Page 64 of The VIP Doubles Down

“You’re the catalyst.” He brought his gaze back to her.

She wanted to be his inspiration. Another dangerous desire.

“I said I’d be there tomorrow, and I will be.”

“When I’m with you, I believe that.”

Her resolve weakened. It would feel so right to take him up to her apartment and show him that she would be there for him. After all, she was used to healing with her touch.

He released her hand. “I’m going to take my needy presence away so you can get some sleep. Because tomorrow night I intend ... no, hope to keep you awake for several hours.” He gave her a long, hot look. “Allow me to escort you back to your front door, where I will place a chaste kiss on your forehead and depart into the night.”

“You don’t have to go to extremes,” Allie said. “I’ll take a down-and-dirty kiss on the lips.”

And she got one that left her knees so weak she could barely climb the four flights to her apartment.

Chapter 17

When Allie walked into the office the next morning, Gavin was staring at his computer screen. “Thank God!” he said, swiveling his chair so he faced her. “What do you think of adding a subplot about Julian’s handler, Virgil? Readers are always asking for more about him, and this seems like a good place to expand his character.”

“Good morning to you, too,” Allie said, walking over to her desk and setting down her purse and her to-go cup of coffee.

Gavin offered her a rueful smile that made him look almost boyish. “When I’m engrossed in a story, I forget about the social niceties. Top of the morning to you. You look exquisitely beautiful today. I hope you slept well.”

“Such insincerity. You made sure that I tossed and turned all night.”

He raised an eyebrow. “The tea kept you awake?”

So last night wasn’t going to be discussed in the cold light of morning, even though she’d lost sleep over the despair she’d seen in him. She lifted the bag in her hand. “I brought fresh croissants from the best bakery in the city, which just happens to be two blocks from my apartment building. Be nice or I won’t share them.”

“Ah, that explains why I was suddenly thinking of therue Yves Toudic.” He stood and sauntered over to her, dipping his head to give her a quick kiss on the lips. His were warm and tasted of coffee. Their touch sent a ripple of desire through her. She put her hand on his chest to push him away, but the feel of his solid muscles under the black cashmere just made things worse.

“Rue what?” she managed to ask.

“It’s the street whereDu Pain et des Idées, the best bakery in Paris, is located.”

“Wait! Julian eats there inBest of Both Worlds. The name is so cool that I thought you’d made it up.”

Gavin snaked his arm around her waist and pulled her close again. “You are utterly delicious, my dear.”

“And I’m your assistant,” Allie said, as much to herself as to him. She was still reeling from his revelations of the night before, and it made her more vulnerable to him.

He slid his arm away with a sigh of resignation. “In that case, answer my question.”

She pulled a still-warm croissant from the bag and wrapped it in a napkin before handing it to him. “Virgil is such a shadowy figure that I’d love to know more about him. What kind of subplot?”

“I was thinking he might be forced to go out in the field with Julian. Team them up so they learn more about each other in the process. After all, Julian doesn’t know much about Virgil, either.”

“How much doyouknow about Virgil?”

“Ah, that would be giving away trade secrets.” Gavin bit into the croissant and groaned before taking another bite. “Your first duty every morning is to pick up a dozen of these to bring here.” He polished off the rest of the croissant and licked his fingers, making her remember other ways he’d used his tongue. A shudder ran through her.

She pulled another croissant from the bag and held it out to him.

“Aren’t you going to eat one?” he asked as he took the pastry.

“The smell broke down my willpower, and I ate it before I got back to my apartment. So the rest are for you.”

He ate the second one more slowly, giving her time to admire the fluid movements of his fingers as he tore off pieces of the flaky pastry and brought them to his mouth. It took a few bites before she realized he was dragging out the process on purpose while he watched her from under hooded eyes.