He pulled her closer, into a tight hug, burying his face in her neck. “I love you, too.”
They stayed like that for a while, holding each other, whispering “I love you” over and over again. For the first time in days, he felt settled.
Finally, Paige pulled away. But he tugged her forward and kissed her. Like many times before, the kiss quickly turned into more—moretongue,moreteeth,moremoans. He backed her toward the kitchen table. Because he knew he wouldn’t make it to the bedroom.
Gripping her waist, he lifted her and set her on top of the table. He lowered her back, untying the belt on her dress along the way.
“Drew?” she moaned, unbuckling his belt. “Oh. Oh no!”
Andrew jumped up, stepping back a few steps. “What?”
“We can’t.” Paige let out a low groan before she sat up and pulled her dress closed. “There’s something I need to tell you.”
Uh-oh. Andrew backed away a few more steps. “What is it?”
“It’s about me firing you.”
The fact that she’d fired him hadn’t even crossed his mind. He’d been too focused on her, on them together. He’d assumed he was reinstated in all ways when they made up. “What about it?” he asked.
Paige averted her gaze, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “Um, so I regret the way I fired you. Can you forgive me?”
His shoulders fell and he inched closer to her again. “Of course.” He bent down to kiss her, but she turned away, causing him to connect with her cheek—not her lips. Pulling back, he scratched the back of his head. “Paige, just say it.”
Paige met his gaze again, a worried look in her eyes. “You’re still fired.”
Andrew blinked.That’s not how I imagined this conversation going. “Why?”
She slid off the table and stepped into him. “Although I regret how I did it, I realized it was the right thing to do. I talked to Xavier and he agreed that Vonda should represent me.”
Frowning, he wondered when she had a chance to talk to X, and why X hadn’t told him. “When?”
“This morning,” she admitted. “You have been the best agent that I could have ever had. But if we’re going to do this?” She motioned back and forth between them. “We have to concentrate on us. We can’t do that if you’re still my agent.”
Admittedly, the thought had crossed his mind many times since they’d started seeing each other. His problem was that he could never bring himself to walk away from her—in any capacity—so he’d never broached the subject. But Paige was right. It would be best for them in the long run.
Grabbing his hands and holding them against her chest, she said, “Please tell me you understand?”
Nodding, he rested his forehead against hers. “I do.”
“I want to be with you. Not as your client, but as your lover, your friend, your heart.”
He brushed his lips over hers, cradling her head in his hands. “I love you.” Closing his mouth over hers, he tilted his head and deepened the kiss.Damn, this woman . . .
With each brush of her lips to his, with every soft moan, she was taking him apart and putting him back together again. She was so soft, so warm . . .so mine. She tasted like cinnamon and apples, sex and love. He was drowning in her and had no desire to come up for air.
Opening her dress again, he pushed it off and lifted her in his arms. “Where do you want to go?” he breathed, nipping at her shoulders, her neck, her chin, and finally her lips.
“Anywhere,” she murmured against his mouth. “As long as I’m with you.”
He met her gaze again, searched her eyes. “You know what you’re saying, right?”
“Absolutely.” She kissed him again. “Now stop talking and do me.”
Andrew laughed, carrying her to his La-Z-Boy, plopping down on it with her astride him. “Nah, I think I wantyouto do me.”
Wrapping her arms around his neck, she winked. “My pleasure.”
One month later
