Page 27 of Foreplay with the Boss

CHAPTER 15

Jameson

That is the biggest frickin’ glass of wine I’ve ever seen in my life,” Kat said as I placed it in front of her. I settled into the corner booth near the back, where the lights were dim and a wall partially sequestered us from the view of the bar and most everyone else. “Are you already trying to back down from the two drinks we agreed upon?”

She pressed her lips together. “I only agreed on one.”

I gave a what can you do shrug and flashed her my most winning grin, and she shook her head like she couldn’t believe she was letting me get away with it. It made me want to see just how much I could get away with.

An mmm noise escaped her lips as she took a sip of wine. “You sprang for the good stuff.”

“Only the best for my fellow, super sexy employees.” “I’ll be sure to let everyone at the office know.”

I chuckled and scooted a little closer, draping my arm over the back of her and then sipping my wine. I was more of a scotch guy myself, but I needed to be at the top of my game tonight to make any progress with Kat.

“To working together,” I said, lifting my glass and she tapped hers to mine.

Both of us seemed to be decompressing from the day, shaking off work and the worries of tomorrow. This was the earliest I’d left the office in a long time, but the days when I had nonstop appointments were always more exhausting, and I could do a little more work once I got home.

Kat lifted a couple of fingers to her temple. “Man, I probably should’ve eaten more before going right for the wine.”

“Do you want me to order food?”

She tipped her head one way and then the other. “No. I’ll eat when I get home. I’m not really hungry so much as feeling like this wine is hitting me faster than it should be.”

“Still not getting out of that second drink,” I joked. “Guess I’ll order a Shirley Temple, then.”

“Works for me. I’m more interested in spending time with you than getting you drunk.” She’d looked tense at the end of the day, the same way I’d felt, and I hoped this was helping her unwind. Just being next to her sent my cares drifting away.

It’d be super relaxing if I wasn’t so innately aware of every inch of her body.

I toyed with the ends of her hair and she sunk back a little farther, closing her eyes for a moment. “What did you mean earlier today when you said that having a passionate relationship wasn’t in the cards for you?”

Her eyes opened, but they were also carefully shuttered. “Nothing. It was stupid.”

“Not buying it. And I think you’re wrong about that. I’ve only known you for a little while, and I can tell you’re a passionate person. You deserve passion.”

She scrunched up her eyebrows and lowered her gaze to the stem of her glass. I could tell her thoughts were swirling, but she wasn’t letting me in. I cupped her chin and gently tipped her face up so I could look into those big hazel eyes. “Talk to me.”

“I’ve had the most boring relationships. Almost zero passion. And I kept thinking it was them, but maybe it’s me. Maybe I just don’t attract that kind of guy.”

“That’s bullshit. Because I’m attracted to you, and you and me, babe…” I let my hand drift down her neck and then traced her collarbone with my fingertips, my blood pumping faster when her eyes fluttered. “We have what they call sparks.”

“I can’t disagree,” she said, her breathy voice encouraging me to continue the drag of my fingertips lower so that they grazed the necklaces that dipped between her breasts. Her nipples hardened, visible through the fabric of her shirt, and they weren’t the only things getting hard. “But sparks aren’t everything. I’ve experienced sparks before, only for them to fail to translate…elsewhere.”

“You mean sex.”

She glanced around and seemed satisfied that we were alone enough to continue our discussion. “Yes. I’ve felt a lot of chemistry with a guy, only to be disappointed in the bedroom. I kept thinking that if I was willing to work on it, it’d get better, but…” She exhaled a long breath and held up a hand. “Whoa. This is definitely crossing a line. I shouldn’t be talking about this with you. Dang delicious wine and its tongue-loosening qualities.”

“It’s too late to backtrack now, so you might as well spill.”

I thought she’d refuse, but then her eyes met mine. “It’s just… So I have certain…”

“Let’s work on those full sentences. You’re holding back again.”

“Exactly.”

I lowered my eyebrows, confusion no doubt showing on my face.

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