I decided we should leave for Atlanta on Sunday afternoon instead of Monday morning the way I had originally planned. If there was one thing I hated, it was flying out on the same day as a meeting. Experience had taught me when you did, you might as well beg for a delay because nine times out of ten that was what would happen.

I called Mia on Saturday morning and she didn’t sound as if she cared when we left. We would fly back home on Tuesday. Since she didn’t have a company credit card yet, I told her I’d pay for everything, but that if I didn’t happen to be around, she could expense it. That seemed to surprise her, but I couldn’t figure out why.

We flew out late Sunday afternoon. It was the first time I’d ever seen her in anything casual. I’d thought she looked hot dressed up for dinner the night she agreed to come work for me. But seeing her in a pair of worn jeans and a tee shirt that looked silky soft, she looked just as amazing.

“Thanks for agreeing to fly out early,” I told her as we waited for our flight to board. “I don’t like flying in the day of a meeting.”

“It’s no bother,” she said. “But if that’s the case, why didn’t you book us on Sunday flights to begin with?”

“I didn’t book them initially. I had Sara do it. I didn’t even see the arrangements she’d made until I got home on Friday night.”

She nodded and at that moment we are called to board. Once we were seated, we started talking about Atlanta. She’d never been, but had always wanted to. I told her we used to vacation in Georgia near Saint Simmons Island. For the rest of the flight we chatted non-stop.

It was refreshing talking with Mia. Unlike the women I went out with, she didn’t try to be anyone or anything she wasn’t. She was just Mia and you could either take her or leave her. She didn’t seem to care which.

I wanted to take her.

Repeatedly.

But I couldn’t because I was her boss. I could, however, take her out for a nice dinner and I had every intention of doing so. I planned to ask her as soon as we checked in and before we headed to our rooms.

We were standing in line to do just that and I was getting a bit impatient. Apparently, there was some sort of convention or something taking place at the hotel and a lot of the attendees were checking in at the same time we were.

Finally, the guy in front of us stepped up and we were next in line.

“Thank goodness,” I said. “There for a minute I was afraid we’d be in line until tomorrow and flying in early wouldn’t have done us any good.”

She chuckled at my weak attempt at humor and I was pleased to have gotten a reaction out of her.

“Mia?” Someone off to our side asked.

We both turned to see who it was. Mia squealed. Then she let go of her bag and ran to the guy, throwing her arms around him.

“Oh my, God, Benjamin Douglas!” She nearly yelled.

“Wow, Mia,” he said when she stepped away. “How long has it been?”

“Four or five years, I’m sure.”

I could say I watched them, but the truth was I studied them. Looking for any clues in their body language to tell me if they were old lovers or merely friends. I was leaning toward lover, but I really didn’t have anything concrete to base that on. Either way, what were the odds of Mia running into someone she knew in Atlanta?

“Sir?” the lady at the front desk said.

I waved Mia away when she took a step toward me. “I’ve got this. Don’t worry.”

I did my best not to be distracted or try and eavesdrop on their conversation. Once I’d secured our rooms and got us checked in, I walked to where the two of them were talking, bringing Mia’s bag with me.

“Tenor,” she said, her eyes sparkling. “This is Benjamin Douglas. We went to college together and he’s here for the cyber security conference. Benjamin, this is Tenor Butler. My boss.”

Benjamin and I shook hands and lied about how nice it was meet each other. Yes, they had definitely been lovers, I could tell now. It was something in the way he looked at her. Like he had some sort of personal or secret knowledge about her that he knew I didn’t have.

“If you don’t have dinner plans tonight, Mia,” he said, shutting me out of the conversation entirely. “I’d love to take you somewhere to catch up.”

Mia’s eyes grew wide with excitement but all at once she sighed and dropped her shoulders. “I'd love to, but I can't leave Tenor alone.”

By the way Benjamin glared at me, it was clear he wouldn’t care if I fell off the face of the Earth and never came back. I purposely chose not to pay him any attention, deciding instead to focus on Mia. It was obvious she wanted to go with him, but if I asked her, she’d stay with me.

