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For a few seconds, neither of us said anything. Then Allison began to laugh.
“Oh, Nick. You truly are good at lifting my mood,” she said with a smile. “This was good. It’s brightening up my morning, which started by the kids having a tantrum and throwing milk on me.”
“You wouldn’t even know it,” I said. “You look fucking perfect. And, Allison, I know it’s insane, but I wasn’t actually joking.”
She frowned. “Nick, come on. I’m pretty sure it’s not what Hugo had in mind—me just marrying someone for the sake of being married.”
“I think that’s exactly what he meant, but he didn’t lay it out like that.” Because he was a lawyer and legally that wasn’t the soundest advice.
I swallowed hard. Allison looked at me as if I’d grown a second head. I was fixating on her lips, and I had to stop it because she was going to notice.
“I don’t think this is going to—”
A loud beeping sound interrupted us. She glanced at her phone.
“Shoot, I have to take this. It’s my assistant. She never calls me unless it’s important.”
“Sure, no problem.”
She put her phone to her ear.
“What do you mean, they’re already here waiting for me? The meeting is supposed to start in fifteen minutes.” She sighed. “Okay, I’ll be right up. Yep. No, I’m already here. I just grabbed a coffee.” She listened and then responded, “Okay, yes. Sure.”
After hanging up, she pursed her lips. “Sorry to cut this so short. Not sure why they want to start this meeting earlier.”
“Don’t worry.”
“Do you want to drop by the house tonight?”
Did that mean she was considering it?
I flashed her a smile. “Pizza night?”
She laughed. “Why not? I always say Mondays are a special kind of hell. Everyone deserves a treat at the end of it.”
I was going to file that information away in my brain.
She rose to her feet abruptly. I swear to God, I nearly groaned. Fuck my life, she was sexy. How could anyone focus around her? With her standing in front of me, I had an even better view of her legs. An image flashed into my mind of me bending her over right here on this coffee table, hiking her dress up to her waist, and making her mine.
“Nick, you okay? You seem lost in thought.”
No, I’m just fucking lost in a fantasy.The way she said my name only fueled it further.
“Go ahead with your meeting, and I’ll see you tonight.”
She laughed, and I detected a hint of nervousness. “I’m really sorry you came all the way here and I only had, like, fifteen minutes. I swear it was supposed to be half an hour.”
“That makes me feel really special,” I teased, standing as well. If I had those legs right in front of my eyes for any longer, I was going to lose my composure for sure.
I watched her intently as she walked through the glass door leading to a marble lobby. I’d definitely lost my mind, but I was pretty sure she was considering my offer. After the initial shock and disbelief, I didn’t think she was completely discarding the idea, at least.
My pulse quickened. I’d always followed my instincts and done things spontaneously, but this was on another level altogether. Yet I wasn’t feeling sorry for sharing my thoughtswith her. Not even one bit. She was ready to fight for those kids, and I wanted to help any way I could.
Another image flashed in my mind of Allison here with me and the coffee shop completely empty. This time, I took her in my arms, ordered her to wrap her legs around me, and pressed her against the nearest wall, exploring her in all the ways I wanted.
Chapter Seven
Allison