Page 25 of We Never Kissed

My whole body flushed with heat, and my heart thrummed. This side of Alex terrified me…and I couldn’t wait for it. “I, um…” My chest heaved, and there was a part of me that was irritated by that, and I fought the feeling because I didn’t want him getting the best of me. That little girl mentality I’d grown up with around him would be tough to overcome. I drew in a breath and said, “Your offer sounds enticing. I’ll let you know. Now, open the damn door and let me see what this surprise is.”

We went up a few flights of stairs by the light of his phone, and to my surprise, Alex had a key and opened a door. I expected pitch black, but there was a faint glow coming from inside that let me make out a few features in the room.

“Oh, nice, so our first date is in what…an abandoned dentist office?”

Alex took me by the hand and guided me farther into the space. “Actually, it used to be a quaint little pub. Our firm facilitated a deal for this building—”

“And not only could you get fired for bringing me here, but you thought it would be fun to make out with trash and rats?”

Pressing up against my back, he slipped his arms around my waist. “Will you give it a chance? Look…”

My gaze scanned the room and landed on an area neara glass window, and I gasped, sliding out of his grasp. Beautifully lit by electric candles and string lights, a small space was set up with a couch and a coffee table that was set for a meal, wine glasses and all. My heart clenched at the sight, and I turned back to him. “I can’t believe you did all this.” I shook my head as he moved toward me. But then he veered off to the side to something else that had lights on it, but I wasn’t sure what the large object was that I was seeing. “Wait? Is that…”

Alex stood next to an old jukebox and nodded.

“It doesn’t work, though, right?” I asked, hopeful.

Shrugging, he pressed a button, and music began to play but something sounded off, and I narrowed my gaze at Alex. Then he held up his phone and pointed to a portable speaker. “No, it doesn’t.”

I burst out laughing as he came over to me, then I snaked my arms around his neck. “It’s perfect. All of it. Thank you.” We kissed, slow and sensual, to the beat of some soft R&B tune. His hands delivered just the right pressure as he moved them over my back and hips and ass. I moaned into his mouth, and he lifted my thigh slightly so it draped over his. I wanted him so badly my head grew dizzy just from kissing him. But when his mouth moved to my neck, I saw a male form standing in the doorway, and I gasped.

“Alex, someone is here?” I whisper-yelled.

Alex moved swiftly, spinning around to face the doorway while at the same time, pushing me behind him, shielding me with his body.

I gripped his biceps and felt them tighten under my fingers, but a moment later, he said, “Bro, you’re early.”

I peeked around Alex to find someone stepping forward, a young blond man wearing a suit. I could see now he was holding a couple of bags that looked like it could be take-out food. “You actually got someone to deliver food to us? At this place?”

“This is one of my analysts, Eric,” he said as the two walked toward each other. Slapping Eric on the shoulder with one hand, Alex accepted the bags with the other. “Thanks, man. I appreciate it.”

“Did I have a choice?” Eric said.

Laughing, Alex replied, “No.”

I stepped up to them, about to introduce myself, when Eric stuck his hand out. “Hey, Ava, nice to meet you.”

I couldn’t hide my surprise so I just shook my head, grinned, and said, “You too. And thanks for doing this.” I wasn’t sure what kind of situation this was or how Alex had somehow coerced this young up-and-comer to drive all the way here, but I didn’t know much about his business either.

“So, you’re not worried about Eric telling people about us?” I said after he’d left, a hand on my hip.

Alex scoffed. “He knows I’d beat his ass.” When I shot him a look, he corrected with, “In the figurative sense, of course.”

I pointed to the food. “Let me guess, burgers?”

“Do you even know me?” he said, lifting his brows.

Twenty minutes later we were sitting on the floor amongst poofy pillows, finishing the last remnants of my favorite dish, Vietnamese fajitas, cartons, plates and napkins scattered across the coffee table.

“I’m just going to say it… That was one of the best dinners I’ve had in a long time.” I leaned up against the front edge of the couch, where Alex had his long arm draped across the cushion. He closed his hand around my shoulder, the small gesture making me so content. I turned my face up to him, letting my smile show. “I’m impressed…”

“To be honest, I can’t believe it all came off without a hitch.”

“You went to a lot of trouble, and I appreciate it.” I brushed my lips up the column of his neck.

“Well, you did challenge me,” he said against my hair.

“See what you can do with a little motivation,” I teased.

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