All weekend I thought of nothing but what he’d said, and finally convinced myself I was reading far more into it than I should be. Putting aside the fact he was my boss, a guy like him would never be interested in me anyway. I vaguely wondered if he had a line of women following him everywhere. It really wouldn’t surprise me. Like lines from detention, I repeated to myself I would control my daydreams about him. It wasn’t healthy—or normal.
Monday morning soon arrived and I couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief when I realised I was the first one in.
The building I worked in was three storeys high. As was just my luck, I happened to be on the top floor. To the left of my desk was a long line of offices, one for each of the directors. I sat with my back against the far wall, enabling me a clear view of anyone who walked in, plus the visitors seating area in front of me.
Awaiting their next guests, the plush grey sofas needed plumping, and the country house magazines strewn all over the glass table needed tidying. I hummed to myself as I fussed over everything. My thoughts trailed off to Paul for just a second and I became all fingers and thumbs. The magazines fell from my hands, scattering across the soft beige carpet. I cursed under my breath and cleared up my mess. As I stood back up and turned around, I screamed as I met Paul’s handsome face inches from my own.
“Oh my god!” The adrenaline pulsing through my veins made me lightheaded. I couldn’t quite work out if it was shock or nerves.
“Good morning,” he said, giving me a warm smile.
“Morning. You scared the hell out of me. I didn’t think anyone was in yet.”
“Sorry to disappoint.”
The tension between us was impossible to ignore. I felt as if I could reach out and strum it like a strained elastic band. Every passing second heightened the sizzling atmosphere to new levels. I didn’t know what to do except escape this awkward situation, so I offered him a cup of coffee.
“That would be lovely, thank you.” As he moved behind me, en-route to his office, he whispered in my ear, “And I would love to be your God.”
Shock rendered me motionless for several seconds. By the time I whipped around to face him, he was already closing his office door. I didn’t imagine that, did I? Maybe I wasn’t reading too much into this after all.
Past my desk was a small corridor leading to the small kitchen. In a complete daze, I wandered down and made his coffee. As I raced through all the recent happenings, I realised with a heart-warming swell he was definitely hitting on me. He had to be.
I took his coffee to him, surprised to see we were still on our own. My gut began to churn as I wondered exactly why that was.
“Thank you.” He smiled and cleared his throat. “Just you and me today, Kyra.”
My heart stopped dead, anticipation lodging in my throat. “Oh. Okay. I haven’t been informed of anything to alter the movements diary.”
“Andrews and Chapman have a delayed flight back from New York—no doubt you will have an email from them both. Michaels is off sick and Harris is on holiday as you know. Nicholls, Tate, and Atkins are in the meeting in Devon with Mr. Collins. That leaves just me. And you.”
“Okay.” I thought over my options for a split second before a naughty thought skimmed its way past my lips. “I guess I’m all yours, then.”
He raised his eyebrows, seemingly stunned by my response. I grasped my opportunity with both hands, and left him to chew over it as I sashayed my way out of his office.
Two can play that game, mate. You’re not catching me off guard anymore and enjoying it.
He remained in his office for the rest of the morning, only appearing as the clock struck one p.m.—lunchtime. As I gathered my bag, ready to head out, he strode towards me, the confidence in his advance making my imagination run riot once again.
“Chicken tikka?”
I stared back dumbfounded, my image of him grabbing my face and kissing me bursting like a balloon under a pin.
“The sandwich shop. That is where you were going, right?”
I nodded, words forming into sentences in my mind but still not reaching my voice box.
“Well, I’m going there, so do you want me to get yours for you?”
“Um okay, thanks.” I started fishing around in my bag for my purse, grateful for any chance to distract myself from my thoughts.
“I think I can afford to buy you a sandwich, Kyra.”
I collapsed in my chair, my brows furrowing together. He was, without doubt, hitting on me. He had to be. But then I hadn’t seen him around other women so maybe this was just him. Fifteen minutes later, when he came back with my sandwich, I still sat there trying to work out what the hell was going on.
I smiled and gave him my thanks as I took my lunch from him. He disappeared back inside his office, leaving me wondering about his actions once again. I headed to the kitchen to make a cup of tea, and help calm my thoughts. Unfortunately, daydreams of me spread over his desk took control as I stirred the milk in—and kept on stirring.
“Have you stirred that enough?”
I shrieked in surprise, jumped, and splashed tea all over the worktop as I dropped the spoon with a clatter. My cheeks flamed up in an instant under his radiating gaze. It suddenly struck me I had no way out of here—he was stood in the doorway, the only way in and out. I suddenly felt like an antelope cornered by a lion.
“Daydreaming again?”
I nodded.
He stepped towards me and lowered his voice. “You really need to indulge me with your daydreams, Kyra. I’m curious.”
“Oh, they’re nothing. Just wondering what will happen in the soaps and stuff on TV.”
“Ahh.” He took another step towards me, the gap between us now barely a couple of feet. “And there was me hoping they might have been about me.”
My mouth dropped open. “What?”
A beaming smile spread over his face, and he closed the gap between us completely. I didn’t know where to look or what to say.
His attention fell to my mug. “Can I try your tea? Seeing as you always make me coffee?”
I nodded. “But you never ask for tea.”
“Well, I do like a bit of variety now and again.”
My heart rate tripled. He reached past me, brushing my arms as he did so. A breath caught in my throat as crippling tingles nearly brought me to my knees. His eyes met mine—nothing but glittering gems of mischief.
He sipped my tea and gave a small groan. “Good tea. Is everything you make this good?”
“What…what do you mean?” My mind now raced in time with my heartbeat. Where was this going? Was he going to kiss me? Or was he just enjoying seeing me squirm?
“Anything.” He shrugged his shoulders, trailing his tongue over his bottom lip. “Drinks, food, other things…”
Before I could even register his words, the office door slammed shut, alerting us to someone’s presence. The building tension melted like an ice cube in hot water. I scurried my way around him to see who the visitor was. It was one of the managers looking for Mr. Collins. Explaining the situation whilst quietly thankful for their intervention, I flopped down in my chair as they left.
Where the hell had that been going? Paul appeared in his office doorway as the door clicked shut behind the manager. “Can I talk to you please?”
I knew for sure I wasn’t imagining things now.
I stood up and edged my way through his door, shutting it behind me. I didn’t know why, considering no one else was in. Just a habit, I think, from hearing the dreaded can we talk sentence.
When I turned around, his handsome face was millimetres from mine. I jumped back, finding the solid wall behind me. He stared straight through me, boring a hole through any weak defences I might have had against him.
“Paul—”
He grabbed my waist and pressed his lips to mine, kissing me with such hunger it took my breath away. He tickled my lips with his tongue, and when I yielded to his wants, he explored me with raging desire. Passion and urgency took hold of us both, spurring us into lust-fuelled action. His hands wandered over my body and I yanked his shirt free, desperate to feel his smooth skin.
Needing air, I broke our brief embrace, managing to whisper, “What the hell?”
“I’m sorry…did I read you wrong?”
I couldn’t help the grin spreading across my swollen lips. “No.”