Page 44 of One Midnight Kiss

“No, I’m good.”

“Are you okay?” she asked.

“I’m not knocked up,” I said. “I just need some air.”

She frowned. “So you heard the gossip after all?”

“Yes. That’s why I need a moment. I’ll be back in five.”

“Understood,” she said.

I headed down to the coffee shop on the ground floor, replaying the email conversation in my head. My pulse raced every time I thought about what I accidentally sent. He’s probably laughing his ass off right now, I thought bitterly. I was the one that told him I only wanted a professional relationship and then I went and did that.

I ordered an iced Americano, hoping the drink would cool me down. I felt feverish, but it had nothing to do with a virus. It was him.

I got back in the elevator, thinking about what I needed to get done before we left for the symposium. Just as the doors were about to close, a hand shot in, stopping the doors from sliding shut. The doors opened and Fox stepped inside.

He didn’t notice me at first. He was focused on his phone, probably reading emails—likely our emails. The elevator doors closed again. I couldn’t help the small, smug smile that tugged at my lips. Was he actually waiting for my next reply? Did he like the game we were playing?

Did I?

Something about that made me feel powerful. And flattered. I could admit he was an attractive man. I knew the ladies liked him. And he liked them. But now, he was looking at me. I raked my eyes over his back and stopped at his ass. He was wearing slacks and a dress shirt. It was purely professional but he looked effortlessly sexy. He appeared to be in good shape. I let myself have a little fantasy about what he looked like under those clothes.

That was when he looked up, catching our reflection in the shiny doors. His eyes met mine in the reflection. The corner of his mouth curled into a wicked smile. He slipped his phone into his pocket and turned to face me fully.

“Am I dreaming?” he asked, smiling.

“Should I pinch you?”

To my surprise, he reached over and pressed the “STOP” button on the elevator interface. We shuddered to a halt.

“What are you doing?” I asked, my voice coming out breathier than I intended.

He stepped closer. I instinctively backed up until my shoulder blades hit the cool metal wall. He kept coming until there was barely an inch of space between us. I could feel the heat of his body, his breath fanning across my cheek. I was trapped.

And I couldn’t bring myself not to like it.

“You should just give me your number, Natalia,” he said quietly.

“I don’t give men I don’t like my number,” I shot back, trying to keep my voice steady.

He smirked again. “We could get in trouble for those emails,” he said, almost conversationally.

“They were innocent,” I countered, lifting my chin.

He chuckled, a dark, low sound that sent a shiver racing down my spine. “Mine weren’t.”

He was so close now, his lips a hair’s breadth from my ear. I could feel every word he spoke, the rumble of his voice vibrating against my skin. He let out another soft, amused laugh. I hated how it made my knees weak. He knew exactly what he was doing.

Just as suddenly as he’d trapped me, he stepped back, putting a safe distance between us as if nothing had happened. He turned around and pressed the “STOP” button again. The elevator lurched back to life, and time started moving forward again.

I let out a shaky breath, trying to get my racing heart under control. He stepped out on his floor without a word, but just before the doors closed, he turned back and gave me a look that was equal parts daring and dangerous.

I glared at him, my heart thundering in my chest in a way it hadn’t ever raced before.

When the elevator doors finally slid shut, I let out a low groan and leaned back against the wall, squeezing my eyes shut. What the hell was I doing? More importantly, what the hell was he doing? I couldn’t tell if we were playing a game, or if I was playing with fire.

One thing was certain, though.

I wanted to play.