Chasing Forever(53)

“No, I’m just morbidly curious on the inner workings of your mind.”

“Fine. Probably since the night I met her.” Are you always such a smooth talker, Lucas Evanston? He’d spent years denying it, but the moment she asked him that question with her sassy smile and glowing green eyes, he was sunk, quite literally. There had never been another woman for him and there never would be.

Drew laughed. “Wow, that sucks for you.”

“Thanks for reminding me.” Lucas stood up and started stretching his legs.

“On a brighter note, I’m convinced you’ll be able to conceal your feelings for her at work.”

Lucas peered over at Drew. “Why is that?”

“You’ve successfully hidden them for over six years. What’s another month?”

“Maybe,” Lucas answered, not convinced because a month seemed like an eternity when he’d already lost six years with her.



***



Monday morning, Regan sat in her office staring at the cappuccino she discovered waiting on her desk when she walked in earlier this morning. Strangely, she had convinced herself Lucas would forget about the cappuccino. He’d already won her over, and now that something was actually happening between them, they really needed to be careful at work. They couldn’t take any risks.

Lucas asked her to dinner on Saturday and then brunch on Sunday, and she declined both times. She claimed she had errands to do, but in truth, she needed some separation from him so she could function at work this week.

Also, she could easily evade Lucas’s questions about Parker by text and voicemail. In person, Lucas would press her on the issue, and she couldn’t explain why she hadn’t called Parker and told him she couldn’t go with him to his brother’s engagement party. After going back and forth, she decided to wait to tell Parker until their shift at the restaurant on Thursday. While that didn’t give Parker much time to find another date, she thought she owed it to him to offer him an explanation in person. What that explanation would include, she still didn’t have a clue, but she knew Lucas would have some strong opinions on the matter.

As if on cue, Lucas walked into her office shutting the door behind him. “Good morning.”

“Good morning to you,” she responded.

She glanced at the closed door nervously. “Do you think it’s a good idea to close the door?”

“I’ve sat in closed rooms with you before,” he answered, walking behind her desk to where she sat. “What’s the big deal?”

“That was before.”

Bending his head, he brushed his lips across hers. “Before what?” he asked, smiling mischievously, and her heart fluttered in her chest. Did he have to be so beautiful?

“Don’t play this game. You said we had to be careful. I’m just following your rules.”

“Rules?” he asked playfully as he tilted his head to the side. “I don’t recall discussing any rules.”

“Did you already forget?” Seeing his blank look, she rolled her eyes. “No closed doors,” she said waving her hand in the direction of her door.

He shrugged unconcerned. “I didn’t see you all weekend, and I needed a few minutes alone with you without any prying eyes.”

“Oh, so there are exceptions to your rules,” she commented with raised eyebrows.

He chuckled. “Of course. They’re my rules. I can make exceptions. I’m your boss.”

At the reminder, she froze. “We made the rules to protect our careers—actually, to protect my career. If we’re caught in an inappropriate situation, I’m the one who will be fired.”

He sighed. “I think we’d both be screwed, but it’s not going to happen. I came in here to spend a few minutes with you, not to molest you. Although, I’m tempted to do so now that we’re alone.”

She laughed and waved her finger at him. “Be good.”

“I’m trying, but…” he leaned in and inhaled her scent, “you smell amazing and your hair…” he twisted a smooth auburn strand that had fallen from her hair clip around his finger, “drives me crazy when it’s up like this, exposing your neck.” His finger trailed down her neck and she trembled.

She looked toward the door. “You need to give me some space or we’re going to get caught.”

Sighing, he leaned away from her. He rubbed the back of his neck while looking at the ceiling and then dropped both of his hands to the side. “You intentionally evaded me all weekend. Why?”

Crap. Instinctually, she wanted to deny it, but then she saw his face. He looked vulnerable, and she didn’t like seeing him like that. “I needed a little time alone,” she said softly.