Page 54

“Wow. Look at you stepping out of the organization box.”
“Every once in a while it’s good to be spontaneous.” He spun her around and dipped her. She laughed. Their heads only inches apart. “Would you agree?”
She nodded.
His eyes traveled the features of her face, which he’d come to cherish so quickly and easily, and landed on her lips. Awareness of her warm body in his arms flooded him, spiking his heart rate. The air felt charged with anticipation. Her pupils dilated as his lips descended toward hers. He kept his eyes locked on hers, seeking permission, until the last possible moment. When her eyes fluttered closed he took that as a yes and pressed his lips to hers. Her mouth was as soft as he’d imagined, and all the more tasty for the wait. He held his passion in check, savoring the moment of their first kiss, knowing it could never be repeated, and he wanted it to be memorable. He kept the kiss light, exploring the contours of her lips.
A tremble ran through her, and she arched her back, pressing her mouth firmly to his.
Leo worked overtime to keep his passion from spilling out all at once, letting it trickle bit by bit as the kiss built in length and intensity. He righted her mid-kiss without breaking contact and let his hands trail into the waves of her hair.
Her fingertips played at his hairline, and he pressed her closer, the passion growing waterfall-sized. She fit perfectly against him, as if she was always meant to be there.
Leo lost all track of time and space. The universe consisted of only him and Rose and the gentle lap of the water and the caress of the sea breeze.
The passion ebbed, calmed, and he pulled back enough to get breath, leaning his forehead on hers.
The sound of their ragged breaths joined the night air.
“I thought kisses came at the end of dates.” She ran a hand through his hair and rested it on his shoulder.
“Why is that a rule? Why can’t dates start with a kiss? We’ve already thrown the rule book out anyway.”
Her body shook with silent laughter, and Leo loved feeling her lungs move in and out against his hands on her back.
“I suppose we have. Will Mr. P be upset at his staff having a romantic interlude?”
“Mr. P is a generous man who doesn’t begrudge happiness to anyone,” Leo said.
“Thank goodness for that.”
“What about your sister? Will she be upset that your assignment took a personal turn?” He leaned back enough to look in her eyes.
She looked out at the sea and smiled. “She gave her blessing yesterday.”
“You told her about me?” Leo was half-pleased he’d been a topic of conversation and half-concerned about what Rose might’ve said.
“Sort of. She more or less guessed. It wasn’t like I’d take up with a cabana boy.” She giggled.
“I’d be highly offended if you did,” he teased.
“I’m afraid I’m more attracted to heads of security named Stavros who wear sunglasses indoors and out.” She kissed his cheek.
The name Stavros washed over Leo like a cold wet blanket. He cursed his lack of honesty. He should’ve told her his name before he kissed her. He didn’t want to hear his best friend’s name spoken in passion or a declaration of love from this woman in the heat of the moment. He wanted her to lovehim, Leo. He should’ve come clean before, and now it was too late.
“Stavros?” The shine in Rose’s eyes was tempered with worry. “Did I say something wrong?”
“No, not at all.” He smoothed her wavy hair. “I only wish our circumstances were a bit different.”
“You mean that I’m leaving soon?”
“That too.”
What an impossible situation. He was living a swapped life with his best friend and falling in love with the temporary nanny. How had he let things get so out of hand?
She ran a hand through his hair again and let it rest on his bicep. “I know our situation is complicated and there’s still much we don’t know about one another. How about we take us one day at a time?”
“I think that’s wise,” he said. He took her hand. “How about dinner?”