As much as I wanted her, I wanted the feeling to be mutual, and if she stayed and had dinner with me, it would be out of duty. I couldn’t do that. I was going to be the bigger person and I would let her go.

I shot them both a smile I didn’t feel and lied. “Yes, you can. You two haven’t seen each other in years, there’s no way I’m going to stand in the way of that. I’m a big boy, I can do dinner alone. Besides.” I gave a fake yawn. “I’m really tired and I was thinking of turning in early anyway.”

“Are you sure?” Mia asked, raising an eyebrow just a touch.

“Absolutely.” Because what difference would one more lie make?

“Mia,” Benjamin said. “Why don’t you go drop your things in your room and meet me back down here in about forty-five minutes?”

Mia beamed at him. Fucking beamed. “That would be great. It’ll give me time to freshen up. I don’t know why traveling always makes me feel so dirty.”

She couldn’t have meant for it to sound hot, but somehow it did. Benjamin obviously thought so too, I saw the way he tried to shift himself without anyone noticing. But I noticed and if I hadn’t already decided I didn’t like the man, that would have done it.

He smiled at her. “I’ll see you in forty-five.”

She didn’t move, so I held out her room key. “Mia, here’s your key. I’ll get the elevator.”

“What?” She blinked a few times. “Right. My key. See you in a few, Benjamin.”

I turned toward the center of the lobby to where the elevators were located. Once again feeling the press of the crowd around me. What were the odds that with all the people present for the conference, that the date of the conference just happened to occur on the same day that we took an unplanned trip to Atlanta, and that Mia and Benjamin would run into each other in the hotel lobby?

“Wow,” Mia said as we piled into an elevator with a horde of people. “Talk about your small world. I can’t believe I ran into Benjamin. It’s been years.”

I knew that, of course, since I’d been standing right there when it happened. It wasn’t like I needed a replay. But I didn’t say anything of the sort. I shook my head and muttered something about a small world.

We were staying on the twenty-fifth floor out of thirty and if we didn’t stop at every floor on the way up to our room, it certainly felt like we did.

“Are you sure you don’t mind?” She asked somewhere around the eighteenth floor.

“I’m sure. You go have a wonderful evening catching up with your old friend. I’m going to order room service and call it a night.” The elevator stopped on the twenty-second floor and we were the only ones still on. “Let’s meet for breakfast tomorrow in the restaurant downstairs around seven-thirty.”

She nodded and the elevator stopped on our floor. When Sara booked our rooms, she asked for them to be close together and adjoining if possible. Of course that meant Mia was in the room right next to mine. And of course, I could hear her door close as she stepped inside. Which meant I’d be able to hear what time she got in later that night.

Because I knew I wouldn’t stop listening until she was safely back inside.

It wasn’t until about an hour later it hit me: what if she brought him back to her room?

I didn't allow myself to dwell on the fact that Mia was out with an ex-lover who appeared to be much too interested in reconnecting and reigniting their past. I was her boss, her employer, the man who signed her check, and as such, I had no business even thinking about her love life or who she had dinner with. It had nothing to do with our relationship. Nothing.

Yet, it didn't matter how many times I repeated that to myself, I wasn't able to get my mind to accept it.

I eventually ordered room service the way I told her I would. I tried to pretend it was because I was really tired but I wasn't. The real reason was I didn't want to leave the room. And also because I secretly hoped Mia’s date was horribly awful and she'd run out of wherever he took her. Instead of going to her room, she'd knock on my door. I'd let her in and we'd walk to the couch. I would be quiet and let her take charge of the conversation.

In my mind, I planned it all out. Eventually, she'd tell me what happened. I wasn't sure exactly. Sometimes I made Benjamin an utter and complete ass from the very beginning. But as much enjoyment as I got out of those scenarios, I didn't head in that direction the majority of the time because I didn't think Benjamin would act that way. Nothing on him but more to the fact I didn't think Mia would be attracted to a man like that.

I'm honestly not sure how many different paths I went down trying to picture how Mia’s date was going. In retrospect, I knew it wasn't a healthy way to spend my time. But then again, I was holed up in my hotel room, basically stalking my employee in an effort to eavesdrop on her date. So yeah, healthy wasn't on the menu.

