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“Very.”
“Do I know her?” she fishes.
“Extremely well.”
“Is she staff?”
“Yes.”
“Pity, she could have been your one chance at playing out the perfect office romance. However, if you really meant what you said about burning down the world for her, are you also burning your self-inflicted law around not dating staff?”
“I make the rules, Arianna, and I burned it, it’s gone. I don’t think that way anymore.” Not since her. I mentally torched it for her. Only her.
“Really?”
“Yeah.” I give her a little head space.
Eventually she says, “She might need some time to think about his offer of never letting her go, because it all sounded a bit overwhelming.”
“I’m an all or nothing guy, Arianna.” I love the way her name rolls off the tip of my tongue, and I love saying it. “And whatare you going to do, make him sweat first while you consider what he said? Although, it doesn’t have to be anything serious, or overwhelming. It could just be a bit of fun?” I backtrack on my loose tongue from the records room. What the hell was I thinking? Clearly, I wasn’t. But I feel myself smiling, my heart blooming in my chest. I knew she was playing with me and I know she wants me as much as I want her. But if she needs time, that I can give her. I’ve been waiting my whole life for someone special like her.
She scares the shit out of me, but at the same time, I see myself with her.
Something I never saw coming.
“I might have been drunk when I said those things.” My cover-up is terrible.
“Sure you were.” She rolls her eyes at my lie.
And there is no one else I would leave work midafternoon to walk on the beach with.
She’s changing me, giving me a different perspective on my life, and I like it.
I clear my throat, feeling a million degrees hotter than I was, and change the subject. “Did you get a dress for the ball?”
“It’s gold.” She sighs, sounding blissed out. “It’s beautiful.”
She’sbeautiful. “I can’t wait to see you in it.”
“Well, if the rules about not dating staff no longer apply, you might just see me out of it.”
Fuck me to hell.
“But first, we have to get back to work. I have some appointments to make for you.” She’s already five steps ahead of me and strolling back up the hot golden sand toward the car.
“What kind of appointments?” I already hate myself for allowing her to bookrelaxingshit for me to do, but I follow her anyway.
“You’ll see.”
23
ARI
Relaxing appointments?
No chance, baby.
This is my opportunity to have some fun with Nathan before giving him what he really needs… which is some guidance on how to chill out, something he struggles with.