Page 59 of Falling for a Grumpy Hero

“Lila?” I murmured, feeling Rook stir at our feet but unable to tear my gaze away from her face. I wanted to see the moment she woke up and I couldn’t really explain why, but it wasn’t just physical need driving me this morning. It ran so, so much deeper than the lust wreaking havoc on my body. “Wakey-wakey, Lila. If you want time to grab a shower, we really need to get up now.”

Finally, one of those blue eyes opened and her lips formed the most adorable little pout. “You’re the boss. Can’t we just be late for once?”

I chuckled, lowering my head to drop a kiss on her bare shoulder. “I wish, but being the boss means I have to set an example. I haven’t been doing that very well, especially not lately.”

Her other eye slowly opened and she let out a deep breath through her nostrils, her gaze hazy with sleep but relaxed and happy on mine. “Yeah, I guess you’re right. Give me one kiss and I’ll get up.”

“You drive a hard bargain, but I’ll take it.” It seemed I was unnaturally smiley this morning because it still hadn’t disappeared from my lips as I ran my nose along the length of hers. I kissed the tip of it, brushing some of her hair behind her ear before I pressed my lips against hers, groaning at the soft sensation of them against my own. “If we don’t stop now, I’m not letting you leave this bed today.”

Lila grinned. “Who says I want to leave?”

“I thought we’d already concluded that we have to.” I groaned and shut my eyes, my heart hammering and my dick a steel rod. “God, do you have any idea how much I want you right now?”

“Think of it this way,” she said, her voice husky, but filled with laughter too. “The anticipation will make it so much sweeter.”

“The anticipation is going to fucking kill me,” I grumbled but sighed and rolled away from her. If I didn’t do it now, it wasn’t going to happen. “We can swing past your apartment on our way to the office so you can get some clothes.”

As I stood up, she rolled onto her side, facing me. She slid her hands under her cheeks and looked into my eyes. Bathed in that golden glow, her hair seemed like it was made out of wisps of fire and the covers were draped over her in a way that hid all the important bits but left swatches of smooth, pale skin exposed.

I’d already had a bulge in my pants, but it was quickly becoming a tent as I stared back at her. “What is it?”

She smiled, eyes bright with amusement as she shrugged a single, bare shoulder. “I was just wondering how you wanted to handle getting to the office today.”

“The same way I handle it every other morning? We get in my truck, swing by your apartment, and go when you’re ready.”

“Do we go in together?” she asked. “Or separately? When we get there, do you want people to know about us? We need to hatch a plan here so we know what we’re doing when we get there.”

“Oh.” I drew in a deep breath, filling my lungs with air as I thought it over. “I don’t know if I’m up for whispers and not-so-whispered comments from Jared. He likes to know everyone’s business and I don’t want him to know mine, not about this. Not now.”

“Okay, we’re going to keep our budding relationship to ourselves. That’s what you’re saying?”

I searched her face for a clue that I’d offended her but didn’t find any. Her expression hadn’t changed, still relaxed, amused, and peaceful. Probably still better to approach this with caution. “I would like not to be the subject of office gossip, but I’m not ashamed, shy, or scared. It’s simply a matter of personal preference, but if you’d like to⁠—”

Soft giggles spilled out of her and I cut myself off. She sat up, holding the sheets around her chest with one arm, and she shook her head, that red hair tumbling past her shoulders and resting softly against her skin. “Relax, Ford. I get it. I agree with you. It’s better to keep it to ourselves until we figure out what exactly this is.”

Dumbfounded for a beat, I just stared back at her and then laughter started vibrating through me as I leaned over, smacking just one more quick kiss on her lips. “You’re something else, Li. Okay, I’m going to hit the shower. I’d invite you to join me, but…”

“But we’d never leave if I do.” She giggled again, her cheeks flushed with what I could only assume was joy—or lust, but maybe it was just me. “Go ahead. I’ll get ready and take a shower at my apartment. All my things are there anyway.”

I pondered on that while I raced through a shower, wondering if it was too soon to tell her she was welcome to keep some stuff here. Yeah. No. Too soon. Way too soon.

Shelving the idea for a couple months from now, I got ready for the day and drove my ever cheerful assistant/girlfriend back to her place. I didn’t walk her to her door this time, though. All that need for her was still coursing through me, simmering just below the surface, and every time she looked at me, I saw some heat flickering in her eyes too.

Cursing the fact that we had to get to work and that Rook had come with us, I offloaded her bicycle and headed to the office with him. She would join us once she was ready. Of course, as soon as she arrived, my traitorous mutt went to lie at her feet, and for most of the day, that was where he stayed.

I sat behind my desk, stealing glances at her like a schoolboy with his first crush. Answering emails and bringing our admin up to date, she was humming quietly under her breath, a constant smile on her face.

My heart did weird shit every time I caught a glimpse of her, pounding, and constricting, and jumping. I also still wanted her something awful and the need was like an insatiable beast, like my body was insisting that we catch up on the time we’d lost.

Breathing through a fresh wave of desire brought on by watching her ass sway slightly from side to side as she walked back from the copier, I snapped out of it only when my phone rang. Rodrigo’s name came up on my screen and I sighed but shook my head to clear it of the haze before I picked up.

“I’m sorry,” he said, but it sounded like he was doing it begrudgingly, his voice tight and the words forced. “Eliza has informed me that she approved the designs and the workers are fixing the roof. I apologize for my outburst and I hope you will convey my apologies to Lila as well.”

“I’ll do that.” In the past, I might’ve taken him to task or even stonewalled him completely, but strangely, I just didn’t feel the inclination to do that today. “Thank you for your call, Rodrigo. We’ll talk soon.”

When we ended the call, I got up and grinned as I caught Lila’s eye. “Guess who I just spoke to?”

Her head tilted. “The Fierras?”