the signing in her place.
I may have to thank her for that since that's the night I met Nicholas.
"They're from him." I tuck the card into my palm to shield the words from Gabriel's view.
He bends down to smell one of the perfectly symmetrical blossoms. "He has excellent taste in flowers and women."
The compliment is unexpected and I fumble in my mind with what to say in response. "Thank you, sir."
"Tomorrow is the last Friday of the month, Sophia." He stands upright, his left hand reaching to adjust the lapel of his jacket. "That means you can leave at noon for the weekend."
I've kept a close eye on the calendar and on Mr. Foster to see if he'd remember the promise he made. "Thank you again. It's with pay, right?"
"That it is."
I nod as he turns to walk back toward his office. When he's completely out of view, I fish my phone from the purse hanging on the coatrack near my desk. I open it and scroll through my contact list until I land on his name. Then I type out a quick text message.
The flowers are beautiful, Nicholas. Thank you.
I reach to drop my phone back into my purse when I hear the faint chime that signals a new message.
They pale in comparison to you. (Cheesy, I know.) Do you want to play the piano tomorrow? Say at seven?
I bite my bottom lip while I consider the invitation. I told him I wanted him to chase me and he is but if I walk back into that apartment so soon, I know I'll end up beneath him in his bed. Besides, I do have somewhere I need to be tomorrow night.
