Keeley #3
When I reached for the bag, Miller stopped me. “I’ve got it, darlin’. Spencer and me’ll walk y’all to your car.”
I nodded and pressed my lips into a tight smile. I was trying to run from them, and now they wanted to walk me to the car? Great. Just great.
Spencer wrapped the blanket over Hannah’s shoulders and she nuzzled into me, still a dead weight in my arms. By the time we reached the other side of the mansion, my arms were on fire.
Hannah was too big to be carried around like this now, but she hated the stroller.
I stopped and adjusted my hold on her before realizing my car keys were in my pocket and I couldn’t get them out.
“Shit,” I mumbled and quickened my pace.
“Keels, you okay?” Spencer asked.
I gave a quick nod and breathed a sigh of relief when I saw that my Jeep wasn’t blocked in.
“Keys?” Miller asked.
“My pocket,” I groaned, then tried to move Hannah again without waking her.
He stopped me, then shifted so he stood behind me and slid his hands along my hips to my front pockets.
He eased his fingers inside and scooped out my keys.
But all I could focus on was his heat at my back, his hardness against my ass, and the way he moved, so confident and without an ounce of hesitation.
I closed my eyes and leaned back against him just for a moment.
I couldn’t help it, even though I knew it was a terrible idea.
I couldn’t encourage him as much as I couldn’t take it for myself.
He was a player, I was in management. He was not someone I should be hooking up with.
The unlocking of the doors had me tensing, but instead of pulling away, Miller tugged me closer.
He nuzzled my ear and squeezed my hips. I sucked in a breath, and my pussy clenched.
Spencer opened the passenger side doors, then stepped forward, bracketing my front, and took the bag from Miller.
He placed it on the front seat and unwrapped Hannah’s blanket so I could ease her into her car seat.
Once I got her strapped in, Spencer handed me the blanket so I could cover her up.
“Thank you,” I whispered and closed the door gently.
“Y’all know what? I stand corrected,” Miller said.
I furrowed my brows, trying to think back on what he’d said to be wrong about.
“A dozen Texas roses pale in comparison to you.”
I huffed out an embarrassed laugh and pulled back, putting the hood of my car between us. Spencer nodded and murmured, “Night, Keels,” before they waited for me to get in. Once I had my seatbelt strapped on, Spencer leaned in through the still-open passenger door and added, “Drive safe.”
“I will. Goodnight.”
I pulled out and fanned myself as I watched them watch me drive away. Holy hell, that was… so hot. I’d never experienced chemistry like it. I wanted more. I wanted it all.
Damn it.
I exhaled heavily and concentrated on the road. Tonight would have to live in my fantasies. Anything more was impossible.
***
“Come in,” I said when there was a knock at my door. Alison stepped inside with the biggest bunch of yellow roses I’d ever seen in a pretty blue box that reminded me of sunshine and blue skies. Each flower was the size of my fist, and they were still tightly closed.
“These came for you.”
“Wow. They’re gorgeous. Thanks for bringing them in.”
She set them down on my desk and hovered, touching the cellophane with her fingertips. “There’s a note. Are you going to open it?”
“Yes.” I smiled and looked toward the door.
“Urgh,” she groaned and walked out of my office, not bothering to close the door after herself.
I plucked the envelope out of the flowers and leaned back in my chair.
The card was thick pure white linen, and the handwriting was looping. It reminded me of open plains and a slow drawl. I grinned when I read it.
Y’all didn’t believe me. But I was right. You're prettier than a dozen Texas roses.
My heart skipped a beat, and my cheeks heated.
I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face. I pressed the card to my chest and allowed myself to swoon.
Just for a moment. Then I slid it into my purse.
I moved the flowers so they would be in my line of sight when I was typing.
I pretended to work, but all I could focus on were the roses.
I inhaled the delicate scent and swooned again. They really were beautiful.
“Ahoy-hoy,” Rune said as he stuck his head in. “Are you ready for our meeting?”
“I am. Come in.”
He walked in and shut the door. “Those are beautiful.”
“They are,” I agreed.
“Good to see you smiling like that. He must be pretty special.”
“Oh, it’s no one.” I waved him off. “We’ve only just met.”
“Mmm-hmm. But sometimes that's all it takes to know.” He flushed, and a sweet grin played on his lips. He was spot-on, even more so than he realized. But I needed to nip this in the bud and fast—before I found myself in deep shit.
The last thing the team needed was more scandal, and I needed my job.
Rune sat down and relaxed back in my visitor chair. “That's why I'm here. I wanted to talk to you about, ah… my relationship. I was hoping we could hash out a plan.”