He’s too attractive. Too magnetic. Too charming.
Too risky.
After the movie night, I need to put a healthy distance between the two of us. Being close to him is reckless.
Fuming, I punch the button to the elevator and wait impatiently. I grip the strap of my bag so tightmy knuckles ache as I try to get a hold of my breathing. Finally, the shiny silver doors slide open, and I stomp inside, smashing theLfor lobby.
A giant hand darts out, and the closing doors pop open again.
Bennett.
All muscles and swagger, his sandy waves falling perfectly across his brow.
Before I can stop him, he steps inside and leans casually against the back wall. Left knee propped up, arms folded across his broad chest. The doors glide shut and I huff out a breath, bangs feathering over my forehead.
“I can’t believe this shit.” I shake my head, muttering more to myself than to him.
Bennett cuts his deep blue eyes at me but stays silent.
I continue my rant. “I mean, what do I tell investors? That I’m staying down in Florida for the entire season? That my father needs me to handle his business for him? That the hockey team is more important than the hedge fund?” My trembling hands fly through the air, punctuating each question.
He stares at me calmly, listening.
I keep going. “I mean — I don’t get it. The hedge fund makes money. The hockey team loses money. Which is more important? Plus, I’m damn good at my job. Mangus can’t do what I do.”
Simmering anger bubbles inside me. “He’s treating me like I’m disposable. Like I’m not the reason the fund fucking exists.”
Hot tears spring to my eyes and I swipe them away quickly, before they have a chance to spill over and humiliate me further.
In one swift move, Bennett leans forward and hits theStop button on the elevator. The car lurches, grinding to a halt.
“Tori. Look at me.”
His voice is gruff, commanding. Heat flames my cheeks and I can’t bring myself to meet his gaze.
“Look. At. Me.” He repeats the words. Calm and controlled.
I take a quick breath, then glance up at him. He’s closer now, standing right beside me. The light scruff on his skin’s visible and he smells faintly of sweat with a trace of his alpine cologne. The scent sends my pulse into overdrive.
That and the heat radiating from his large, muscular body.
“Do you want me to let it go?” He arches a brow at the button and my breath hitches.
I bite my lip, stomach flip-flopping.
I should say yes.
Instead, I shake my head ‘no.’
He steps in closer still, his arms stretched out on either side of me, gripping the railing. My heart’s hammering so hard against my ribcage I’m positive he hears it. I can’t stop staring at his mouth, those full lips only inches from mine.
“You can do whatever you want. I don’t need you to babysit me.” His jaw ticks, the vein in his temple throbbing.
“Tell your dad to fuck off. Go back to New York, if that’s what you want to do.”
There’s a sharp edge to his voice I haven’t heard before. My eyes flick to his, his pupils dark and wide in the clear pools of his eyes.
Heat unfurls low in my belly, the air cracklingbetween us.
