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Even with what’s going on between Graham and me, I’ve been bringing my best to my job as Michael Davies’ new assistant.
Suzette made it sound like he just needed one secretary, but it turns out the company is large enough that the CEO has one lead secretary and three assistants. I’m one of the three, and I’m going to stand out if it’s the last thing I do. With the text sent, I take a sip of much needed caffeine and continue on, my heels clicking and my confidence rising higher and higher.
It’s easier not to think of Graham when I’m actively taking notes, making copies, and answering emails, but every time my mind wanders…
There he is.
I’d be lying if I said I didn’t struggle with it at first. The arrangement we made where he took care of my rent had been illicit, something people only do in secret, and I knew I shouldn’t go running back once I could handle the rent on my own.
But I wanted him.
I wanted more of him. More of that naughty, illicit feeling. I wanted to do something dirty. I won’t lie, the idea of crawling to him makes me hotter than I thought it ever would. Yet, there’s another side that has me questioning if this is wise. It wasmore, and sweeter, and when he’d admitted he wanted me to be there for him—justfor him and nobody else—my heart almost flew out of my chest. I wonder if he knows how needy he looked at that moment.
I’m not going to tell him. Graham is handsome and charming and rich, and he doesn’t want people to know he needs anything. But there’s a piece of him that’s missing something, and I know I can be that. And I am enjoying every second of it…I’m just a little nervous that I’m the one who’s going to fall head over heels and I’m the one who’s going to get my heart broken again.
At that thought, I catch him outside walking like he’s coming back from a coffee shop, a to-go cup in his hand.
“Isn’t it late for coffee?” I call from the crosswalk, a smirk on my face as I toss my own cup into the metal trash can.
Graham looks over at me, not seeming very surprised that we’re running into each other. After all, the past few days we have and I’m starting to think it’s because he knows my schedule and he’s waiting for me. His handsome eyes rake down my dress and my body heats. As they lift to mine, he smirks and responds, “Needed a pick-me-up.”
“You’re going to be up all night,” I tease, twining my fingers together to keep from playing with his tie. It’s a dark navy silk number and it suits him well in his crisp gray suit.
He raises his eyebrows. “What’s wrong with staying up all night?” His voice is low, throaty, and I love it.
“A man with as much work to do as you have needs his beauty sleep.”
“Hmm.” He looks down at me just as the wind takes a lock of hair out of the clip I’ve had it in. He catches it with his finger and tucks it back behind my ear. His touch is like fire and I lean into it. “What are your plans for the evening? Maybe you could help me take the edge off.”
“I don’t have any,” I tell him, my heart fluttering. “Did you have more work to do?”
“I do. A few things need tending to, but I take my work upstairs for the evening,” he says. “Care to come up?” The tension between us grows with every passing second we walk to the building. As we step into the elevator I have high hopes…unfortunately it’s occupied by an elderly woman so I keep my distance and so does Graham, although our eyes catch in the reflection. With every second, my heart beats a little harder and a little faster, but he doesn’t put his hands on me, not even as the woman steps out with a little hum and nod, and the two of us make our way to the penthouse.
It’s not lost on me that the first time I ever saw him was in this elevator. I catch him looking at our reflection as it whisks us up, and I bet he’s thinking the same thing.
Even as he steps out of the elevator with me following, he still hasn’t touched me. My steps halt before I make it even three steps in.
The view from his living room windows takes my breath away.
“This is stunning,” I breathe, unable to help myself as I look out over the city.
Graham comes up behind me and puts his hand on my lower back. My eyes close from the simple contact. I crave his touch like I didn't know I could. “It’s the same view you have, my little temptress.”
That nickname, with the warmth of his hand on my back, sends pleasant shivers all over my body and I’m all too aware my nipples harden. “It’s different up here,” I tell him, meeting his gorgeous eyes. A spark ignites and I sink my teeth down into my lower lip.
“Have you ever considered that it’s different because you’re here?”
“No.” I huff the smallest of laughs. “I’m sure it doesn’t matter where I am.”
“Yes, it does.” Graham looks down at me with intensity in his blue eyes. “It matters more than you think.”
I’m ready to crawl into his bed and never come out again, but I shake myself out of it. “Did you say you had work to do?”
Regret crosses his face, but he steels himself. “A few things before I’m done for the night.”
Graham’s penthouse is massive compared to mine. No surprise, since his takes up the entire top floor and mine is only a small section floors below. A large living room in the middleremindsme of mine, only it’s wider, with more understated furniture and built-in shelves underneath the floor to ceiling windows. A small office is off to one side, and a hall leading into another section of the penthouse. I can see through to hiskitchen and peek into a dining room from here. He waves his hand toward the right. “My bedroom is down that way.”
I resist asking him to take me there right now. If I had an hour alone in here, I’d have to explore, because there’s so much space and soft, tempting lighting, and I bet he has a private gym and a library, too.