Page 101 of One Midnight Kiss

“I am,” I said. “Speaking of having it all, have you taken her out for dinner yet, or are you still just making excuses?”

Jerrod’s face went red. He sputtered. “W-what? I don’t⁠—”

I clapped him on the back, cutting him off. “Be brave, Jerrod. Ask the girl out already.”

He opened his mouth, then closed it again, looking like a fish out of water. “I—fine,” he muttered, throwing his hands up. “I’m not as smooth as you are.”

“Trust me, I’m far from smooth. I just got lucky and got the right girl to look my way. And Penelope is looking your way. Make it happen.”

“I will,” he said.

“Don’t screw it up.”

I walked to the elevator, anxious to see my lady. The doors slid open just as I arrived. I stepped inside, expecting to head down to meet Natalia in the lobby. But she was already there, leaning casually against the back wall of the elevator, looking up at me with a playful smile.

“You always do like to be early,” I said, stepping closer, the doors sliding shut behind me.

Her gaze flicked up and down my body. “All that flirting on the phone got me fired up.”

“Oh yeah?” I asked.

I reached out and pressed the “Stop” button. The elevator jerked to a halt. We were suspended somewhere between floors, cocooned in our own private space.

“Are we going to do this every time?” she asked, breathless as I caged her in, my hands on either side of her head, trapping her against the wall. Her eyes were bright, her lips parted, like she couldn’t decide if she wanted to scold me or kiss me.

“They have cameras in here, you know,” she added, a little more sternly, but I could see the spark of excitement in her eyes.

I leaned in close, my lips brushing against the soft skin of her neck. “Then I’ll just buy the building and reserve an elevator for just you and me. No one else can use our elevator.”

She laughed, the sound low and husky, wrapping her arms around my waist and pulling me closer. “You’re ridiculous,” she whispered, but there was no real reprimand in her voice. If anything, she sounded a little awed.

“Maybe,” I murmured, pressing a kiss to her jaw, feeling her shiver against me. “But you like it.”

She grabbed my shirt front like she usually did, anchoring herself to me as if I were the only thing keeping her grounded. And maybe I was, but she had no idea how much I needed her, too. I couldn’t get enough of her, and I didn’t think I ever would.

“You know, one of these days we’re going to get busted.”

“I don’t care,” I said.

She rolled her eyes, but she was smiling, too. “You’re impossible.”

“Only with you,” I admitted, pressing my forehead to hers. “And you love it.”

She sighed, leaning into me like she was finally giving in. “Yeah,” she said quietly. “I really do.”

We stayed like that for a moment, just breathing each other in. Finally, she pulled back, smoothing her hands down her blouse, trying to regain her composure. “Alright,” she said, pressing the button to start the elevator again. “Let’s go get that coffee.”

The elevator jolted back into motion. I stepped away, giving her space. But I couldn’t help the smirk on my face as we descended.

“Something funny?” she asked, glancing over at me with a raised eyebrow.

“Just thinking,” I said, sliding my hands into my pockets.

“About what?”

I turned to her, my smirk widening into a full smile. “About how lucky I am.”

She actually blushed. It was the best thing I’d seen all day. “You’re trying to woo me again,” she said.