I can feel myself losing this battle, which is ridiculous because this entire conversation is ridiculous.
“So, if you won’t let me leave of my own free will to find someone to help me take care of the situation,” emotions I have no business feeling flare hot and wild within me as she speaks, “then I guess it’s up to you.”
I suck in a breath. It doesn’t make any more sense when she says it for the second time, but also, I’d be a damn liar if I said I didn’t want to take her up on the offer.
Very.Verymuch.
“I’m your boss, Lilly.”
Her face changes. “Not right now,” she says. “And not for long.” Before I can ask what she means by that, she continues, “We both know that this little arrangement isn’t going to last any longer than the month we agreed upon.”
I hate that she’s right.
Even more, I hate that she feels it too.
She stares up at me with big, unblinking eyes. She’s made her decision. I can see thatclearly. It’s either me or she’s driving down the mountain into God knows what.
I’ll be damned if I’m going to sit here and let that happen.
I shift closer to her, so her back hits the door. She doesn’t try to move away. She just looks up at me like she’s waiting to see what I’ll do.
This is where I should walk away. This is where I need to make the right choice. The one that doesn’t involve mescrewingmy assistant.
But I can’t.
Because this is about more than her request. This has been simmering from the moment she pushed her way into my house.
The heat between us has been building with every stupid file she organizes and analyzes. With every meeting she schedules for me, I want her a little bit more.
And God help me, watching her move so confidently through my office, not just like she belongs there but that shecontrolsit, might just be the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen.
And she’s right, this is temporary.
I take a breath. And then another, giving myself one last chance to shut this down.
But I don’t take it.
Instead, I close the last few inchesbetween us, tilt her chin up with my hand, and kiss her hard enough to steal the breath from her lungs.
Lilly
I didn’t expect it. Not really.
I mean…I wanted it.
But a part of me—a big part—wasn’t convinced he’d actually do it.
So when his lips press to mine, it takes me a second to realize what’s happening.
He kisses me like he’s making a decision.
It’s hard enough to steal my breath, but slow enough that I feel every second of it, and I know I’ll remember it forever.
My back presses against the door, his hand warm at my jaw, holding me in place while his mouth, firm and certain, moves on mine.
For one stunned beat, all I can do is freeze andfeelit.
This is Luke. My boss.
