Page 124 of Take My Name

But the publishing industry can be cut-throat, which is a lotof keeping your friends close but your enemies closer. With social media, it’s easy to see which ones run their mouths and ones who engage versus those who know to keep it professional.

I put my assistant in charge of posting when our clients have upcoming or new releases. Other than logging in a couple times a week, I stay offline.

“Maze?”

“In the office,” I call out.

He appears moments later.

“Whaddya doin’ in here?”

“Just lookin’.”

“Hm.” He presses his chest to my back, dipping his mouth to my ear and wrapping his arms around me. “Think you might wanna decorate it?”

“I’m not much of a designer, but I could try. What kind of theme or color scheme do you want?”

His lips press softly against my neck. “Not for me, love. Decorate it for you.”

I spin around in his hold, lifting my gaze to his. “You’d just…gimme this room?”

“I thought we went over this…” He cups my cheek, brushing the pad of his thumb lightly across my skin. “I built it for you.”

I already told him I’m staying, but I still can’t wrap my brain around him building this house inspired by my dream board. Even more mind-blowing is that he lived in it alone for all these years.

“It doesn’t feel real,” I admit softly. “I have a hard time acceptin’ I deserve it or you.”

“Leave that guilt behind. You chased your dreams and that’s nothin’ to feel bad about. We’re different people now. If you’re stayin’, we get a fresh start. No more dwellin’ on the past.”

Nodding, my heart explodes at hissweet words. Besides being surprised he waited this whole time for me, I’m shocked another woman didn’t scoop him up. Not that he would’ve given them a chance, but…

Wait.

“Has another woman ever pursued you? You said you didn’t sleep with anyone else, and I assumed that meant you didn’t date either. But surely there’s been interest?”

“There was.”

I wait for him to elaborate, but when he doesn’t, I continue, “That’s it? You’re not gonna tell me?”

“There’s nothin’ to tell. They’d flirt a little and make it obvious they wanted me to ask ’em out, but I made sure to let ’em know I wasn’t available.”

“Even though, technically, you were.”

“I wasn’t.”

“But really…”

“Not in my mind.”

“Okay, but?—”

His mouth crashing down on mine shuts me up, but when his tongue massages mine, I completely forget the words I was about to say.

Warren lifts me up under my knees and I almost panic because he’s not supposed to be doing any heavy lifting, but then he sets me down on top of the desk. Standing between my thighs, he deepens the kiss and I feel his thickening length between us.

“Did you do that so I’d stop talkin’?”

“Yes,” he murmurs, lowering his mouth down my neck and panting into my skin. “Doesn’t seem to have worked, though.”