Chapter 11 Liam #2
“Are you going to keep doing this?” She suddenly stopped a few feet into the room and turned to face me.
I flicked my gaze down at her as I walked by, but I didn’t stop. As soon as I was in the living room, I set Samuel’s car seat down on the coffee table and moved to unbuckle him.
“Do what?” I asked as I pulled little man out and held him over my head. He scrunched up his body, and his hands went straight into his mouth as he let out a squeal, drool trickling down his arms. I bounced him a few times, which he thought was just hilarious.
“Not allowing me to do my job.”
I glanced over to see that Sabrina had joined me in the living room. Her arms were crossed as she stared at me.
I shrugged. “I’m hungry.” I pulled Samuel down to my chest and tucked my arm right under his bum. “We should go eat.” I glanced at Sabrina. “Do you want to go eat?”
Her eyes narrowed, and her lips were drawn into a tight line.
“I’ll let you pick the restaurant, and…” I held up my finger and allowed silence to fill the room for a moment. “I’ll even let you call to schedule a reservation.” I grinned at her.
She didn’t look impressed, which filled me with satisfaction. She knew I was goading her, and I loved it.
I gave her a wink. “Is that not allowing you to do your job?” I held onto Samuel’s drool-covered hand and pretending to dance around the room with him.
“No,” she said, her tone reluctant.
I grinned at her. “Perfect. Find a place and let’s go eat.”
“Let’s?”
I nodded as I met her gaze. “You’re my assistant.
Where I go, you go.” My chest swelled at that thought.
I literally paid this woman to spend time with me, so it wasn’t like she had a choice in the matter.
If I wanted her to go, her job was to go.
But for a millisecond I allowed myself to imagine that she actually wanted to go with me to lunch.
In this moment, we were just two people getting food together instead of a boss and his assistant. I was enjoying that we felt like a family—no matter how ridiculous that thought was.
“Here,” I said as I shifted Samuel to my other arm so I could pull my card out of my wallet. “Use my card.” I held it out for her. “In fact, keep it.”
When Sabrina didn’t take it right away, I shook it in front of her as I raised my eyebrows and leaned closer to her. “Take it,” I said again, this time more forceful.
“I shouldn’t—”
“It’s in your job description. If you need to set up a reservation or purchase food for me, you use this card.” I paused. “If you want to buy new clothes or get yourself a drink, you use it.”
She frowned.
I took a step closer to her. “You can’t argue that I don’t treat you like my assistant if, when I tell you how assistants should be treated, you reject it.” I shook my head. “That’s not how this is going to work.” I was inches away from her now.
There was something in me. Something rooted deep in my chest that needed her to take the card. I needed to take care of this woman even if it meant packaging it up as an employee benefit.
“Take. My. Card.” I dipped down so I could catch her attention. As soon as her gaze landed on mine, my entire body went on a rollercoaster.
This woman…
It was like the world around me slowed as I watched Sabrina reach out and take my card.
Goosebumps rushed across my skin when her fingers brushed mine.
I found my body lean toward her. It would be so easy to close the gap between us and press my lips to hers.
For a split second, I allowed my gaze to drop down to her lips.
That was a mistake. Her bottom lip was pouty, which paired perfectly with her Cupid’s bow.
Her lips looked soft, and the desire to verify their softness took over me.
I’d never wanted to kiss someone as much as I wanted to kiss her in that moment.
I wanted to pull her into my arms and never let her go.
Samuel squealed and began pumping his arms and legs, which instantly pulled me from my thoughts.
When my gaze lifted to meet Sabrina’s again, I couldn’t help but notice how hazy her eyes were.
As if she’d noticed that I’d been staring at her lips, but instead of reacting with disgust, she’d been caught up in the moment as well.
Did I dare hope?
Not wanting to spiral, and desperate to keep my promise of remaining professional, I took a step back and switched Samuel to the other side before bouncing him a few times. I forced my flirty grin to return and nodded toward the card Sabrina still held.
“You good?” I asked, making sure to punctuate my words with a flirty wink. I needed to clear the air of the tension that felt as palpable as humidity on a summer’s eve.
Sabrina snapped her hand back. She cleared her throat and nodded. “Yes. Yep, mm-hmm.” She pinched those ridiculously perfect lips together before she cleared her throat. “I’ve got this.”
I couldn’t help the genuine smile that emerged.
I loved that I flustered her. I loved that I was learning to recognize the different hues of her cheeks depending on how nervous or angry she was.
I loved it when frustration or annoyance would change the color of her eyes from light brown to dark brown in the blink of an eye.
I had so much pent-up flirty energy, but all I could do was wink. I turned away from her and moved over to the windows so Samuel could look out. Distracting myself with a baby seemed like the right move.
If not, I feared what I might do.
I might break the cardinal rule that a boss should never ever fall for his assistant.
Ever.