Chapter Three #2
I can’t stop staring, enthralled not just by her beauty but by her heart.
“I think it’s inspiring, what you want to do.
” And the man by her side when she fulfills her dreams will be one lucky SOB.
“Not for me, because been there, done that… the family and marriage thing, but I’m sure it can work for the right couple.
” I shrug, realizing I admitted way too much.
“I hope you find what you’re looking for,” I say, meaning it.
She glances down, her gaze sweeping over her watch on her wrist. “Oh! It’s time to pick up Bailey.” She crumples the napkin beside her and picks up her cup as she rises to her feet.
I stand, joining her as we toss our half-finished drinks in the trash. We head to the car and I beat her there, opening the passenger door before she can grab the handle herself.
I turn back, and she stops short. I catch her before she bumps into me, grasping her around the waist and pulling her close. She sucks in a surprised breath but doesn’t back away, her face inches from mine. Her mouth so damned close.
I know better, I really do, but I am tired of denying myself what I want and my body is definitely on board. I wait for a sign she isn’t right there with me. If she pulls back or jerks away, I’ll apologize, and we’ll move forward from there. Instead, she sways toward me, sealing her fate.
I grasp her waist, anchoring myself by touching her, the soft sweater doing little to hide her slender body or delicate curves.
I tip my head, sliding my tongue across her lips, and with a soft moan, she parts her mouth and lets me inside.
She tastes of vanilla and coffee, a sweet flavor that is all Mia.
Our tongues touch, tangle, and my body comes alive with a hunger I haven’t known before.
She raises her arms, hands coming to my biceps, holding on for a brief second before she gives in and wraps her arms around me, pulling me close, giving me all the excuse I need to deepen the kiss. I tilt my head and consume her, swirling my tongue around the farther recesses of her mouth.
I have no wall, no car door to push her against, which is a good thing because I wouldn’t be able to control myself if I crushed my body against hers.
The kiss will have to do, and it goes on, me lost in the scent of her, the way her breasts crush against my chest, and the feel of her silken tongue rubbing against my own.
I bite down gently on her lower lip, and she moans into my mouth, the sound going straight to my dick.
“Get a room!” someone calls out, breaking the spell that came over me and caused me to kiss her in a parking lot like we were alone in my garage.
She lifts her head, and I touch my forehead to hers, needing time to catch my breath. It will be awhile before my body calms down, my dick hard and erect in my pants.
“I should apologize,” I say, not letting go of her waist. “I don’t want to, but I should. Because I’m your boss, and I don’t want you to feel taken advantage of. Or sue me for sexual harassment, God forbid.” I laugh, but the thought isn’t the least bit funny.
“It was mutual,” she whispers. “I just don’t know what to make of it. I’ve never crossed that line with an employer before.” Her voice trembles, and I hate that I put that quiver there.
“Listen,” I begin.
“No. That kiss shouldn’t have happened, and there won’t be a repeat. It’s fine.” She ducks past me and slides into the car. “Let’s just forget about it,” she says, reaching for the handle so she can pull the door shut and seal herself inside.
I step back, giving her space, but my body and mind still buzz from that simple kiss. There is something brewing between us that she can’t discount by pretending it never happened. Something that will bring us together again.
It isn’t like I don’t still have concerns about sleeping with my kid’s nanny. I do. I just know the desire between us is stronger than our common sense, and sooner or later, she’ll come to the same conclusion.
Still, for now, I’ll respect her wishes and back off. But I’m not foolish enough to think we can avoid the inevitable.
Not anymore.
* * *
Mia
I am shaken by what happened with Austin in the parking lot.
I didn’t see that kiss coming, no matter how much I might have desired it, and now that we crossed that line, I don’t know what to say or do except to pretend it never happened.
The hottest, most sensual kiss of my life, and I have to put it behind me.
I can’t let my mind drift into memories of how his mouth captured mine, gently at first, his tongue gliding over my lips, his tongue tangling with mine, and then it turned molten, his teeth nipping at my lip, the sensation traveling straight to my core.
No, I’m not supposed to think about that at all.
Somehow, I manage that feat for the rest of the week. Tomorrow is Friday. I blow out a breath and pull a lasagna from the oven, placing it on a cooling rack on the counter.
“Mia!” Bailey shouts, running into the kitchen from upstairs and skidding to a stop in front of me. “I was FaceTiming with Grandma and guess what? I’m going there for a sleepover tomorrow night!”
