Knock-knock-knock.
Her eyes flew open as the employee from reception walked in. Though Dakota acknowledged her, he didn’t stop rubbing Providence’s neck.
“Excuse me, Dakota. Your mail, along with a client gift.” She set the items on his desk and left, shutting the door behind her.
Dakota broke away to make a call, and Providence sat across his desk to finish her coffee. As he spoke with the land developer, his gaze never left hers. The more she stared at him, the more she liked what she saw. The electricity that passed between them was palpable, undeniable, and so damn magnetic.
The gift basket perched on his desk had been wrapped in clear cellophane and Providence pulled it onto her lap. Someone had sent him a collection of brightly colored tiny plastic bears.What is this?
At first glance, she thought someone had sent him candy, but the plastic bears were vials of liquid nicotine. There were two dozen tiny bears in a variety of different flavors, a vaping kit, and three vials of clear liquid.
What a strange gift to send your broker.
When Dakota ended the call, he pushed out of his seat and sat beside her. “What’s that?”
“Someone sent you a vaping kit.” She pointed to the gummy bears. “Those are liquid nicotine.”
He grimaced. “That’s a gift I’ll never use. You want it?”
“God, no. I quit smoking. This is the last thing I need.”
“Who’s it from?”
She handed him the basket. “I don’t see a card.”
After removing the cellophane and finding nothing, he read one of the labels on a bear. “It’s marked very strong.” He tapped a button on his phone console.
“Yes, sir.”
“Who dropped off the gift basket?”
“A courier. I didn’t even have to sign for it.”
“Which company?”
“Sorry, I was on the phone. I didn’t see and he didn’t leave a receipt.”
Dakota hung up and checked the surveillance system. “He’s got on a baseball cap and he kept his head down.”
Providence acknowledged the footage with a nod.
Dakota checked the basket again. “I’ve never gotten a client gift without a card. A vaping kit with liquid nicotine makes no sense.”
“No, it doesn’t. Check your mail for another blackmail letter.”
He thumbed through the pile. “There’s nothing. I can’t believe they’d give up this easily.”
She shook her head. “I wouldn’t let my guard down.”
“Hell, no.” He stood and held out his hand. “Thanks for your patience. Let’s get outa here.” She placed her hand in his and he pulled her out of the chair and into his arms.
But he did not kiss her.
And she did not kiss him.
She should have put on the brakes on the physical contact. She could have pushed him away. She could have told him to stop. Now, would have been the perfect opportunity to set hard limits.
But she didn’t do any of those. She just let the desire build to a dizzying crescendo as they stared into each other’s eyes. The attraction pinging between them sent her rocketing to the moon.
