“How can he expect his employees to work through lunch on an empty stomach. If there’s too much work to eat, then he needs to hire you an assistant.”
My hackles went ape shit. “I don’t just buzz my boss whenever I want to.” I narrowed my eyes. “And I already have a very capable assistant. If you must know, I don’t need my boss’ permission to go on lunch because I do a damn good job of managing this place and I decide if I go on lunch or not.” I ranted, annoyance turning down the corners of my mouth.
“So, it’s a won’t then?” He cocked a brow.
Shit.He’d neatly hoodwinked me, and I fell, like an idiot. Before I could respond, he pushed away from the door, neared my desk and dropped into the chair opposite me.
“W—what are you doing?” I floundered.
His shoulders lifted in a shrug. “If you can’t make it right now, I’ll just sit here until you can.”
Horrified, I gaped at him, trying to think up every plausible reason why him in my office wasn’t a good idea. Closing my eyes, I took a moment to breathe. And when I opened them again, he was watching me intently. His eyes dropping from mine to my lips, currently stuck between my teeth then lowering further down to the visible cleavage I hadn’t really worried about before. Men gaped now and then when I wore this sexy black number, courtesy of Paris’ reimaging of my wardrobe a year ago. Those men, however, never bothered me as much as this man. With his quiet air of authority, thick full lips curved in a hint of a smile, and silent appraisal, he was a force you couldn’t ignore.
“Why do you want to have lunch with me?”
He blinked, letting his eyes find mine again. “Why not.” That annoyingly sexy brow shot up again. There was just no winning with him then he added, “to catch up. Get to know the new Blue. The mother, the manager, the fiancée.”
I sensed no sarcasm and while he sounded genuine, I picked up on an underlying wistfulness he was trying to hide. Or maybe he was just showing me a hint of what he wanted me to see. Another hoodwink perhaps.
Give the guy a break, Skye.
“Fine. But I choose where we go?”
He stood. “Always, Blue.”
God, why did he have to remind me just how sweet he was to me. Since I was old enough to talk, he’d always let me choose what game we played, what food we ate, what movie we watched. Not once had he chosen for me unless I was too sick to move.
Avoiding his gaze, I grabbed my purse and walked to the door. All the way to the elevator, I felt his eyes on me and heat crept slowly through my veins. Conscious of the tight fit of the dress, the mid-thigh length, black lace, scalloped trim and open back that prevented me wearing a bra, I had to concentrate hard on putting one foot in front of the other or fall.
Inside the silver cubicle, the space suddenly felt very tight. The warmth of his body pressing in on me, sent goosebumps scattering along my skin. His soft even breaths reminded me of a comfort I’d missed. His potent scent brought an influx of memories I was trying hard not to recall.
When I hit the fifth-floor button, he touched my arm lightly. His soft laugh told me he’d noticed my shiver. “I thought we were going to lunch?”
“We are,” I replied lifting my gaze to meet his soft smile.
Okay, I seriously needed to stop looking at him or risk begging him to kiss me, to fuck me, to do just about anything to me. Hard sell even for me. I was in such a hurry to get away from him, that when the doors opened, I stumbled in my haste. Shay’s hand sliding around my stomach saved me, but it also brought his face close to mine.
“I didn’t forget, Blue. In an hour, Iwillbe buried deep inside of you, feeling your slick pussy throb around my cock, as you scream my name—”
“What?” Shock jerked me out of his hold.
His lips curved in a smirk. “If your panties are wet, we could do dessert first, then lunch?”
Okay what happened to the gentleman in my office barely a moment ago. Not meaning to, I glanced at my watch.
He missed nothing. “You still got time.” He winked.
Half tempted to leave him there and go back downstairs, I straightened my shoulders and walked away, his soft laugh following me. I entered the large reception where an elegantly attired maître d' stood waiting to receive guests.
“Ah, Miss Logan, so good to see you again.” He came around the desk to kiss both my cheeks. “Table for two?” he asked, greeting Shay with a nod.
“Yes, Andre,” I replied before he led the way.
The restaurant, tastefully embellished in black and white décor, hosted a fair-sized dance floor in the middle of the room and circled by the tables seated on a raised platform two steps up. A band played soft melodies behind a thin silk curtain on an elevated stage on one side of the room. Large picture windows encased the entire restaurant and gave the diner a magnificent view of the ocean and various other parts of Blue Haven.
After Shay held out the seat for me, I expected him to move to the one opposite me. Instead, he took the one next to me. Forcing myself to breathe evenly, I looked at the menu. Thankfully, he gave me a few minutes of silence until a waiter appeared without being summoned.
While we placed our orders, Shay asked, “share a bottle of wine with me?”
