Sugar’s heart was thundering. She felt her pulse beating rapidly beneath her ear, and her hands shook lightly from her nerves. Beads of sweat dotted the valley between her breasts. She was on edge, the day of the meeting finally here. The day she’d confront Colton and he’d find out who she really was.

Sitting behind her desk, she exhaled slowly, thinking back to the last time she’d seen him at the dog park. It had been tense and uncomfortable, where they stood side-by-side but not speaking. Even days later she still felt his kiss, a tingling on her lips that had her breathing increasing.

“It’s time,” Rebecca said, one of the assistants for today’s meeting.

Sugar nodded and stood, smoothing her hands down her pencil skirt, feeling so damn nervous she could’ve thrown up.

Grabbing the files and making her way down the hallway into the meeting room, with each step she took she felt even more lightheaded. She’d seen how this day went in her head a million different times, all ending with Colton being hurt and upset. But maybe things would be different? Maybe he wouldn’t see her as a liar, but as having been too afraid to say anything?

When she entered the meeting room there was already a handful of colleagues standing around. They were talking about the fine details that would be spoken about at today’s merger discussion.

Sugar set her files down and took a seat. As a communication director, everything went through her before it got to Colton‘s company. That’s why there was the massive hold-up: because she’d dragged her feet. Although they probably could’ve just gone ahead and went through without her. But her standing within the company, the fact she’d been there for long enough to have respect and input in most matters, made her an asset.

She’d worked hard to get to this position.

Sugar kept staring at the clock, watching as the seconds ticked by, waiting for Colton and his team to arrive. Finally, she had to stand up and walk over to the floor-to-ceiling windows, staring down at the city below.

She got lost in the cars moving by, the people walking on the sidewalks. She tried to focus on anything and everything that wasn’t Colton and how she felt, or how today would go.

But it was pointless. He consumed her thoughts.

Sugar didn’t know how long she stood there, but it was when she heard people entering the room that her entire body tensed. Slowly turning around, she stared at the entrance, not seeing Colton yet, but watching as his team stepped in one by one. It was only a matter of time before he walked through, before he spotted her and that shock no doubt would cover his face.

As the seconds moved by, the closer she got to seeing him, the queasier she felt.

And then he stepped in, his focus on the front of the meeting room, his body covered in an expensive suit. He had yet to spot her, but it was clear by his expression that he was ready for this. He was in his zone, every inch the CEO.

His over six foot height and muscular build looked powerful and male, and made every feminine part of her come alive.

And then it was like time stood still as he turned and faced her. Their gazes locked and the air thickened, heated. Although she had no doubt he was probably surprised to see her here, he showed no emotion. His expression was stoic, collected.

He moved toward her, his body big and strong, his movements fluid. He stopped a few feet away, placed his hands in his front pockets, and looked down at her quizzically. Sugar found herself licking her lips, trying to feign control but failing miserably.

“You’re probably wondering why I’m here.”

He didn’t speak for several seconds and she swallowed, her throat feeling so tight and dry.

She licked her lips again and saw the way his gaze lowered to watch the act. She felt heat fill her, a flush no doubt covering her face is it crept up her neck.

“Miss Albright, I think we’re ready to start.”

Neither looked at who spoke, but she watched as one of Colton’s eyebrows lifted, saw the way the corner of his mouth kicked up.

“Miss Albright? The same one who gave me the runaround for the last couple weeks?”

“Yeah, sorry about that.” Neither moved after that, and for long seconds they just stood there staring at each other. It was then she felt people watching her. She looked over to see half of the conference room staring at them curiously. She cleared her throat and straightened, taking on her professional stance. “We should probably get to it then?”

She didn’t wait for him to respond as she started making her way past him. But Colton reached out and took her arm in his hand, his fingers curling gently around her wrist. She looked over her shoulder at him, trying to stay in control, but she felt anything but.

“We will be talking about this after,” he said in a stern, authoritative voice.

“Yeah, I guess that would probably be a good idea.”

He held onto her arm a little longer than was probably necessary, but Sugar couldn’t deny that she liked his touch, craved it even.

She didn’t know what Colton might say once they were alone, but she definitely knew what she wanted to do with him and it was less than professional.