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“Will do.” I watched him go and wondered if I’d ever feel for anyone the way I was feeling for Sebastian. I couldn’t quite define what it was. Initially, I thought it was just lust. He was the first man who made my desire to be touched outweigh my fear about sex.
But now I felt more. I couldn’t say it was love, but I cared for him, and wished he could care for me. He was clear that wasn’t something he felt or would allow himself to feel. So, if I still wanted him, which I did, I’d have to play by his rules. Maybe if I did, he’d see that it was okay to have feelings.
Don’t kid yourself, Leah, my conscious said. It was right. I would set myself up for heartbreak if I thought he’d change.
I focused on my work, determined to be professional from now on. I completed the campaign and gave it to Niall to look over while I started on another project. Later, Niall brought the project back and asked me to make a few changes.
“The boss will be out until this afternoon. I can bring it to him tomorrow if he’s not back today.”
“Okay.”
“You okay, Hammond? You seem a little down.”
I smiled, though I didn’t feel it inside. “Yeah sure. Just overwhelmed by everything I have to do before I graduate.”
“You’re doing good work here, so you don’t need to worry about that.” He waited a beat. “A few of us will be going for a drink if you’d like to join us after work. I’m not hitting on you.” His retreat from me made me wonder if Sebastian had said something to him. “Just a friendly drink.”
“Maybe. I have some homework I need to finish for tomorrow.”
He nodded. “Let me know if you change your mind.”
I went back to work, making the changes Niall requested. I was getting ready to pack up and go home, when Niall approached me again.
“The boss is back and wants to see the project.”
My belly fluttered with nerves. Would Sebastian be hard and cold to me again? “I’ll bring it up and then head out.”
“See you Wednesday.”
I took the printout of the project and put it in a folder, then carried it along with my bag to the elevator, taking it two floors up to Sebastian’s office.
“He said to go in,” his secretary said. She was getting her purse out of her desk drawer to leave for the day.
“Thank you.” Although I was told to go in, I knocked on the door.
“Come in.” His smooth deep voice made my insides tingle with nerves and excitement. I wondered if the excited part would ever go away. Was I doomed to be attracted to a man who didn’t want commitments for the rest of my life?
I opened the door. “I have the new social media plans for the lingerie line you wanted.”
He sat behind his desk looking like the king of the world. His suit jacket was off and his shirt sleeves were rolled up his strong forearms.
“Let’s see them.” He didn’t stand and instead held his hand out. I walked across the room realizing we were just going to be professional. We’d started out that way, although there was a softness to him in the beginning that wasn’t there now.
I handed him the folder and then sat in the chair in front of his desk.
He looked through the file and then up at me. “You did this on your own?”
I nodded. “Yes… sir.”
He flinched when I added the sir. Then he sighed. “Leah.” He stopped whatever he was going to say and shook his head. “These are good. Do we have the cost projections for running the paid ads?”
I shook my head. “I don’t have them. I wasn’t asked to do that.”
“I’ll get them from Niall tomorrow.”
I nodded and after a second, I stood. “I… ah… I should go.” I should have been apologizing, but for some reason I couldn’t form the words.
He stared at me again. “Are you afraid of me, Leah?”
I shook my head and looked down. “I’m sor—”
“I owe you an apology—”
We spoke at the same time.
I jerked my attention back to him. “What?”
“I owe you an apology.” He sat back in his chair, looking relaxed except for the dark intensity of his eyes. “I was vulgar and mean yesterday.”
I shook my head vehemently. “I’m the one who is sorry. I was wrong to say those things about your marriage. You’re right, it’s not my business and I have no right to judge.”
He cocked his head to the side.
“I’m sorry if I offended you, Sebastian. Really.” I looked down. “I just… I feel like you sell yourself short.”
“Oh?” He steepled his fingers in front of him, looking strong, powerful and so sexy. I willed my libido to cool it.