I jerked awake at the sound of the door to her room opening. I sat up and looked at the clock. Half past midnight. What the fuck? Where had she been so long and when had I fallen asleep? I didn't move from my spot on the couch though because it was the best place for me to hear if someone was with her.

Was he?

“Are you sure I can't talk you into staying with me tonight?”

Fucking, Benjamin.

“No,” Mia said and her voice was stern and almost angry with maybe a hint of fear. “I've already said no and I let you walk me to my room, so now I think it's time for you to leave.”

I jumped to my feet. I'd never heard Mia use that tone of voice. I wasn't sure what was happening but it didn't sound right. Something was definitely off.

“Now, Mia, don't be like that. Come on over here and give me a kiss.”

“I've already said no.” Mia’s voice definitely held a hint of fear and I was halfway across the floor when he spoke again.

“But if you’ll agree to one kiss, I bet I can get you to change your mind on sharing my room.”

“Benjamin. Leave.”

He may have answered her. I wasn’t sure. By that time, listening was the very last thing on my mind. The only thing I cared about was getting him away from her. It took a matter of seconds before I was out of my room and in hers.

I didn’t spare more than a fleeting thought that neither one of them had locked the door, because as I burst into her room, he had her backed against the couch and he was towering over her.

That was all it took. He had his fucking hands on her after she’d said no and asked him to leave. I’d kill him with my bare hands. Fucking bastard. He stood about four inches above my six foot-one-inch frame, but it didn’t matter. I had the element of surprise, and I also felt as if I suddenly possessed the strength of fifty men. Before he knew what was happening, I had him against the wall with my hands around his throat.

“She said no, ass wipe,” I said through clenched teeth. “And she asked you to leave. Want to try and fucking explain why you’re still here?”

I didn’t give him a chance to explain because no matter what he said, he’d only piss me off more. Keeping my hold on his neck, I led him to the door, and shoved him through it. Slamming it shut and engaging the locks for good measure.

Still facing the door, I took three deep breaths before turning toward Mia.

She’d moved and was now sitting on the couch, her face buried in her hands. She wasn’t crying, not that I could tell, anyway. But her shoulders were shaking.

Seeing her like that, visibly upset and vulnerable, made me want to go after Benjamin and pound him into the ground. The one thing that kept me from doing just that was Mia needed me more than I needed to hit him.

I didn’t want to touch her, not after that. I was too afraid doing so would do nothing but upset her. There was no way any touch from me would bring her any measure of comfort. Hell, I wasn’t even certain if she felt safe with me being in the room with her, but I’d be damned if I’d leave her alone until I was one hundred ten percent convinced she was fine.

I took a tentative seat on the couch beside her, careful not to accidentally touch her. “Mia?” I asked in a whisper. “Are you okay?”

She slowly lifted her head. “No,” she answered and though I saw fear in her eyes, I saw something else that made me believe her when she said, “No, I’m not okay. But I will be.”

“I know that for a fact. Don’t you doubt it for a second.”

She dipped her head as if suddenly shy and I once more held back from touching her. I cleared my throat. “Will you tell me what happened tonight?”

She nodded, but it took a few seconds before she started. When she did, however, even though her voice was low, it was strong. They had met in the lobby as planned and Benjamin suggested they hang out at the bar before heading somewhere to eat.

Mia said she was a bit tired which wasn’t a surprise to her. Traveling always made her feel that way. They spent longer in the bar than she’d anticipated and she couldn’t figure out why. Several times she’d hinted at going to get something to eat, but Benjamin was never ready. Either he wanted to watch a replay of whatever sport the bar had on or else he would shake his head.

It wasn’t until nearly two hours had passed that she finally stood up and told him she was getting something to eat. She didn’t care if he stayed or went.

“He came with me,” she said. “I told him I wasn’t going out anywhere because it was too late and I was too tired and hungry. He shrugged and said that was fine.”

“How did he act at dinner?” I asked, trying to wrap my head around what exactly had happened.

“That’s the strange thing, he wasn’t anything like the way he was at the bar. He was much more in line with the guy I remembered him being. In a way, it felt like that time at the bar didn’t happen or else it didn’t happen like I remembered it.”

