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At least not until I get over this crush I have on him.
“Also, Jacqueline and I can get a little…crazy,” I whisper. “I know…” I put up two hands. “Try to contain your shock. I just don’t want to come home likethat.Margot’s impressionable!”
He gives me a look of derision. “I can assure you, she’s seen an intoxicated person before.”
“That’s not the point. I am supposed to be a good example.”
“You are, Elianna.”
Feeling the pressure, I add, “If you are asking me to come back tonight, I can…”
He shakes his head. “That’s not it. I just don’t want you to feel like you can’t. Or that you don’t have a safe way to get home. I will come get you, that’s all.” I make a mental note to figure out how I feel about him referring to his house ashome.
“I appreciate that, but I’ll be fine. Besides, I haven’t seen Jacqueline in a while. If I don’t go, she might show up here and I don’t know that I’m ready to introduce her yet.”
“I’d love to meet your friends. Any of them are welcome here.” His voice is soft and smooth and heats me all over despite the words not being particularly sexy.
“Thanks.” I lick my bottom lip and I swear I hear a groan not quite disguised by the sound of him clearing his throat as he takes a step back. My phone vibrates and it breaks through whatever tension is crackling between us right now. I see a text from Jacqueline asking for my ETA and I turn toward the door. “I’m going to go.”
“Okay.” He nods. “Just…be safe.”
“I will.” He reaches past me to open the door for me and when I turn around after walking a few steps outside, I see his eyes at least a foot down, making me fairly certain he was just staring at my ass.
“I amsoglad you could come out tonight!” Jacqueline squeals as she orders us a shot each at the first bar. “I need to hear everything about hot Daddy by the way.”
“There’s nothing to tell.” I hesitate before taking a long sip of my tequila soda while I avoid her excited gaze.
“You’re lying.” She narrows her eyes at me as she hands me the lemon drop shot that I’m already regretting.
“No…I…I don’t know. He was kind of intense when I was leaving tonight. He offered to pick me up later…”
Her eyes widen as we grab an empty hightop table. “He did? Oh, that’s so hot. The whole responsible and overprotective man thing?” She waves her hand over her face like she’s fanning herself before letting out a giggle.
“I think he was just worried about me getting home.”
She adjusts the corset she’s wearing that has stopped practically every man in his tracks all night. “Exactly!”
“He also said ‘wow’ when he saw me. But…maybe that doesn’t mean anything?”I ask, while secretly hoping it does.
“Oh, I think he’s into you.” She swirls her straw around her drink.
“You don’t even know him.”
“First of all, who wouldn’t be into you? Second, maybe I don’t knowhim, but I know men.” She taps my nose with her index finger.
“He’s different and he’s older. He’s a dad, remember? He’s not like any guy that either of us has dated.”
“Which means far less bullshit for you to decipher! No having to read the signs or wade through fuckboy signals. Ah, he just keeps getting better and better.”She shimmies.
“I don’t even know why we’re having this conversation because—”
“Because you’ve had two shots and a mixed drink and you’ve never been able to contain your thoughts when you’re drinking,” she interrupts and I glare at her.
“BecauseI am not going to do anything. It’s just a crush. He’s still my boss. He’s off limits.”
“Ugh.” She scoffs and pulls out her phone to reapply her burgundy lipstick. “I wish I had sexual tension with someone that was off limits.” She grins at me before holding her phone between us. “Let’s take a pic!”
A few bars, a few hours, and more than a few drinks later, it’s almost two in the morning. Most of the bars are about to close, but when Jacqueline and I are together we are known to be out until last call. We are in the line for the bathroom when my phone vibrates with a text and I almost drop my phone when I see who it’s from.