Page 14 of Bedding the Baby Daddy

“What?” She rubbed a hand over her forehead and looked at him in confusion.

“There’s like two pieces of lettuce and one olive. What the hell kind of lunch is this? No wonder you’re fainting.”

A small smile quirked its way out of her lush lips before she wiped her expression clean. “I happen to like my food. And don’t worry about the lightheadedness. I just didn’t sleep well last night. What are you doing?”

“I’m fanning you with a file, what does it look like?” Dante was irritated and he wasn’t sure why. The woman needed a BLT and a beer. That would set her right. But the odds that he could get her to eat any of that were zero. So she was going to have to just sit there and let him fan her.

She swatted at his hand. “Don’t be ridiculous, Dante.”

“Just hush up and let me take care of you for a second, Aurora.”

Her eyes widened as she stared up at him. She worried her bottom lip between her teeth. Her voice was small when she spoke again, confusion and vulnerability warring in her eyes. “That’s what you want?”

He set the file down and didn’t break eye contact, knowing that they were suddenly talking about so much more than just her fainting spell. “I want anything you’re willing to give me. Anything.” His response was truthful.

She nodded. The vulnerability didn’t leave her eyes. If anything it intensified.

“I…I…”

Holy shit. Was she looking at his mouth? Dante tensed, not believing his fucking luck, as Aurora leaned forward in her chair. Her breath fanned over his face as he closed the distance between them.

But Aurora pulled back, jumping when his phone buzzed in his pocket.

He ignored it.

“Aren’t you going to get that?”

“No. I’m more concerned about you right now.”

When his phone buzzed again, she raised her eyebrows. “Please get it. I don’t want you ignoring business because of me.”

Not wanting to argue with her, he withdrew his phone. “Fine. I’m sure it’s nothing. Now stop trying to pretend everything’s okay. You’re not okay.” When his phone buzzed again, he glanced down. Unfortunately, so did Aurora.

The texts were from Grace.

Hey there, stud. Looking forward to tonight. You want to grab a bite? Or do you just want to get down to the good stuff?

Swiftly, he glanced at Aurora, who looked even paler. For a moment, hurt flashed across her expression but then was quickly replaced by a cynical smirk.

Christ. Of all the fucking timing. “Aurora—”

She swiveled in her chair to face her computer. “Thanks for the help, but I’m feeling much better now.”

His stomach clenched as he surveyed her somber profile. She didn’t look angry, she looked resigned. God. This was all so messed up. She’d given him an opening and then closed it back up all in less than a minute.

“Alright.” It was the only thing he could say that wasn’t a land mine right now. “Feel better.”

When he left, he closed her office door gently, a movement that was in stark contrast to the fury rumbling through him. Fury at himself.

He shouldn’t have made a date with Grace. Shouldn’t have planned to use one woman to forget another. It was no use.

Aurora was in his head. In his blood. Hell, possibly even in his heart.

And the truth was, he wanted to keep her there.

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