I smile at the enthusiasm in her tone. “That sounds like fun.”
“Will you miss me?” Bailey asks, seating herself on a stool by the counter.
I glance at the little girl. “You bet I will, but I’m going out with some friends tomorrow night, so that’ll help me get through it.” I am taking the train to New York City to see friends from my days living there for school and work.
“Like a playdate?” Bailey asks.
“Exactly.”
“Hi, ladies.” Austin walks into the room, his gaze zeroing in on the cooling dinner. “That smells incredible.”
“Thank you.” He seems to like my cooking, and it makes me ridiculously happy to know I am doing something helpful for him, even if it is my job.
“Daddy, Mia has a playdate Friday night when I’m at Grandma and Grandpa’s. Isn’t that good? So she won’t have time to miss me too much.”
Although I’m technically off Friday nights, if I don’t go out, Bailey sometimes makes her way down to my room and encourages me to watch television with her until bedtime.
“What’ll you do when I’m gone?” the precocious little girl asks.
“I’m sure I’ll find something to keep me busy,” Austin says wryly.
I don’t want to think about what Austin might do to keep busy on a Friday night without his daughter.
No doubt the man has women he sees discreetly, because in the time I’ve been working for him, he’s never brought a female around Bailey nor has he mentioned going out.
He hasn’t dressed up in the evenings for a date, either.
Still, that doesn’t mean he is celibate.
Hell, his kissing skills are off the charts, and that kind of thing takes practice. Doesn’t it?
I glance over, noting he wears his typical hanging-around-the-house outfit, black track pants and a tee shirt, and I have trouble tearing my gaze away from those muscular arms and, in particular, the one sleeve of tattoos.
God, the man is sexy. And although I know it is my imagination, I think he’s gotten more so since our kiss and my vow to forget it happened.
It is as if the heavens are punishing me by making him look even hotter and more edible.
“So what kind of playdate do you have, Mia?” Austin asks, a handsome grin on his face as he settles into his chair at the table.
I frown at his inquiry, not wanting to get into my personal life when I am trying to keep a professional distance from him.
Still, this is an easy question in front of Bailey. “I’m having dinner with friends.”
“Female friends?” he asks, surprising me.
“Friends from my city days,” I say vaguely, if only because it really is none of his business. If we are going to keep things normal, he shouldn’t be asking.
I swing around, pick up oven mitts, and carry the casserole tin to the already set table.
“How are you getting there?” he asks.
I tell myself this is normal conversation, not to read anything into it. Even if we never discussed my social life before, and I’ve gone out on the admittedly rare Friday or Saturday night.
“The train,” I say, joining them and sitting down, pulling my chair in so I am more comfortable.
He frowns at that.
“Something wrong?”
“Nothing going in. It’s just a little empty and dangerous coming back alone at night.”
“I’ll be okay,” I say, understanding his point. “I’m not coming home all that late and I’ll keep my eyes open.”
A growl-like noise sounds from deep in his throat. I can’t tell if he is agreeing or still unhappy with my choice in transportation, but he doesn’t get a say.
“Going anywhere fun?” he asks.
“I’m meeting the girls at happy hour after my friends get off work.” I catch my slip immediately. Yes, I am going with my girlfriends.
His frown turns into an obviously satisfied smile, telling me he’d have cared if I had plans with guys, too. The notion pleases me, which is ridiculous. I shouldn’t care what Austin thinks of my social life. We aren’t going to go there. No repeat of the kiss. Not again.
I serve Bailey a smaller portion of lasagna and busy myself giving Austin his before taking my own. Bailey, meanwhile, watches the grown-ups talk in unusual silence, and now she digs into her meal quickly and with gusto, spreading the dinner all over her face.
I nudge her lightly. “Napkin,” I say, pointing to her sauce-covered cheeks.
The child wipes her face, succeeding in smearing the red sauce around even more. With a chuckle, I dip my napkin into a glass of water and wipe Bailey’s mouth and cheeks.
Austin’s gaze follows the interchange, his dark eyes warming at the sight.
Flustered, I focus on my meal. Luckily, Bailey finishes her food quickly and the chatting begins again, giving me a much-needed break from Austin’s questions and concerns and my desire for a man I can’t, shouldn’t have.
* * *
Mia