Page 36 of Without Regret

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Trevor

When we boarded the jet to fly back to Dallas, I immediately noticed that Emma, in her gray silk blouse with her black slacks, looked classy and gorgeous. It took everything in me not to pull her into my arms and kiss away the obvious defenses in her eyes. But it also amused me no end that having me ignore her over the course of the flight got under her skin.

Good. Because she’d definitely gotten under mine.

I wasn’t a guy who was gifted in business like a lot of my friends in college. I was the type who studied hard and wasn’t afraid to put in the work for something I wanted. I felt that trait carried over into my personal life as well. I wanted Emma. More than for a single night. And I wasn’t afraid to put in the effort for it.

After leaving the airport, I went by the grocery store, and then finally swung by the boarding kennel about twenty minutes away—a place that was nicer than my college dorm room had been—to pick up Rufus. He was very happy to see me. I always felt guilty leaving him since he was a rescue dog and had once been left behind for good. But he seemed to have charmed the staff, who assured me he’d been spoiled the entire time.

If I was excited to see Rufus, he clearly felt the same way, dancing around me with joy. “Who’s my good boy?” I asked him.

After taking him home, I changed over from my business attire into workout gear and took him out to the field for some exercise with his ball. My gaze couldn’t resist finding Emma’s balcony. I had to fight a smile at the way the curtains moved. She was watching.

I wasn’t intentionally trying to play games with her, but I knew for certain if I came across as too anxious, it would do me no favors with her. So, I let her sit there and wait with anticipation while I plotted my next approach.

After tuckering out the big guy, I took him back to the apartment. There, I fixed sandwiches for both Emma and me, happy I’d thought to get food. I wasn’t much of a cook, but I preferred a home-cooked meal to dining out. I’d hoped to bring the simple meal over to her, but the knock at my door came as a shock.

I opened it to find she’d changed into a pair of those maddening yoga pants. Together with her tank top, the outfit made me drool over her tight little body. All I showed her, however, was a grin. “Hi, sugar, what’s up?”

Doubt was reflected in her eyes while attitude was evident in her stance. She appeared unable to believe she was seeking me out, which left her looking ready for combat rather than a conversation. “Do you call all the girls sugar or just me?”

It took biting my lip to keep from laughing. “Is that why you’re here? To ask that question.”

“I— You know what? Forget it.”

She turned, but I snagged her wrist, pulling her inside and shutting the door, caging her against it.

“Not so fast. You came over here for something. What is it?”

“You ignored me on the plane, and I got to thinking that maybe last night was a one-night deal, and if it is, that’s fine. Just tell me. Hell, that’s my usual, so it’ll probably be for the best.”

Her uncharacteristic insecurity was completely endearing and gave me hope I might be getting to her the way she’d gotten to me. Perhaps, rather than having had a relationship gone bad, she’d never had one to begin with and now was navigating new terrain. “You do realize the plane this morning was a no-win situation for me, right?”

She scrunched her face in confusion. “What are you talking about?”

“I mean if I’d snuck into that bathroom with you to do this—” I pulled her hips in line with mine and rubbed my growing erection against her center until I could feel her piercing and hear her gasp at the contact. “Then you would’ve been mad about me blurring the lines between work and personal, especially with our boss outside of the door. But ignoring you also made you angry. So it was a no-win.”

She heaved a sigh. “You’re right. And that’s why this isn’t going to work. So we should make sure what happened last night doesn’t affect our professional relationship.”

Her walls were slamming down. But I merely quirked a brow, having expected it. “I don’t think your body is on board with your plan.” She was practically humming with energy, her face inches from me. “If you’re scared—”

Those were fighting words.

“I’m not. But I don’t think you’re prepared for what it is I’d want from a sexual relationship. There’s a reason I don’t date nice guys, Trevor.”

Jesus. More blood immediately rushed to my cock. “Try me.”

She had challenge in her eyes along with something I couldn’t identify. Maybe insecurity?

“I like it rough. And you’re too much of a gentleman to be calling me names in the bedroom once we get busy.”

“What kind of names?”

“If you have to ask, then you don’t get it.”

“Derogatory names?”

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