1 Month Ago

The last person I expected to see when I showed up to take my sister to lunch was the woman who’d pushed me out of my bed and locked herself in my bathroom.

It was the most interesting morning-after experience I’ve had to date, and that’s including the woman who basically moved into my apartment while I was sleeping.

Michaela…or Mickey, as my sister called her when she was trying to convince me into offering my help on their advisory board, intrigued me from the moment I saw her.

She’d left the group of people she’d come with and gone to the bar. Something in the way she carried herself, the liquid way she moved that said she was completely comfortable in her body and herself, compelled me to talk to her. That, on top of the way her facial features fit together…I just didn’t want to look away.

Walking out that morning and finding her gone without a way to contact her, or any information, made me more uncomfortable than I care to admit. I’m not a man that usually feels disappointment. I put things in place to make sure that doesn’t happen, but she slid right past that.

It’s rare.

And I want more.

I told Leslie I didn’t want to formally meet anyone, so she suggested I come by and get a feel of the office before we went to lunch. Meet Mickey, and “fall in love with her and Bold the same way I have.”

I didn’t expect to be thrown immediately back into lust.

But she tells me Please don’t, and I feel ice, like someone’s dumped chilled water over my head. There’s an almost desperate tone in her voice that gives me pause and makes me realize she’s not simply playing hard to get.

I would never force myself on a woman, but more than that, now there’s a puzzle to put together. There’s even more to figure out about this sensual, intelligent woman and I can’t walk away until I know.

“Sorry about that, it was one of my project managers. So, what do you think Mickey? Are you on board?” I hear Leslie enter behind me speaking, and I cross my arms, waiting to see what Mickey will say.

She’s obviously flustered, something that probably doesn’t happen to her often. Part of me feels satisfied that I have that effect on her, and a larger part wonders what happened to the confident woman I met that first night.

What’s changed in these past few months? Whatever it is, whoever, I don’t like it. I like her free.

This woman in front of me is hiding.

“On board?” She echoes, naturally husky voice even lower.

“I’m interested.” I turn my chair to Leslie. “I want to talk to Michaela a bit more over dinner tonight.”

Leslie claps her hands, golden curls shaking and face lit with excitement. “Amazing. I think Hawk is exactly what you need to round things out on the board, Mickey. I might be just a lil’ biased because he’s family, but he really knows his stuff.”

“Wh—,” Mickey starts.

“Have you already made a reservation? Because if not, I love Benjamin’s place for my working dinners.” I can see the wheels turning in Leslie’s head, and I know I have to de-rail her because she’ll have my whole night planned out in her excitement.

“It’s all handled, Lee. Don’t worry about it.” I give my sister a soft smile because she really is the sweetest thing. Growing up, I was soothing her feelings more often than not because kids are mean and she’s always been happy and considerate.

“This is great. This is going to be great.” She grabs her bag from the table, all energy. “Mickey, he’s going to change your life, mark my words.” She laughs. “I’m going to work on the new campaign this week, but I hope this all works out and I see you at the board meeting.” She blows a kiss and leaves the room.

“Has she always been that way?”

“Like an energizer bunny?” I watch her as she walks around the other side of the table.

“Mhm.”

“The doctors said Leslie never seemed like she wanted to sleep in the hospital. She wouldn’t cry, she’d just lay there, eyes wide open and ready.” I stand, meeting her in the middle of the room. “Will you go to dinner with me tonight?”

“You’re asking?” Her distracting lips part in surprise.

“I am.” I put my hands in my pockets, surveying the hesitant look on her face. “What happened to the fearless woman I met that night?”

“She realized she had to grow up a little.”

“And this growing up means denying yourself things you want?” A piece of hair falls over her shoulder as she looks away from me, and I smooth it gently behind her ear, meeting her green eyes. “You’re running a damn good company here, encouraging women to be whoever they are, but you’re hiding?”

Her eyes flare and shutter immediately, and she steps away. “No, I can’t go to dinner with you tonight.” She murmurs.

“And my help? Are you turning that down too?” I challenge.

“I won’t cut off my nose to spite my face. Bold is my priority, and if you’re as good as Leslie says you are, you can liaise with Sienna. I trust her as much as I trust myself to make decisions for us.” She pulls a pad from the middle of the table and scribbles on it before holding it out to me. “Here’s her information.”

When I don’t take it, she sets it on the table and walks towards the door.

“So you’re runnin’?”

She turns back to me, annoyance on her face. “I’m walking away. It was nice formally meeting you.” She leaves the room, and I shake my head as the door closes behind her.

If that woman thinks I’m just going to walk away and stop trying, she’s in for a surprise.

I’ve never once walked away from something I’ve wanted so badly, and I’m sure as hell not starting now.