Anything To Be With You

6. Yes, You Did

Yes, You Did

Luke

I get to the office at a quarter to eight, finding Dani waiting outside the door. She’s wearing a black dress that cinches at the waist and flares out at her hips, fluttering around her perfect thighs. With lace sleeves and lace going across the top of her chest, showing off two tattoos I can’t fully make out on her shoulder and forearm and hiding that burn slightly. A pair of black heels display her legs like they’re the crown jewels of England, also giving her some height but not much. She’s quietly humming a song, shifting her weight from foot to foot.

I take the opportunity to take her in while she’s not paying attention. I have never seen anything so perfect. She is a Goddess brought to life. I give my head a shake and take a few deep breaths as my control slips further.

I clear my throat a few times, but she doesn’t acknowledge it. "Daniella," I call.

Dani jumps and her hand flies to her chest. "Jesus fucking Christ!" she swats at my arm. "You scared the shit out of me, I didn’t even hear you walk up."

Dani looks stunning this morning, with her hair pulled up in a French twist and very natural makeup. She fiddles with her skirt, brushing her hands over her wide hips. The thought of another man looking at her the way I am, has me seeing red and wanting to cover her with my jacket. I take a deep breath to steady the possessiveness I’m developing.

It doesn’t work.

"Why are you wearing that?"

Dani’s head snaps up and those showstopping eyes meet mine. "Excuse me?" she looks up at me wide eyed, blinking innocently with lips parted in invitation. One I can’t accept but I fucking want to.

"That dress shows too much skin," I lie. "This is a law office, not some sleezy nightclub." I suppress a wince. That was a shitty thing to say to her. I never went over the dress code and to be honest, there’s nothing wrong with what she’s wearing. It’s my reaction to her that’s the problem.

Dani crosses her arms, the click, click, click of her foot tapping on the floor signals how pissed she is. "Oh, I didn’t realize that my body repulsed you so much. I’ll go home and change into the potato sack I usually save for special occasions."

"Too late for that. Remember for tomorrow," I deadpan then kick myself for saying that. Fuck, I’m being a real asshole this morning.

Dani huffs out a breath and turns away from me. Her shoulders drooping a little. "Yeah," she whispers.

I didn’t mean for that to come out the way it did. However, it’s better that she hates me. It will keep her away from me because I sure as fuck won’t be able to stay away from her. She calls to me in ways no other woman has and I can’t afford to lose my heart again.

"Why are you here early, you weren’t supposed to start until eight," I bark.

"Fine," Dani seethes. "I’ll go for a walk and come back for eight."

"Don’t bother. You’re already here," I grumble. I unlock the door and hold it open for her, but she doesn’t move.

"What are you waiting for? A formal invitation?" I demand, nodding towards the door.

"Asshole," Dani mutters and brushes past me, heading inside.

Goddamn!

That dress hugs her ass like it’s holding on for dear life. Dani waits for me by Carrie’s desk, and I can’t help but stare at those legs of hers. They go on for miles. I harden myself against Dani’s allure. Tamping down the rising feelings she seems to bring out in me and tighten the hold on the wall around my heart.

"When Carrie arrives, she will get you all set and up to speed with what I have on the go," I state, walking past her down the hall towards my office. "This will be your desk. Carrie will show you how to use the phone system and photo copier. Printer is self explanatory," I state. "You will also be given a tablet for use in the office and at home. It is connected to your office computer and loaded with the same programs. If there is anything that needs my signature, it can be done on the tablet."

Dani raises a hand. "Photo copier? Aren't most offices paperless now with software to help manage appointments and things like that?"

"I like to have hard copies of the casefiles in case the system goes down or get's hacked."

"Do you not have a firewall in place? Or password protection?"

"I do. However, I'd rather be safe than sorry. You will be making copies, printing out anything I give you to proofread and typed up and also entering it into the system. We use a special program. I will get Carrie to show you how." I answer.

"That seems like more work than it has to be." She says.

"If you don't think you can handle it, I can find someone else who can."

She squares her shoulders with resolve. "I can do it."

"Good." I continue. "Also, I don't like clutter, and I don't like my PA's desk cluttered either." I inform her.

Dani jerks back. "Wait. How would my cluttered desk bother you?" she asks, dropping her tiny hands on her wide hips.

"Because I would have to look at it whenever I leave my office," I say bluntly.

"Dick." Dani mutters.

I continue. "My door is always closed, knock before entering."

Dani drops her purse on the desk. A look of mischief crosses her beautiful face. "You ever open those." She wiggles a finger at the blinds covering the windows that face into the primary office.

"I like my privacy."

Dani walks around me, brushing my arm with her chest—which I’m sure was on purpose—and heads into my office, opening the one blind that is right beside her desk. She saunters back out and sits in her chair.

"Why did you do that?" I demand.

She crosses her leg over her knee and swings it. My gaze moves from the tip of her toes, up her beautifully sculpted calves and along those thick thighs. A rumble of lust and frustration works its way up my throat. I hate the way my control slips with just a glance in her direction. Dani cocks her head at the sound. I look my fill, noticing another blemish poking out from under her skirt, stopping just before her knee.

Is that a burn mark?

You have been burned in the past by a beautiful woman. One who had an ugly heart and dark soul . I remind myself.

I take a deep breath, pulling my control back.

"That way I can just spin to the right and look in to see if you’re busy or not," Dani says and beams at me. Her smile is like a smirk, with the left side lifting higher than the right, due to the scar tightening her skin. She’s a gorgeous woman but when she smiles, she’s ethereal.

"We’re not doing that. If you want to know if I’m busy, you call into my office," I reply.

The main door opens, Carrie and the other two men that work here, Jim and Mark, walk it. "Morning, Luke. Hey Dani!" Carrie yells from the front and rushes back to where we are.

