Page 18 of Loving Her Enemy

Sloane listened as she told him about the interview she’d gone to. It was apparent she thought highly of what the chemical company had accomplished, but she seemed less impressed with the environment after taking a tour.

He was surprised to learn she’d been offered a different job two days ago, and that she had turned it down. Supposedly, they wanted a ton out of her but weren’t willing to pay enough for her to live on. It sounded like turning down the position had been a tough decision because, according to her, something was better than nothing and beggars couldn’t afford to be choosy.

She seemed to relax once he assured her that she could stay at the house for as long as she wanted or needed. He didn’t want her settling for a job, especially when he could help, but he kept that thought to himself for now. If she accepted his offer, this would all be a non-issue.

When Halayna brought a strawberry slowly to her lips, Sloane’s eyes followed its progression. The woman had been a distraction from the moment she stepped into his office and watching her eat fruit wasn’t helping.

How she made eating a strawberry look sexy was beyond him. But when she took another bite of the fruit, some of the juice trickled past her lower lip, and Sloane reached out and wiped it with the pad of his thumb. Then he stuck his finger into his mouth, licking off the juice while holding her gaze.

Halayna’s lips parted in surprise. “I cannot believe you just did that,” she whispered and placed the strawberry stem on the plate in front of her.

“Sorry, if that was inappropriate, but I couldn’t help myself. I was curious to see if the strawberry juice was as sweet as the fruit looked,” he lied, when actually he hadn’t been able to stop himself from touching her.

Halayna’s perfectly arched eyebrows dipped into a frown. “Next time get your own and find out that way,” she snapped, but there was no heat behind her words.

She nibbled on her lower lip, and Sloane was tempted to touch her mouth again, but slower this time.

Everything about the woman tempted him, even more so with those white shorts on. He was pretty sure his brain had short-circuited when he spotted her standing in his office doorway. She was around 5’7 and all legs. Long, toned legs he would kill to have wrapped around him.

That sexual pull pulsing between them started earlier when he found her in the main foyer looking weather-beaten but sexier than he’d seen her in a long time.

He had struggled to hide his arousal when he took in the outfit she’d worn to her job interview. Halayna probably hadn’t meant it to be alluring, but the way the silk blouse and fitted skirt had hugged her lithe body made him want to see what was beneath the outfit.

It wasn’t often he had to struggle to keep his body under control. Yet, when she had approached him in the foyer, looking like a beautifully wrapped gift from God, Sloane had wanted her more than he had wanted his next breath. Add that to the unique fragrance she’d been wearing, the one flowing around him like a gentle breeze, and Sloane had been on the verge of pulling her close and kissing her senseless.

Halayna fidgeted in her seat, as if being able to hear his thoughts, and Sloan knew he needed to get this conversation started. The last thing he wanted to do was make her uncomfortable.

“Okay, so what did you want to talk to me about?” she asked as if reading his mind.

She wiped her hands and mouth on the cloth napkin before setting it on the table and pushing her plate away. A sure sign she was done eating and would probably make an excuse to leave if he didn’t hurry this along.

“First, I want to apologize for the other night,” he said. “You were right. I’m a jerk, and I’m so sorry if I upset you. That definitely wasn’t my intention. Bristol helped me realize I say stupid stuff whenever you’re around. I’m thinking it’s a character flaw.”

“Ya think?” Halayna snorted, then quickly put her hand over her mouth. “Oops, sorry.”

Sloane chuckled. “Yeah, well, I’m hoping I can fix that problem. I can’t promise it will happen overnight, but I’ll try not to be an arrogant jerk where you’re concerned.”

“It takes a secure man to admit when he’s a jerk,” she cracked.

Sloane burst out laughing.

Oh yeah, they were going to be good together.

“But seriously, Sloane, I’m sorry too. Owen is a sore spot for me. The other night, even though you didn’t actually say the words, I thought you were giving me one of those I told you so speeches. I didn’t want to hear it. I couldn’t bear to think you pictured me as an immature little girl who had chosen horribly wrong in the man department.”

“I don’t see you like that at all,” he said honestly. “What I see is a very beautiful, resilient woman who is working to get her life back on track. I’m sorry about all you’ve been through lately and the role I might’ve played in some of it.”

Sloane was mainly sorry he hadn’t handled the situation with Owen differently, especially now that he suspected the man was behind Halayna’s dire financial situation. He hoped she’d one day trust him enough to tell him what had happened. In the meantime, he’d try to make her life a little easier.

“I forgive you. Ultimately, I’m the one who messed up by choosing Owen. He did me a favor by walking away because, otherwise, I probably…” She stopped abruptly and glanced down at her almost empty plate.

When she didn’t continue, Sloane reached over and covered her good hand with his. A jolt of energy shot up his arm, and he tightened his hold on her, wondering if she felt the connection too. By the way her gaze shot to his, she had, and he waited to see if she’d pull away. She didn’t.

Progress.

“Finish what you were saying,” he said quietly, as if raising his voice would snap the connection. “You would’ve probably what?”

She shook her head and eased her hand from his. “Nothing. It was nothing. Anyway, you didn’t have to go through all this to apologize for the other night.” She nodded toward the food on the table. “However, I appreciate the gesture. Thank you.”