Page 44 of Pretend You Love Me

“A shirt and skirt - what does it look like?”

He’s staring right at my cleavage. “It looks like you need to cover up.”

I roll my eyes. “Who’s being possessive now?”

His eyes lock on mine, and he looks pained. He does not like that comment one bit.

“I should be getting back,” I say, putting my hand on the door handle.

His hand flies up to the top of the door, stopping me from opening it. I’m trapped between his arm outstretched over my head and the door. The smell of sandalwood washes over me, and the heat from his body just radiates out toward me. I really need to move. He’s making me dizzy.

“Don’t make me regret this,” he growls.

“I won’t,” I squeak. He moves his hand, and I open the door. The small crowd has gathered again at the end of the hallway.

I turn to him and whisper, “You know you’re going to have to pretend like you like me, or everyone will get suspicious. Think you can play nice, Grumpypants?’

I’m waiting for a response. He glances down the hallway briefly and then steps closer to me. I inch my feet back until my back presses against the wall. He slides his hand into my hair, holding his hand against the back of my head. He tilts my chin up and dips his head. His lips are hovering over mine.

“Like this?” he asks. His hand tightens on my hair, tugging my head back even further. Before I can answer, his lips are on mine. His tongue is in my mouth. Correction: his tongue is deep in my mouth. I groan and open wide, so I can slide my tongue over his. He steps closer, pinning me to the wall with his hips. We’re crushed together so tightly I can hardly breathe. I reach up and cup his face with my hands, running my fingers over his stubble.

My knees are literally growing weak. This is the sort of kiss that makes you forget your own name. A once in a lifetime sort of kiss.

The room is spinning, and we’re just melting into one another until he pulls back and rests his forehead against mine. I grab onto his biceps because I’m sure my legs are about to buckle. We’re both breathing hard; his eyes locked on mine.

He whispers, “You think they bought it?”

Who? What? What is he talking about? Bought what?

His eyes flick over to the crowd now gawking at us down the hall. Oh, right, them. Yes, I definitely think they bought it.

He pushes back and winks at me. “Guess you need to get back to work.”

“Yes...yes, I do,” I stammer, straightening my shirt and smoothing my skirt. I’m not sure I can walk straight now, so this should be interesting.I turn to go, and he smacks my ass.

“Don’t want to make the boss angry,” he says.

I shoot him a glance over my shoulder, and he walks into his office like nothing happened and shuts the door behind him.

Chapter Ten

Kip

Once I make it into the office and the door is shut, I lean against the wall and clutch my heart which feels like it might explode. It’s not the only part of me about to explode right now.

I had to walk away. I couldn’t stay near her for one more second, or I was going to pick her up, throw her over my shoulder, and carry her back here to my office to rip all her clothes off. I shouldn’t have kissed her. I really shouldn’t have done that.

She’s trouble. I can feel it. Nothing good will come from this. I just know it.

Unfortunately, I know this - with my brain but not with the rest of my body. I plop down on the couch and drag my hands over my face.

Holy hell. That was a kiss. I touch my lips - still tingling from her touch. She was so soft and warm and...receptive. Surely she wasn’t acting. She felt that too. There’s no way she didn’t feel it.

Well, I’m fucked. No question about it. She’s sleeping at my house. Cooking in my kitchen. Bending herself into a sexy pretzel on my patio. She’s even working at my damn restaurant.

She’s everywhere in my head and outside of it. Fuck me.

I should get out there and make sure everything is running smoothly. I stand up and take a few more deep breaths, and then I shake out my hands and arms like that will knock off the web she’s spun around me.