“Oh, it’s nothing.” She glanced down. “I’m just so sorry I touched you without permission. I wasn’t thinking.”
She had nothing to be sorry for. And it wasn’t nothing. In fact, my body, still aflame with pleasure, told me it was everything.
As I pushed the elevator button, looking at Monique staring at us with folded arms near the broadcast desk, I wondered whatthe hell had just happened. Had Serenity’s painless touch been a freak occurrence?
Or what if out of all the people in the world, Serenity was the one who could touch me without pain?
And what if she was the one person who I could touch in return? Not just once or twice, but for a lifetime. My heart swelled at the thought. I couldn’t take my eyes off her now, or the bits of bare skin her outfit revealed.
My eyes were glued to her, like I was afraid if I looked away, her, and her magical touch, would disappear. I couldn’t keep hope from swirling in my chest, as the elevator’s doors closed and we left the station together.
Serenity
Bryce was in an odd, eager mood.
When we left the station, he insisted on us going out for lunch, saying he was hungry and I must be too. I knew we’d end up in a nice place, but we pulled up to La Esperienza, the most exclusive restaurant in New Omaha. I’d heard Vance and several others chat about it at the club, saying it was virtually impossible to get into, no matter the time of day.
Even without a reservation, they recognized him as soon as we stepped in the door. They quickly showed us to a private booth in the corner and Bryce started our order with glasses of champagne to toast my first day.
I only took a few sips of mine, determined to keep a clear head no matter how lovely the cool, frothy fizz was, and as each course arrived, he seemed to take immeasurable joy as I tried incredible dishes I’d never experienced before. Like our main course, lobster ragu.
His eyes were unusually bright, small flames flickering in hisirises. Surely all this expense and fuss wasn’t because it was my first day at his company?
Or maybe it was because I’d stopped him from tripping at the station? It had just been an instant. So brief, I could barely remember more than it being an automatic reaction. But he seemed to be looking at me with so much more intensity since then. And gave me such a wide smile anytime he caught me looking at him.
With that broad smile on his face as we ate, he was like a child who’d woken up on Christmas Day. It was as if he’d been zapped with a reviving spell by some electricity elemental. He was glowing, crackling with life.
Back in his Benz, I turned to him. “Bryce, thank you. That was amazing. It almost felt like too much.”
He waved his hand in a casual manner. “Don’t be silly, I’d do absolutely anything—” He paused, a tad flushed, as he tugged at the collar of his shirt. “What I meant to say was, you deserved it. We both did after that near accident this morning.”
When we got back to the Midas building and up to my new office, I checked to see none of the floor’s bustling employees were paying attention, and whispered, “You really are very kind, Bryce. Thank you again for everything today.”
At my words, his fingernails glowed a mild red. Funny thing, he’d not even bothered to put his gloves on during the whole outing, and even sat on the same side of the limo’s seating as me. Way closer than other times we’d ridden together. And I’d liked it.
We were standing outside my office door, and I was itching to repay him for all his kindness but had no idea how. He already had all the money in the world. At least he appreciated my company. He seemed surrounded by people he couldn’t feel fully comfortable with, and it wasn’t helped by his condition. “Well, thanks so much again,” I said. “I’d better get to it. Those designs won’t remodel themselves.”
Gulping subtly, he said in a tone that was unusually hesitantfor him, “You, uh, know, with this being your first day, why don’t you bring your laptop into my office and work from there today? There are a few pointers I think would be best given by me anyway.”
“That would be nice, really. But Clara from IT said she’d give me a tutorial on the company portal this afternoon. She said it might take a while.”
He cleared his throat theatrically and spoke in a mock stern voice. “And who do you think knows their way around the portal better than me? I’m on it so often, I’m practically one of the pixels.”
I giggled, though couldn’t believe he wanted to help with such a low-level task. I got serious again quickly. “Are you sure?”
“Yes. One minute.” He gently held up his index finger. Taking out his cellphone, he swiped, tapped and held it to his ear. “Hello, Clara? Yes, it’s me, Mr. Harding. I’m going to be helping Ms. Dawson get to grips with the portal today. I’ll do it while we work. Why don’t you take a break instead? Get yourself something from the deli, on Midas’s tab.” He paused. “You’re very welcome. Goodbye.”
“Looks like I’d better grab my laptop, then.” I smiled, loving how easily he solved situations with generosity and politeness.
As we walked past Darlene’s desk, she flashed him a toothy smile. Bryce just nodded an absentminded hello to her. Once in his office, he suggested I set my laptop up on his desk. So I did.
Except, instead of taking his usual refuge behind the other side, he nodded at one of the guests’ chairs. “Would it be okay if I sat beside you?”
“Whatever’s easiest, boss.” I tried for a joking manner.
He drew the chair so its leather arm was virtually touching the one I’d sat in. His expression held an odd mix of happiness and hesitancy. “I’m not the boss right now, if that’s okay? Just friends working together.”
“Sounds good,” I replied, my lips unable to hide my happiness. He sat down beside me, all designer suit, enchanting citrus scent and handsomeness rolled into one.