“How much had you had to drink by this time?” I hated asking her, but I wanted to know if her judgment had somehow been compromised. I didn’t place it past this guy not to drug her drink.

“That’s the funny thing, I hadn’t had anything. In the bar I only had two tonic waters and I had iced tea for dinner.” At my raised eyebrow, she continued. “I can’t drink on an empty stomach.”

“What happened after dinner?” I asked.

She hugged herself, rubbing her arms as she spoke. “Not much of anything. We lingered over our meal and by the time we left the restaurant, it was almost midnight. He asked if I’d like to go back to his room, but I said no.”

“And he asked if he could walk you to yours?” I finished, guessing the rest.

She nodded. “I knew he’d try to get inside, but I never thought he’d use force.” She closed her eyes. “Thank goodness you were awake and in the room next door. I can’t imagine what would have happened if you hadn’t shown up.”

Unfortunately, I was almost positive she knew exactly what would have happened if I hadn’t been able to get to her in time. That was probably the reason for the shiver that ran through her body.

“Are you cold?” I asked, standing and feeling the need to do something. “Can I get you a blanket or some water?”

“Do you know what I’d really like?”

“No, tell me.” Please.

She looked up at me and glanced away quickly, biting her bottom lip.

“Mia?” I sat back down.

“Will you hold me?”

It took a few seconds for her request to make sense in my head. “Are you sure?” I asked.

“Yes.” She shifted toward me, so close our legs touched. “I trust you and I feel safe with you.”

There was no way I could turn her down. Not when she made that request and looked at me with those trusting eyes of hers. She could ask for the moon and I’d try to get it for her. The intensity I felt about her shocked me.

I put a hesitant arm around her, but she wanted nothing to do with my hesitation. She took my hand and pulled my arms tighter around her shoulders while at the same time, moving even closer to me and tucking her head under my chin. It was only once she had settled herself that her body sagged against mine and the warm breath of her sigh caressed my neck.

“I was so tired after dinner,” she said. “But now I don’t think I could go to sleep if you made me.”

I lowered my head, just a touch, so I could smell her hair. The scent was citrusy and reminded me of sunshine. “Do you want to call the police and report what happened?” I asked, because it was a question that had to be asked.

“No,” she answered.

“Let me rephrase. Do you think you should report what happened?”

“I’ve been thinking about that and I don’t know. I mean, if you look at it, nothing really happened.”

“Only because I stopped it,” I reminded her. Not that she needed or wanted a reminder, I was sure.

“But that doesn’t take away from the fact that nothing happened.” Without waiting for a response, she continued, “I’m not even sure if the police could do anything anyway. It’s not like he lives here.”

“I hate the thought of that scumbag getting away. Knowing you aren’t going to report him makes me want to beat him up, just for the hell of it,” I said, though I hope I kept just how angry I was with the man somewhat hidden for fear I might scare her.

She snuggled deeper into my arms. “He won’t get away with anything. I firmly believe that karma is real and that she’s also a bitch.”

“Does that mean if I see him in the hotel tomorrow, I can’t hit him?” Because if that was her assumption, she needed to know I wouldn’t be able to hold back.

“No way. If you see him tomorrow, feel free to knock him a good one.”

I pulled back just a bit. Just enough so she could see my face. I thanked her for having the confidence in me to lay Benjamin out. However, I had a feeling deep in my gut that told me Benjamin would no longer be listed as a guest of the hotel. That made me all sorts of happy. “I’m glad you feel that way,” I told her. “Because I believe in karma, too. Except my karma has fists.”

She laughed and my heart melted. “That’s the best kind of karma there is.”

For a second she was back to her happy-go-lucky self and her smile was so beautiful, I couldn’t stop myself from running my thumb over her lips. So soft, just as I’d imagined and the most sensuous shade of pink I’d ever seen. I wanted to discover how she tasted. She sucked in a breath and I could have kicked myself. What had I been thinking to touch her like that? I was such an idiot.

“I’m sorry.” I dropped my arm from around her shoulders and tried to push away from her.

She placed her hand on my knee. “No.”