Page 22 of Caged Heat

“Would you have?” I countered, my heart picking back up.

“I dunno. You’ll have to ask to know that answer, August.”

Heat flared to life in my belly as butterflies took flight. My palms sweated, and I couldn’t stop shaking my knee under the desk. I’d never been so nervous in my entire life. Not when I’d been in the Navy or staring down an opponent across the ring.

The dark part of me I kept tightly contained unfurled, calming me as I braced my hands on the desk and lifted myself out of my chair. Nora’s eyes widened, her nostrils flaring as I walked around and stopped in front of her, sitting my ass back on the desk. Leaning forward, I placed my hands on the arms of the chair she sat in, putting myself directly into her space, our faces inches apart.

I rarely let myself get this close to her. And as her cherry shampoo and bubbly rose scent invaded my nose, I remembered why. My green eyes bore into hers, our hearts beating together as silence settled between us.

“Go on a date with me, Nora. If you haven’t figured out my obsession with you over these past ten years, then let me spell it out for you right here. I don’t play games. I don’t fuck around. I want you in my bed, but I also want you in my life. I’ve been lost knowing you wouldn’t be here today. That might make me sound pathetic, but I’m too old to give a fuck. Give me a chance to toss my hat into the ring, dove.”

At some point, my hand had moved from the armrest and cupped her cheek. Her skin was smooth in my palm, and now that I’d allowed myself to touch her, I didn’t know if I’d be able to stop. Nora’s eyes fluttered closed, her eyelashes resting against her cheeks as she drew in a shaky breath.

When she opened them, her blue-gray eyes swirled, drawing me under their spell.

“Okay, August. I’ll go on a date with you,” she breathed, her words a little shaky. “But it has to be tonight.”

Licking my lips, my eyes briefly dropped to hers as I scanned her face. Smirking, one side of my mouth drew up as I stared at her. Now that she hadn’t said no, confidence surged in me, and the cocky asshole I’d been my whole life emerged.

I’d only needed an inch from her, and she’d just given me a mile.

Nora would be mine now. There was no ending where I would walk away from her. Nora was worth ending my rule about love for.

Dipping forward more, my hot breath fanned across her cheek and neck as I whispered into her ear. “I’ll pick you up in an hour. Be ready to be wooed, dove.”

Nipping her earlobe, I relished her response as she shivered, a slight gasp leaving her at our contact. It had been better than I ever imagined.

Stepping back, I walked over to the drawer where I kept the paychecks, grabbed hers off the top, and handed it to her. She blinked at it, momentarily confused about what I’d given her. Nodding, she took a few seconds to regain her footing before she stood and gave me a little wave.

“I’ll see you in an hour.”

As I watched her delectable ass walk out the door, I couldn’t wait to uncover every inch of Nora. Pressure to make this a perfect date settled on my shoulders, spurring me into action. This was the type of motivation I thrived under.

Ready or not, dove, I’m coming for you.

CHAPTER EIGHT

ELEANOR

Glancing at myself in the small mirror by my front door, I couldn’t help but wonder if I’d gone mad. I hadn’t gone into Bottle Grounds expecting a date, only wanting to hide away from the problem I wasn’t ready to face yet. Instead, not only had August blown my mind with his proclamation, but I’d recklessly baited him by demanding it be tonight to avoid Jackson.

Could amazing sex make you crazy? I was beginning to believe it could.

My phone buzzed for the millionth time again, but I shoved it into my purse without looking at the screen. No one else texted me outside of Mack, and he was busy with his new rotation. It was likely I wouldn’t hear from him until the weekend. So it could only be Jackson, and I had no clue how to handle that situation yet.

So, here I was, going on my second date in three days with a man who’d been my boss for the past ten years.

Smoothing the wrinkles out of my shirt, I twisted to the side to check out the back of my hair. I was stalling, but I didn’t have any better ideas of how to pass the time that wouldn’t send me into a complete freakout.

August hadn’t said what we were doing, so I’d opted for a long flowy pink skirt with a white button-down that I’d tied at my waist. I realized how much I liked the look when Steph had done it, so I couldn’t help but do it again.

The rumble of August’s car neared as he pulled into my driveway, and I took one last deep breath before I opened the door and stepped onto the porch. August was climbing out of his muscle car and stopped when he spotted me.

“I was coming to the door, Nora,” he grunted.

He ran the palm of his hand over the top of his hair before shoving it into his pocket. His sage green eyes bore into me, and I took a moment to wade in them. While this was a completely new side of August for me, he’d always made me feel calm, and that was no different now.

Shrugging one shoulder, I walked down the steps and met him on the sidewalk.

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