Chapter Five #4
He instantly realized it was a mistake to touch her when an electric shock ran through his arm as he assisted her to her feet. As if also feeling it, Rachel dropped his hand. “Would you like some coffee? Help me eat some of those desserts you brought?”
He would love to stay, but he didn’t need a nightcap, not with his libido on red alert. “Will you hate me if I call it a night? It’s late, and I’ve taken enough of your time. Thank you for the offer, though. Another time.”
“Okay.” If she’d been disappointed, she hid it well. She stood and made to move around the coffee table.
“Watch out!” His warning came too late. She stepped on one of Allie’s wayward toys, tripped and bumped into the coffee table.
When she stumbled, Oakley was there to stop her flailing.
He moved swiftly, scooping her into his arms and lifting her up and over the table.
This put her fewer than twelve inches away from his face.
He gazed into her eyes and swore time stopped. “Are you okay?” he asked.
Because one thing was certain—he for sure wasn’t.
* * *
Rachel was in Oakley’s arms. Big, strong, powerful arms that held her gently.
She fought the overwhelming urge to put her hand on the side of his jaw and trace the texture of his five-o’clock shadow.
As it was, her fingers splayed against his chest. His lips were tantalizingly close, and she licked her own without even realizing she’d done so, until his eyes darkened with a desire that matched her own.
A heady sensation ran through her. Her fingers curled into his soft cotton shirt, a contrast to the hard muscles underneath. “Rachel?” he prompted.
What was she doing?
She came to her senses. “I’m fine. You can set me down.” Her words came out strangled, traveling on a slight puff of air. He lowered her to her feet. He didn’t release her, but kept his arms wrapped around her lower back until she was steady.
He peered into her face. “You’re sure you didn’t hurt anything?”
With every nerve ending singing “ooh la la” at being held by him, she tried to make light of the situation. “Just my pride. Stubbed my toe, that’s all.”
“Let me take a look.” He guided her into the chair before moving the coffee table. He squatted down. “The right foot? May I?”
“Uh-huh.” She couldn’t help but stare as firm fingers assessed the condition of her ankle before moving to gently massage each of her toes. Never had she been so grateful she’d taken Jenny’s advice to have a pedicure.
“Pretty color,” he said as he noted the red on her toes.
Using both hands, he ran his thumbs from her toes to the underside of her foot, rubbing deeply into the arch.
The nail tech certainly hadn’t given Rachel this kind of attention during the salon technician’s standard foot massage.
Having not had any male touch in almost two years, if he didn’t stop, she’d orgasm simply from his fingers caressing her foot.
He must have recognized that, for he released her. “Think you’re okay.”
If he wasn’t her boss, she’d launch herself from the chair and kiss him madly. “That’s good,” she managed instead. “Thanks for checking.”
He rose, and she saw his hands shake, proving he wasn’t unaffected. Good. At least she wasn’t the only one feeling this awkwardness as they absorbed the implications of an almost kiss.
“It’s late. I should get going,” he said gruffly.
“And I’m fine,” she added. When he moved, she stood unassisted and made sure her dress fell to her knees.
“You’re welcome anytime. I’m planning on enjoying my afternoon off.
The weather is supposed to be lovely and so Allie, Taylor and I will go to the park.
As you know, she cares for Allie when I’m at work. ”
“And it’s clear she cares for you, too.”
“She does. I got lucky with her as my neighbor. I’m still looking for childcare.
I have an appointment and we’ll see if it’s a good fit or not.
No idea when there might be room. Even with Jenny knowing the director, who moved me to the front of the wait list, the center isn’t anticipating any openings for several months.
The family that was moving is staying put.
” She trailed him to the door. “Thanks for dropping by.”
“Thanks for being so exceptional. For being you,” Oakley told her. He hesitated, and Rachel wondered what he was going to say next. But before he did, a cry came through the baby monitor, and he pointed toward the bedroom door. “Go. Allie calls.”
With that he was gone, the door closing with a click behind him. Rachel went to check on Allie. She discovered she’d already gone back to sleep, so nothing for Rachel to do but watch her for a few minutes before leaving her be.
She sat on the sofa and touched her lips. She was certain as the sun would rise tomorrow that Oakley had wanted to kiss her as much as she had wanted to kiss him. The thought was crazy, but the signals had been clear. He’d wanted her. She’d wanted him. He could be her dream man.
If only he wasn’t her boss.