Page 21 of Anything To Be With You

Luke grips the edge of the desk and drags himself across, knocking everything onto the floor, and leaving only hairs width between us. I can feel his warm breath dancing along my lips.

"You strangle me with this tie, Sweetheart, and you’ll be out on your fantastic ass," Luke says as he straightens, taking his tie with him. "You feel me?" he pivots and swaggers back into his office, shutting the door behind him and leaving me there with soaking panties.

"He likes you," Carrie sings.

I jump, barking out a yelp. I didn’t even hear her walk up behind me. "Who?" I question; skin flushed. His cologne still lingering in the air.

"Luke. He likes you."

I glare at Carrie, who is smiling like Pennywise and beginning to freak me out. "No, he doesn’t. He has been treating me like shit all morning."

Carrie laughs and twists to where all the supplies are kept, moving them down a shelf so I can reach without having to stand on a chair.

"He’s not used to women talking back or challenging him in anyway," she shivers. "They watch him like they’re in a trance. It’s creepy. Like Children Of The Corn creepy." Carrie arranges everything one shelf lower. "You don’t. He needs that."

This day is getting weirder by the second.

"I see you threatened to strangle him with his three-hundred-dollar tie. Good on ya girl, he loves that tie." Carrie says and turns to face me, smiling.

"Three hundred dollars!" I cry. "That’s more than the dress I’m currently wearing."

Carrie giggles as she props her hip on the side of my desk. "My girlfriend, Elle, and I have a bet going on with you two," Carrie says, "she says you two will fuck in two months, make-out in one. I say you two will fuck in one month, make-out in two weeks."

I start laughing, slapping a hand over my mouth when I start snorting. I can’t believe this. "Yeah, that’s not going to happen."

"And why not?"

"I have a mirror; I know what I look like. I’m not the type to catch his attention. And besides, I would rather smack him in the face with my shoe than make-out with him." I say.

"What the fuck are you talking about!" Carrie sputters. "You’re beautiful, Dani."

I duck my head, embarrassed. I don’t take compliments well.

Carrie grips my shoulders. "Why don’t you think you’re beautiful?" she whispers.

I turn my head, blowing my hair off my face when I exhale. "That’s a long story, and not one I’m comfortable sharing."

Carrie drops her hands. "Understood. I’m sorry I pushed. We’ve just met, I shouldn’t expect you to give me your life story on your first day," Carrie gives me a smile of apology.

I squeeze her arm. "Thank you for understanding," I breathe. "Maybe one day I’ll tell you why."

Gabe’s laugh cuts through our private moment. We both smile at the sound. He has a nice, deep, belly laugh. It’s comforting, like a hug from an old friend.

"Well, Gabe’s always down for a roll—or fifty—in the sack," Carrie says, firing me the finger guns and heads back to her desk.

The desk phone rings, causing me to jump. "Lucas Archer’s office."

"Office." Luke barks, hanging up on me. He needs to knock that off or I’m going to rip the receiver from the phone.

I walk into his office and stand next to the chair Gabe’s sitting in.

"Daniella, we talked about this," Luke says.

I drop my head back and groan. I walk out of the office, knock, and walk back in, throwing my arms in the air.

"Happy?" I question.

"Mostly," Luke mutters.

---