Page 56 of Loving the CEO

The evening passed far quicker than I wanted it to. I could stay out with Tory for hours, and I was glad that she'd finally relaxed.

As we left the restaurant, she got a message from Debbie.

"Oh, here’s a picture of the guy. He’s cute."

She showed me the photo. That urge to punch him just became stronger. How the fuck was I going to let this woman fly to New Orleans and go out with another guy?

I needed to clear my mind. I’d go for a run once I got home. That would help me get rid of the adrenaline, and I wouldn’t do anything stupid.

On the drive home, we spoke about her job a bit. Once we got inside the house, we both headed upstairs. I’d decided to forgo the treadmill; I’d run around the neighborhood three times, four times, five times—however long it took until I calmed down—and only thenwould I come home. Otherwise, I was liable to bang down her door and cross a line.

When I reached the top of the staircase, I nearly collided with a suitcase. It was somewhat dark up here because we’d both forgotten to turn on the light.

"Oh, sorry. I put this here after I packed it," she said. "Hmm... I just realized I didn’t include an outfit for a date. I’ll take this dress.”

"Fuck no," I said. "Do you know how sexy you are?"

I was so dangerously close to losing it.

She looked at me, an eyebrow raised. "That's the point. I want to look good."

I opened my mouth but didn't say anything. Fuck, I needed to calm down.

"I'm going for a run" was all I managed.

"Leo," Tory said. She stepped right in front of me, putting a hand on my chest and then lowering it straight over my navel.

I needed to get out of the house, or I was going to do something I couldn’t take back.

"Are you okay? What's wrong? Why do you need to go for a run? Did I do something to upset you?" she asked.

"No," I said as she lowered her hand a fraction of an inch until her small finger rested on my belt buckle.

Fuck, did she know what it did to me?

I grabbed her wrist, taking her hand off me. And then my resolve weakened.

"Don't go."

"To New Orleans?"

"On the date. Don't go on the date."

"Why? You said yourself that it's good for me to get back in the game."

"I can't stand the idea of you with another man."

I looked her straight in the eyes. She parted her mouth in a perfectO.

"Leo," she whispered.

"Fuck!" I dropped my head back. "I need to go on this run and clear my hand or I’ll—”

"You’ll what?"

"Kiss you," I admitted.

I dropped her hand and half turned away, but once again, she stepped closer.

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