Her jaw juts out, and she considers for another beat. “Don’t make me regret this.”
“Promise.” I lead us right back into a swaying rhythm, and we stay that way for a little while.
“You’re a good dancer,” she admits.
I smirk to myself because I know she’s about to smile. “I took ballroom dancing lessons when I was younger, my grandmother insisted.”
She bursts out with a beaming look. “I didn’t see that coming, but the lessons paid off.”
“Thanks. Plus, it helps that I have a partner who knows how to move.”
Her entire appearance turns sultry, and I’m completely in trouble. “I do know how to move.”
“This is a classy event,” I chide.
“It’s okay. The dynamic with my boss has thawed.” Her voice is neutral.
“I would say so.” I tip her to the side without warning and pull her back to me tightly. A new spark forms between us, only proven by the way she wraps her arms loosely around my shoulders and begins to play with the hair on the back of my neck. “Can I ask you something?”
“That seems to be the theme of the night, so yes.”
“Why haven’t you brought up the kiss?”
She looks away, nearly bashful, before her gaze shifts back to me. “Well… no need to, right? We were angry, and it seemed to diffuse the situation.”
I repeat my earlier move and tip her to the side, this time even farther back, before bringing her up flush with my body, leaving her no choice but to tie our gazes together and hang on to me to keep her balance. “Very true. I was unreasonable pissed.”
She chuffs a laugh. “Unreasonable is an understatement.”
“Maybe it’s good you haven’t brought it up. We’ve been able to maintain a professional relationship.”
“Right,” she clearly lies. “We might want to improve on that. Everyone can see us right now and might get the wrong impression.”
“It doesn’t matter what people think when it is perfectly harmless for a successful man to dance with his assistant if they have nothing to hide. We have company policies, after all. I’ve always followed them.” We continue to move. “Except…” Her eyes grow as she waits. “I’ve never been in a position to break them.” I’m surprised I didn’t keep that thought locked away. Her eyes change light, and I can’t make out what she’s thinking. “Maybe our method of communicating is borderline unprofessional, or the fact you’re here in myarms after I’ve seen you naked and kissed you is questionable, too.”
“Very,” she replies.
“Okay, we agree on that.” I want to be unprofessional, which makes me a horrible person because she deserves respect that comes with work experience, as she’ll be going places. She’s smart. But I’m entirely selfish. I’m addicted to her, with every jab striking me even further into an abyss I can’t escape.
“Julian…” She doesn’t say my name often, but when she does, it clings to me. “I don’t want to be one of those people who fall into an office judgment from people. I want to be respected for my work. Also, well, your company is clearing me of any financial debt. Adding this… hmmm, not sure what to call it?—”
I interrupt with honesty that we need to admit out loud. “Chemistry.”
“Exactly. Adding it to the mix has made it harder. Yet, I can’t seem to gravitate away from things. Hence, why I’m here.”
“Interesting.” I continue to lead her in a dance that’s disappeared into standing in place with a gentle sway. “And I’m not someone who appreciates the cliché rendezvous with their assistant. Yet, my compass won’t change direction.”
It’s a long few beats of stalemate at our joint realization. It’s a beast inside trying to rip open our barriers. She blows out a breath and averts her gaze. “Anyhow, I should probably go soon.”
“Makes sense. I’ll take you home.”
“Okay.”
The worst idea ever.
Savannah didn’t blink twicewhen a driver picked us up from valet. Being down to earth makes her even more attractive. The drive through the city is pure luck, with no traffic, and our conversation was like Lake Michigan on a still summer night, calm and quiet except for the occasional wave.
Truthfully, the most calming aspect of the night is sitting in the back and allowing my eyes to drift every so often to my side to see Savannah with my suit coat draped over her shoulders and her face eased, with a tiny, closed smile etched on her lips as she watches the city outside the window.
