Chapter 3
Chapter Three
brONTE
I fix my gaze on the front door of Marcus's office. Why did he have to pick this spot? I have always thought it would make the perfect office space for a lawyer. It’s tucked away nicely in the center of town, but the front windows face outside so you can see people as they pass by. It’s also right next to the bakery. The idea of popping in each morning on my walk into work had me daydreaming of making it a reality. It’s like he climbed inside my imagination to make it come true. Only Marcus can’t seem to get it exactly right.
The blinds are closed on all the windows, and even the glass on the door is covered. I’m sure they might need to be closed when there are clients visiting, but why is it shut so tightly right now? Being locked down like this means no one can get the tiniest peek inside.
I pull at the collar of my cardigan. Today it’s pink with hearts on it to go with the dress I’d gotten for Valentine's. It’s not Valentine's yet, but I wanted to wear it nonetheless. I wonder what Marcus will think of it. I huff, annoyed with my own thoughts of him.
This is a bad idea. I shouldn’t have come, but here I am. Marcus has some kind of strange pull that always lures me to him. I tried to get away from him when I moved out of the city, but then, poof! He appeared right around the corner, and now there’s no escaping him. I need to suck it up and face this situation head on. I can be an adult! I stiffen my shoulders before pulling open the front door and stepping inside.
"I thought I was going to have to come and get you." I let out a scream as the lights flicker on.
"For cheesecakes! You almost scared my soul out of my body." I glare at him. "You won't get it that easily."
When I bring my hand to my chest, I can feel my racing heart. It’s definitely because he scared me and not because he's so handsome. Always so dang handsome. It's maddening, really, and for half a second I wonder if he sleeps in his suits.
“I always get what I’m after.” A slow, sexy smile plays on his lips. It’s wicked, and he knows it. Worse, my body knows it.
“Well, with the fees you charge, I would hope so.” I raise my chin. “I would think you’d also be able to keep the lights on too.”
“Easy, teapot. I only just got here.”
His response has me wondering where he lives. This is a small town, and I know all the houses. At least I think I do. I was gone for a few years, but there’s not exactly a lot of new construction.
“Where’s my office? I’d like to set up.” I tap the giant bag I have on my shoulder. It’s freaking heavy, and I want to put it down.
“Does that thing weigh more than you?” Marcus tries to take the bag from me, but I have a death grip on the strap. “Are you sure you want to play already, teapot?”
“I’m not playing anything.” Or am I? I’m starting to wonder myself. I could let his comments roll off me like water off a Maine Coon's back (I’ve heard their fur is water resistant), but for some reason I can't help myself. Marcus pulls at the bag, making me fall right into him. I should step back, but this feels like a challenge. “What are you doing?”
“I want the bag, but you won’t let go. It seems you leave me no choice.”
What does that mean? My inner thought is answered when Marcus lifts me right off my feet.
“Ah!” I squeal, and then I’m unable to form words. “You, you, um...” I struggle to think of a name to call him, feeling too flustered with my body pressed into his. The man is hard all over and smells so good.
“Do you have something you want to call me, teapot?” he asks as he carries me toward an open door. “I can give you a few options. How about ‘lover’?” I scoff and roll my eyes, pretending to be annoyed. “Okay, what about ‘husband’?”
“What?” I whisper, and my body stills. Did he really say that?
“You heard me.” He puts me back on my feet. “Welcome to our office.”
Marcus pushes my glasses back up my nose for me, and I have to force myself to ignore what he wants me to call him. And what he makes me feel.
Glancing around the room, I raise my chin stubbornly. "Do you need help moving your belongings out of here?"
"Oh, teapot. You should know better than anyone that the devil is in the details. You said you wanted my office. Now it's yours.” He smirks. " And mine."
Marcus sets my bag down on the desk, and I’m so discombobulated that I didn’t realize he slipped it right off of me. Then my pink pen holder that has dancing hippos on it rolls out of the bag.
“Are you sure you want to do this?” I cross my arms over my chest in a challenge of my own.
I’m not above designing the entire office in pink and red, which incidentally are my two favorite colors, just to annoy him. Some people think the colors don’t go together, but they're dead wrong. I could toss a few pillows on the couch up against the far wall and maybe one of my knitted blankets. Once the windows are uncovered, I think some curtains would be lovely.
“There’s nothing else in this world I’d rather do.” He says it with an intensity that makes me press my lips together. I’d squeeze my thighs together too, but I don’t want him to see what he does to me.
“Maybe we should go over sexual harassment in the workplace. Did you miss that part of law school?”
It’s a stupid comment because I already know he attended an Ivy League school and subsequently clerked for a Supreme Court justice.
“I might need a refresher. Care to show me?”
He leans up against the desk and picks up my pen holder. He sets it upright on the desk before he takes out a gold pen from an inner pocket of his suit jacket and drops it inside. Something about the act is oddly sweet, and it pulls at my heartstrings.
“I think we should get to work,” I say and walk past him.
I’m trying to distract myself from thinking about sexual things with Marcus as I pull items out of my bag. I can’t show him crap when it comes to sexy stuff. I know he teases me, and I’m not blind to the little bit of flirting in there too, but if he knew I’d never even been kissed, he’d be laughing and running for the hills. Maybe I should tell him. The douse of cold reality might shut all of this down so we can work professionally.
“If you say so, teapot.” He doesn’t move as he watches me unpack.
“Are we sharing this desk?” I don’t look at him as I ask the question.
“Yes.”
“Fine.” I try my best to conceal my features and give him nothing.
I ran from Marcus because of the way my body responds to being so close to him. Now I’ll be closer to him than ever before. There’s no way this isn’t going to end badly.