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“You didn’t have to do that,” she said.
“I didn’t mind.” He turned around and leaned against the sink, mocking her pose. Their feet almost met in the center of the kitchen but didn’t touch. “It was the closest way of giving you privacy, so that your assistant can tell you to be nice to me.” He wiggled his eyebrows up and down, teasing her. “I’d say you’re off to a nice start.”
Macy could feel herself blush before she could open her mouth. Her cheeks tingled. “Look, that type of thing can’t happen again.”
“What thing?”
“The kissing.” She cleared her throat in an attempt to sound professional. “I don’t make it a habit of kissing my employees.”
Duke nodded and looked down at her feet. He tapped her toe with the tip of his boot. “You do realize that I’m not really an employee of yours.”
“I know. But we have to work together over the next few days...”
“I haven’t figured out when I’m going to throw the party, so it might take weeks.”
“Well then, weeks. Either way, getting involved is not a good idea,” she said, squaring her shoulders and standing up straight. Weeks? She was going to have to spend more time with him than expected. Being around a man who could kiss like that and had professed his desire for her... Macy shook her head, not knowing how she was going to be able to resist him.
Slowly, he stood up and nodded. “Are you involved with someone?”
“No!” she exclaimed, appalled that he would think she would just kiss someone if she were involved. “I’m single.”
“Are you not attracted to me?”
She closed her mouth as quickly as she opened it and searched for a logical answer. “Well, I’m not going to say that you’re not attractive.”
“I think there was a compliment in there.” As he smiled and licked his lips, she couldn’t help but watch, recalling how that same exact tongue had just grazed hers. Her heart raced when he pushed himself away from the counter and moved closer to her. She craned her neck, promising herself not to budge. He was a good six inches taller than her. He placed his hands on either side of the desk, trapping her. The dimple in his cheek deepened when he grinned. Mr. Dimples.
“Maybe there was. Do I think you’re good-looking? Sure. But so does half the world.” Macy kept her breath steady, despite her fast-beating heart, and prayed she sounded as nonchalant as she tried to make herself sound. “I just know you’re not going to be here long, and I think that starting something that can’t be finished is a ridiculous thing to do. I have responsibilities, children, work...” She ticked off more things that she had to do while he stroked the side of her face with the back of his fingers.
“I think that all depends on what your definition of finishing is. Are you looking to get married?”
“God, no!” she blurted out.
“Are you looking for a live-in boyfriend or something?”
She shook her head no.
“Then it just depends on two people’s definition of spending time together.”
“We barely know each other,” Macy heard herself say. Did she say it, or was it more of a plea? Either way, it was a ridiculous thing to come out of her mouth, especially when her heart was speeding up, knowing he was going to kiss her again. And she was going to let him. She closed her eyes as he lowered his lips to hers and kissed her softly.
“I can’t help but feel like I know you. I like talking to you.” He moved his mouth by her earlobe. She knew she should protest, but it just felt so damn nice to be touched this way.
“Why do you want to get to know me?”
“I’m infatuated with you, Macy Cuomo.” He rested his forehead against hers and looked into her eyes. “I haven’t stopped thinking about you since I saw you in the foyer of the Baez home. Would I like nothing more than to forget about this day and place you on this counter and make love to you all day? Yes. But I know you’re a woman who takes her work seriously.”
Had he known that same thought ran wickedly through her mind just a few minutes ago? His bold honesty scared her. She shivered. “Infatuations come and go.”
“But isn’t it fun discovering each other along the way? What harm could come from going out to eat?”
Macy inhaled deeply. “I have a Thanksgiving meal we can eat together when we’re done working.”
“So then dinner is a good start.”
“Just dinner?”
“I’m a forty-year-old man, Macy. Just having a quick roll in the hay is over and done with for me. Can’t we get to know each other? If you find you’re not attracted to me, just think, my contract with WKSS is up in a few weeks, and you won’t have to deal with me.”
