A pained expression crosses his handsome face, and I know I’ve lost him. “All the rubbing and touching of our bodies behind the bar—it has to stop. I’m your boss, and you're ten years younger than me.”
I take a deep breath, pushing the pain aside. I didn’t get this far in life by giving up at the first sign of defeat. “Why do we have to stop?” I ask, not even denying that the touching was intentional.
He snaps his head toward me, his eyes drilling into mine. “Because if we don’t stop, I’m going to be buried nine inches deep into your sweet little pussy until we’re both seeing stars.”
Oh my.
“Would that be so bad?” I watch the turmoil cross his face. I see the moment he decides to surrender to the passion, and it shows on his features just as he steps toward me, grabs my hips, and lifts me onto his desk. He pushes my knees apart, causing myskirt to bunch around my waist, leaving my green lace panties exposed to his gaze as he takes one final step, eating up the space between us, and presses his jean-covered cock against the soaked lace.
“Is this what you want?” He grips my hips harder as he grinds the hard bulge in his pants against my core before his lips crash down on mine.
The kiss is wild and erratic, just like my heartbeat. His tongue slides over my lips, demanding access. I open with a moan as his tongue takes over my mouth, touching every part. I wrap my legs around his waist, pulling him tighter against me as I arch my back, my tongue matching his stroke for stroke.
“Fuck, Lainey. You feel so good.” His hands slide away from my hips as one slips under my t-shirt and over my bra, his thumb rubbing over my lace-covered nipple, while his other hand dips between our bodies until two fingers are pushing my panties aside, teasing my entrance, dipping the tip in before pulling back out.
The sound of the office door opening doesn’t register until Dean is pulling away from me and spinning around to block my body from view of the intruders. It takes my lust-clouded brain a few seconds to realize we have company.
“What the hell are you doing in here, Wilder?” Dean’s voice sounds more animal than human as he growls at Wilder and Aspen, who I just noticed is standing behind Wilder.
I can’t catch a break. The best moment of my life is interrupted by a horny mountain man and his fiancée.
three
Dean
“Sorry, man. I didn’tthink you and Lainey would still be in here talking. Besides, the sign wasn’t flipped to occupied.” Wilder tucks Aspen against his side, pulling her into my office.
I feel Lainey shifting off the desk behind me before moving around to stand next to me. Jealousy bubbles up inside of me, watching Wilder and Aspen interact. The difference in their age is the same as Lainey and me. But Wilder is fun and outgoing. He makes Aspen happy. I know I don’t share those same qualities. I’m grumpy and set in my ways. I’ll never make anyone happy. It’s better to make a clean break with Lainey instead of leading her on.
“No, we’re not done talking, and I shouldn’t have to flip the sign to occupied when I’m using it.” All these damn horny mountain men using my office as their personal sex room have finally pushed me to my breaking point. I shouldn’t have to sanitize my office every time I actually use it for work. I don’t even want to imagine shining a black light in this room.
“No problem. My bride has promised to kiss my Blarney Stone once we get home anyway.” Wilder kisses Aspen’s lips as she swats his chest. The sickeningly sweet scene is just too much.
“She’s not your bride yet,” I snap, sounding like a jerk for pointing out a small detail that honestly doesn’t even matter.
Unfazed by my rude behavior, Wilder continues, “Only a few more weeks and she will be.” He gazes into Aspen’s eyes as if she’s the only woman in the world, making my hands itch to punch him in the jaw.
“Oh, speaking of brides, Lainey, you finally got a match on the dating side of my Mail Order Bride site.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Lainey stiffen beside me. “Um, about that.” Aspen cuts her off before she can finish and begins listing all the date night options.
“Oh, I hope it won’t be too awkward, but you’re matched with Dean’s brother, Dawson.” Aspen shifts her gaze between Lainey and me.
Was I wrong about Lainey wanting me? Was all the rubbing and touching really just innocent? And the almost kiss from New Year’s Eve, was that only a friendly kiss to ring in the new year with a co-worker?
It had to have been. I’m such a fool. She wouldn’t have signed up for a dating website if she were truly interested in me. “Nope, no problem at all. It’s not like Dawson is her boss or anything. He might help out at the bar every once in a while, but his main focus is the lumber company.” I don’t take my eyes off where Wilder and Aspen are standing. I can’t—I can’t bear to see the look in Lainey’s eyes while she’s thinking about going on a date with my brother.
“Okay, then, Lainey, stop by my office tomorrow, and we can finish the paperwork while you pick out a date night package.” Aspen gives a little wave before Wilder leads her out of my office, leaving Lainey and me alone.
Still not looking at Lainey, I walk toward the open door, “I’m sorry about what happened in here. I see now that the touchingand rubbing were all a misunderstanding.” I pause with my hand on the doorknob. “What happened in here won’t happen again. I hope you and Dawson hit it off. He deserves someone as sweet and generous as you.” With that, I walk out of my office, leaving Lainey to trail after me to finish her shift.
Everything I said about her and Dawson hitting it off is true—they are perfect for each other.
Then why does my heart hurt at the thought of the two of them together, enjoying a future that should have been mine?
four
Lainey
