I groan and manage to hold her off till we reach our building and squeeze into the elevator.
“So? Hot date?” she asks in a loud whisper.
I pretend not to notice when a few titters echo around us, and throw her a fulminating look. But she is not to be deterred, so instead of letting her bug me to death I hiss a yes at her and glare at our curious audience.
“Is he hot? What’s his name? Please don’t tell me you finally said yes to Brett in accounting. He still lives with his mom.”
No. I would never say yes to him, and not because he lives with his mom but because he’s sweet and nice and I’d feel terrible having to let him down if he goes for more than what I’m willing to offer.
“Sssht!”
The elevator arrives at her floor, and I breathe out a sigh as she exits, blowing a kiss over her shoulder. By the time we reach the seventh floor the elevator is clear but for me and—
“So, did you go out with Brett in accounting?”
My body reacts predictably to the sound of that slow Southern drawl, and I turn to look at the man who haunted my dreams last night.
“No. He’s too sweet.”
He smiles as he leans over and hits the break button, his chest making contact with my back and leaving a trail of heat.
“Too sweet for you, darlin’? I doubt that,” he drawls, pushing me into the side wall to lean over me, his hands bracketing my head. “You dream about us last night, Hannah Newman? Did the passion I gave you keep you hot and aching for me?”
Yes, yes it had. I’d tossed and turned all night thinking about the feel and taste of his mouth, wondered if he’ll be that sweet when we go to bed together or if he’ll be a wild, uncontrollable wave of pounding lust. I’d replayed every moment of our time spent in the car, and it had gotten so bad I’d finally rolled out of bed at four and cleaned the apartment just to have something to do.
“No,” I lie, meeting his eyes challengingly.
He smiles and leans in till his lips are a hair’s breadth away.
“Liar. You did think of me. You wondered what would have happened if you’d given in and invited me upstairs to your apartment. You imagined my hands and lips all over your body. Did you wonder what I’d do first if I got you naked, Hannah?”
I lick my lips, groaning when my tongue ghosts over the pillow softness of his bottom lip, and close my eyes.
“I need to get back to work,” I breathe, feeling out of my depth and precariously close to crawling him like a vine and kissing him until our lungs are starved for air.
A soft kiss whispers over my lips, and I close my eyes on a moan. He could demand so much more right now, and I’d give it to him, I am so enthralled.
“Remember what I told you,” he says, pulling away to hit the button.
When we reach my floor I walk out on shaky legs and turn back.
“What?”
“No panties,” he mouths, and winks as the door closes, leaving me to stumble back to my desk and the work I know I won’t concentrate on now.
I am engrossed in work an hour later, thanks to my strict sense of control, when Jordan stomps in, a scowl plastered all over his face. Uh-oh, looks like Lucy’s predictions have come true. Lucy had called me a few minutes earlier, laughing about the presentation he’d given, a presentation that is not mine but the bikini babe version he’d put together himself. I’d warned him not to go that route, but…
“Get me some goddamned coffee and get your ass in here with your notepad.”
By the time I walk into his office and set the coffee down in front of him I’m madder than a bobcat.
“They didn’t go for it.”
Well, of course not. They’re trying to promote environmentally friendly cruise liners, not a bachelor’s dream vacation.
“I’m sorry to hear that, Jordan. Did you pitch the presentation like we practised?” I ask, watching his face redden.
No, of course you didn’t, because you didn’t do the presentation we discussed, you did your usual ‘hot babes sell’ shtick.
“I’ve gotta leave early today, we’re driving out to Margery’s parents’ place for the weekend, so I’ll need to cancel for tonight’s party as well. And don’t forget to call Gillespie’s office and schedule something for Monday morning.”
I take it all down and go back to my desk, relieved when a few minutes later Jordan breezes out of the office, leaving me alone for the rest of the day.
The dress stares mockingly at me from the sofa, where I’ve laid it out, and I smile for the first time all day.
Looks like I’m getting something out of today after all.
Chapter Eight