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Ally’s phone pinged in her purse as they were getting up to go their separate ways. Pulling it out, she smiled as she saw the text message from Travis:
I need to get rid of this damn desk!
He’d complained more than once how the desk distracted him, about the images he had throughout the day. Her heart flip-flopped at the thought, that she could actually be a distraction to a man as driven as Travis Harrison.
She said her good-byes to all the women, promising to become one of the regular members of their lunch club. Once she reached her car, she leaned up against it and texted:
As your assistant, it’s my job to find you a new one then, Mr. Harrison.
It only took a moment to get a reply:
Like hell you will. Nobody else is using this desk. I guess I’ll just be a masochist. How is your day?
She already knew he’d vehemently refuse to get rid of it, but she laughed out loud anyway before replying:
Good. Just had lunch with the girls. How about you?
He answered simply:
I miss you.
Ally’s heart melted, and she traced the words on her phone with a sigh. When Travis said or did things like that, her whole being ached for him. Travis wasn’t a demonstrative or bullshitting type of guy. Those words were sincere, an expression of his emotions at that moment, and she cherished them because she knew he didn’t express himself lightly.
She answered:
I miss you, too. I’ll make you dinner.
His answer came quickly:
I’d be happier if you’d actually be my dinner.
Ally barely stifled a moan at that thought. She needed to fan herself, and it wasn’t because of the humidity and heat of the Florida sun. There was nothing hotter than Travis’s demanding, bossy, alpha ways in the bedroom, and the way he mastered her body. But she answered him cheekily:
I offer to cook for you and all you want is sex?
It took a few minutes to get his reply:
I want a whole lot more than sex. And women don’t usually cook for me. Thank you, Ally. I’ll see you around six.
She frowned at his response, wondering exactly what he meant. Women didn’t cook for him? No…they probably didn’t. He did most things alone, and if and when he did have a date, she was pretty certain the woman would expect the finest from Travis Harrison. Did he actually think she’d been chastising him? She’d just been playing with him. She didn’t question whether or not he was using her anymore just for sex, and his answer had sounded rather remorseful. And for the very first time she realized that “thank you” was actually in his vocabulary. And it touched her that he was thanking her for something so very simple. She didn’t want to see him be sorry for joking around with her. Truth was, she loved seeing him fun and playful, and his dirty talk always turned her on. It was doubtful that anyone else saw him that way. She answered:
Six is fine. And if you get here early, I’ll be your appetizer.But I will feed you. You’ll need the energy.
She held her breath, hoping he’d come back with a playful response. The last thing she ever wanted to do was crush Travis’s playfulness because he had taken her comment seriously. He was already too solemn, too serious, and his lighter side was something she wanted to see more of.
He replied:
If I didn’t have a meeting, I’d be in my car right fucking now.
Ally let out a relieved laugh and typed:
No need. I have to cook. But it’s warm today. I think I might have to cook naked. Think about that in your meeting. Hope it goes well.
His reply came almost instantly:
You’ll pay for that, woman!
Smiling, she returned: