Page 61 of Naughty Heart

I liked it so much, I wanted to experience it all again in all the ways that I could. I wanted him to touch his lips ever so gently to my skin. I wanted his hands to glide along my legs and curves.

Maybe I was crazy.

Maybe Malcolm was just really good at what he did.

But I didn’t think that was possible. There was no way I could feel so much for him, only for it to turn out to be made up.

Besides, it was days away from Christmas. I wanted to have hope. I wanted to believe I’d finally landed on Santa’s nice list.

“This has been such a wonderful party, Malcolm,” I said as we swayed back and forth to a Christmas melody.

I was so caught up in Malcolm, I stopped paying attention to everything and everyone else around me—the music, the food, the people, and the décor. While I knew all of it was stunning and really made it feel festive, the truth was that I only had eyes for him. And Malcolm had been doing such a wonderful job of making me feel like I was the only person he was interested in entertaining. He made me feel special.

“I’m glad you’ve enjoyed yourself,” he returned. “I can honestly say, in all the years I’ve been coming to this party, this has been my favorite.”

Wanting to tease him, I replied, “Really? Is it the food, the music, or the decorations that you like best this year?”

He shot me a knowing look. “It’s the company. But I get the distinct feeling you already knew that.”

I sent a coy smile his way. “The company has been nice. Almost a little too nice, considering you’re just my boss.”

Malcolm’s arm tightened slightly around my waist, and I could feel his thumb stroking absentmindedly along my back. “I think that’s going to change.”

God, I hoped he was saying what I wanted him to say. Unwilling to have my hopes and dreams shot down, I returned, “Oh? Did you talk to your parents at some point earlier today when I wasn’t around? Are you getting the company? Will I be the personal assistant to the person who takes over your position? Or, am I being fired completely?”

He shrugged. “I don’t know anything about what’s happening with Westwood’s. I haven’t discussed that with my parents at all.”

The tip of my tongue came out and licked my lips. “So, why won’t you be my boss any longer?”

With his gaze focused on my lips, he replied, “I never said that.”

“You said it was going to change.”

Focusing his stare on my eyes again, Malcolm revealed, “Yeah. I was talking about us. You said the company might have been a little too nice, considering I wasjustyour boss. That is what I was referring to changing.” I held on, my breath stuck in my lungs, waiting for him to be very clear about all of it. He studied me a little longer before he spoke again. “There’s something here, Evelyn. I know you’ve got to feel it, too.”

Warmth and desire moved through me as I nodded slowly, never once taking my eyes off his handsome face. “I feel it.”

Until I said those words, I hadn’t realized Malcolm was holding on to any tension. The second he heard them, his body relaxed. Well, most of it anyway. The hold he had on me seemed to grow a bit tighter.

“I don’t know if this was a matter of us both being at the right place at the right time or if there was some divine intervention that put us in each other’s paths. But I’m so glad it was you who fell into my lap three weeks ago.”

I could appreciate that sentiment. Maybe the initial reaction he’d had left a lot to be desired, but he was quick about turning things around. And ever since, with the exception of that one small hiccup, things had been wonderful. Meeting Malcolm had changed my whole life in the best way possible.

But as much as I wanted things to progress between us, I needed to be sure about my future, too.

“Maybe this isn’t the right time to say something like this, and perhaps I should have some heartfelt words to share, but I need to be smart, Malcolm,” I started. “If things developed between us on a personal level, what would it mean for my future at Westwood’s?”

“What do you mean?”

I shook my head slightly. “I’m not in a position to risk my job, so regardless of how or what I feel happening between us, I’m afraid I’d have to ignore it if it’d mean I wouldn’t have a job any longer.”

“I’m not going to fire you,” he insisted.

“But let’s say we started dating each other. Wouldn’t that be frowned upon? And even if that wasn’t a problem, what if things didn’t work out between us?”

“They’ll work,” Malcolm assured me.

My head jerked back as my brows pulled together. “How do you know?”