Page 74 of My Favorite Boss

She left, and it made me laugh to realize I hated that she did.

I was truly fucked.

Chapter Sixteen

MAGNOLIA

Iwas anxious by the time Bane texted me to say he was on the way. When he knocked on the door a short time later, I let him in, my nerves kicking into high gear.

“Hi,” I said.

He stepped in. “Ready?”

“Are you sure you want me to come stay with you?”

He studied me for a moment, then came closer, cupping my cheek. “Totally.”

“Are you, ah, is everything okay?”

He pulled me against him, threading his fingers through my hair and kissing me. I gasped at the intensity of his caress, his tongue entering my mouth with no hesitation and taking control. He kissed me until I was breathless, grasping his shoulders for support. His erection was trapped between us, and he ground it against me.

“Doesn’t that feel as if everything is okay?” he murmured into my ear. “I want you, Myers. I want you in my space. My bed. If you don’t want that, tell me and I’ll go.”

“I do. I was worried…”

“I’m fine,” he assured me with a droll wink. “And I’ve learned my lesson. No condoms, no sneak attacks.”

“I’m sorry,” I whispered.

He stroked my face. “No apologies needed. It’s done. Now, we move forward. And I want to enjoy a couple of days with you, just being Alex and Magnolia. Okay?”

“Okay.”

“Great. I’ll get your bag, and we’ll start.”

BANE

We held hands in the car, Myers—Magnolia—staring out the window as we slowly drove to my condo in the heavy late-afternoon Friday traffic. She was quiet, seemingly lost in thought. I stared at her profile, noting the delicate point of her chin, how tiny her earlobes were. The little mass of freckles behind the one turned in my direction. I would have to investigate both thoroughly when we were alone.

“Amazing how long it takes to get from my place to yours, even though we’re really not that far apart,” she mused. “I could probably power walk it faster.”

“As long as your lumberjack outfit wasn’t tripping you up.”

She giggle-snorted. “Whatever, Bane.”

I tugged her from the window, wrapping my arm around her and kissing her sweet mouth. “Alex,” I admonished. “We’re Alex and Magnolia.”

“Alex,” she repeated, her voice breathless.

I bent and captured her mouth, kissing her until we were both dizzy. I wasn’t sure I would ever be able to kiss her enough. Her mouth was a temptation I couldn’t resist. She was a temptation I didn’t want to resist anymore.

Darryl pulled up to the building, clearing his throat. “Have a good weekend, sir.”

I slid from the car, taking Magnolia’s hand and grabbing her bag. “See you Monday.”

“Of course.”

In the condo, Magnolia looked around, still curious. I carried her bag to the bedroom, changing into more casual attire. I found her in the kitchen, peeking into cupboards. I sat on one of the stools, watching her.