Page 14 of Daddy Billionaire Dragon

“I’m done for the day,” I say, peeping through the partially open door of Lex’s office. He’s been behaving strangely ever since he returned from the meeting with the other partners. Even now, he seems kind of preoccupied. His chair is facing the floor-to-ceiling windows.

“Lex?” I call out again.

He turns around and notices me standing in the doorway.

“Nic,” he says, blinking a couple of times.

“I’m leaving. Unless you want me to stick around?”

“No, that’s alright. In fact, why don’t I drop you home?”

The way he is looking at me sets my heart aflutter. I resist the urge to press a hand to my chest.

“Uh… there’s no need really. I’ll take the subway as usual.”

We have managed to keep it strictly professional for the last two weeks, so I don’t want to tempt fate now. But at the same time, I do want to spend time with him outside of work, knowing full well that I’ll be flirting with danger.

“Please let me. I insist. It’s the least I can do after asking you to stay back,” he says, getting up from his chair and striding purposefully towards me.

“But my place is out of your way!” I object feebly.

“No, it’s not. I’m headed there anyway,” he says, taking my elbow as we step out of his office together and head for the elevator.

“Oh.” I’m thinking of reasons to refuse, but can’t come up with any.

“Why are you headed to West Village? If you don’t mind me asking, of course,” I add hastily. For all I know, he might have a date. The sudden, unexpected stab of jealousy when I think of Lex going out on a date with another woman is surprising. And unreasonable. Why shouldn’t he go out on a date? Just because we are attracted to each other, doesn’t mean that he is not free to date anybody else. We have already established that there can be nothing between us.

“I have stuff to do,” he says with a mysterious smile, his fingers skimming over my ponytail. Even his barely-there touch is making my breath hitch. I bite the inside of my cheek to suppress a moan.

When the elevator arrives, he lets me go in first. I stand with my back to him, pretending a keen interest in the view outside. He is standing so close behind me that I can feel the warmth from his body and smell his scent.

“What stuff?” I ask, keeping my face resolutely turned away as I dispel the image of Lex in the arms of another woman from my mind.

Grasping my shoulders gently, he turns me around to face him and traces the frown line between my brows, grinning.

“I have to drop you home, of course.”

My face heats up under his dark gaze. He is looking at me like he wants to devour me. My eyes widen and I take a tiny step backwards.

“Lex, you really don’t have to.” I try to dissuade him again.

“I know. But I want to,” he says, tracing a finger along my cheek. Sparks tingle all over my skin.

I’m relieved when the elevator comes to a halt in the private parking in the basement, and we both step out. Being alone with Lex in an enclosed space is a bad, bad idea. A few more minutes and I would’ve thrown myself at him.

I came to New York for a fresh start. To focus on my career. To forget Manuel, and to leave what happened in LA behind, I remind myself. The last thing I should be doing is thinking of sleeping with the boss.

When we reach Lex’s car, he holds the door open for me. Once we are both seated in his luxurious Maybach, he instructs his driver Chuck to drive to my place in West Village after I give him the address.

“Do you have any plans for the weekend?” Lex asks once we start moving.

“Stay in, do my laundry, probably read a book,” I say with a half smile.

For some reason, he looks pleased with my answer.

“So no hanging out at secret bars?” he asks with a wicked grin.

“No. I hardly ever do that!” I object. “I only went the last time because Penny made me.”

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