Page 45 of To the Chase

She glared at me, though there was no heat behind it. “Pop-ups are no laughing matter, Tore.”

My grin widened. It was all I could do not to pull her into my arms and kiss her pretty mouth. “No one sasses me but you, Bea.”

“I noticed you didn’t deny the pop-up threat.”

“I can’t tell you my corporate secrets. Not yet, at least.”

She canted her head. “Not yet?”

I leaned toward her, dropping my voice. “If you were mine, there would be no secrets between us. Nothing you couldn’t ask me. It would all be yours.”

She retreated a step. “I…don’t know what to say. But I should probably get back to the kitchen. There was a fire incident earlier, and I…yeah. I have to go.”

I skimmed my hand down the length of her arm, catching her fingers briefly. It was hell to let go, but I had no choice. The last thing I wanted was to put Bea in a situation that would compromise her professionalism, but I couldn’t allow her to walk away without touching her skin. I just couldn’t.

“I’m glad I saw you.”

Her lips parted, and her eyes darted back and forth between mine. “Me too. It was a nice surprise.” Then she squared her shoulders andwrapped her fingers around the handle of her cart. “Say hi to Dean and Sam for me.”

I should have let her walk away, get back to her job, but I found I wasn’t fully in control of what came out of my mouth when I was around her.

“Beatrice?”

She stopped, her cheeks rounding as she gave me a little smile. “Yes, Salvatore?”

“Can I take you out to dinner tonight?”

Still smiling, she shook her head. “I’m working tonight.”

That displeased me. Bea should have been making more than enough money to quit her second job, but she hadn’t. I’d have to look into it.

“Can I pick you up from work and drive you home?”

She crinkled her nose, and I braced myself for rejection. I expected it, but that didn’t mean it wasn’t disappointing.

“It’s not a long drive,” she replied, taking me aback.

“That’s fine.”

She groaned softly. “This feels like déjà vu. I don’t know why I’m thinking about saying yes…”

“There’s not a chance I won’t show up,” I added.

Her eyes narrowed into slits. “I think…I’m not sure enough to say yes to you.”

“I understand. I didn’t think you’d accept, but I had to try.”

“You really didn’thaveto.”

“No, I did. There was no possible way my brain would have allowed me to walk away from you without asking.”

She blinked several times, then her eyes crinkled, and she snorted softly. “Maybe…ask again another time.”

“My brain sort of requires it.”

For some reason, that made her laugh. As she headed into the kitchen, she muttered, “Silly brain.”

I was still smiling when Sam caught up to me a few minutes later. He wasn’t.