"Hey, Carrie. You look cute," Dani compliments.

Oh God, these two are going to become friends.

"Thanks. I found this at a second-hand store, four bucks. Can you believe that?" Carrie sings and does a spin to show off her vintage pencil dress. "I’m pretty sure this sells for over a hundred dollars new."

I clear my throat and they look at me like I’m interrupting some super important conversation. "Discuss your clothing at lunch. Carrie, get Daniella set up and show her the phone system and photocopier." I walk to my door. "I’ve got four meetings today and Gabe will be by around one." I say, looking at Carrie. "Don’t let him hit on Daniella," I mutter low enough for only Carrie to hear.

Carrie nods and flashes me a cat-like grin. "Come on Dani, I’ll introduce you to Mark and Jim and get you all set and up to speed on Luke’s schedule," Carrie says with a smile.

Dani stands and follows Carrie over to Mark’s office.

I watch them leave; those drool-worthy hips of Dani’s swaying in a way that has me grunting like a fucking deviant.

"Reel it in dumbass." I mutter to myself.

I head into my office before I make an ass of myself even more, shutting the door, and closing the blind. Letting out a long breath, I sit behind my desk and turn on the computer. Today’s going to be a long day. Between Gabe stopping by and Dani just outside the door, I’m not going to get any work done because I won’t be able to stop thinking about her in that dress.

I need to put more distance between us. I spent years building my walls up and Dani bulldozed through them her first day. The phone on my desk rings. "Lucas Archer."

A cackle comes from the other end. "Ha ha! Figured it out," Dani laughs.

"Yes, you did." I fight a smirk, she sounds so proud. It's cute.

"Don’t sound too excited for me or anything, Archer," she barks.

I like how she calls me by my last name. However, she can never know that. "Mr. Archer, Daniella. I shouldn’t have to tell you twice."

A mocking whisper comes through the phone.

"Is there a reason you called?" I ask.

She huffs into the receiver. "Carrie is teaching me the phone system. Wanted me to try calling into your office."

"Well, good for you then. Is there anything else?"

She curses me under her breath. "No, your Majesty," Dani mumbles and slams the receiver down.

If Dani keeps this up, she’ll have my walls in a pile of dust by the end of the day. She’s chaos and wild. I’m order and control. I close my eyes and exhale. Getting through today is going to take all my energy.

My phone dings with a text.

CeCe: You're being a dick. Knock it off, it's her first day.

I scrub a hand through my hair. I have been a dick towards Dani and she's done nothing to deserve it. I get back to work on the Miller case and try to ignore the fact that Carrie is right.

A knock comes on my door. "It’s open," I call.

Carrie walks in, shutting the door behind her. "Go easy on her. And stop being a dick," Carrie says.

I sigh and rub my face. "Yeah, I got your text."

Carrie taps her high-heeled foot on the floor. "Then why are you?"

"I have to remain in control."

Carrie snorts in disbelief. "That’s a load of shit."

"You know what happened last time I lost control with a woman." I seethe. "I’m not going through another Sarah situation."

"Dani is not Sarah. Not every woman is like Sarah," Carrie bites out. "Do you want to know what Dani said about you?"

I know it’s not going to be anything pleasant. "What?"

Carrie grins. "She said you wouldn’t be such a dick if you played with yours more often."

"I’ll remember that," I mumble.

Carrie throws up her hands and walks out, slamming the door behind her. I get back to work, preparing the divorce papers for when Pierre Miller come in. The phone on my desk rings again. "Lucas Archer."

"Your nine o’clock is here. Shall I show him in?" Dani says, sounding like a totally different person.

"Please." I hang up and watch at the door.

A knock comes and the door opens. "Pierre Miller, Mr. Archer." Dani smiles sweetly but her eyes are throwing daggers at me. She opens the door wider inviting Pierre inside.

"Would you like any coffee, tea, water?" Dani asks, standing in the doorway, as he sit down.

"No, thank you." Pierre says.

"And you, Mr. Archer?" Dani says, rolling the last R in my name, and my control slips a tad.

"Coffee. One sugar."

Dani smiles again and shuts the door. I watch the door for a moment before turning to Pierre. "Shall we get started?" I pull their casefile from the drawer in my file cabinet. Opening it, I ask, "have you figured out what you’re doing with the furniture?"

"We're going to sell it," he answers.

I nod and scribble it in their casefile. This divorce isn’t going to court, it’s a mutual separation. I’m just here to make sure that their assets are divided up equally.

Pierre leans forward in his chair. "New assistant I see."

I glance up at him. "Yes. She started this morning."

Pierre hums and wipes his mouth. "She’s older than your past assistants."

I stop typing and drop my arms on the desk. "She is."

"Amazing legs," he whistles. "She single?"

I grind my teeth. The way Pierre was looking at Dani, talking about her. I wanted to rip his fucking head off. Pinching the bridge of my nose, I close my eyes and take a deep breath. I’m not going to be able to get through this meeting if my temper is in control.

I clasp my hands on the desk. "Daniella is a lovely woman and I do not appreciate the way you are speaking about her."

He mumbles an apology under his breath, and I go back to finishing his case. A quick knock on the door before it opens reveals my stunning assistant. Dani places a mug of coffee on my desk.

I allow my eyes to wander over her body. Which is an unbelievably bad idea because now all I can think of is what it would feel like to have her body wrapped around mine. To have everything soft about her pressed against everything hard about me. And right now, I have something painfully hard pressing against the fly of my slacks.

I shouldn’t be thinking about Dani like that, I am her boss. I harden my walls. I need to keep her out.

"Anything else, Mr. Archer?" Dani asks, standing by the door.

Sweetheart, you have no idea.