Page 25 of Single Dad's Second Chance

I cringed, hating this weird feeling that I could be a two-timing asshole, sitting here to see a specific dancer while lusting for my secretary. It wasn’t as though I desired that dancer. Iwanted to see that dancer and talk to her so I could offer her a job dancing at my club. That was it.

She’d attracted me, in the sense of making me watch her, but Mia was the only one I really wanted. And I had for far too long to be patient about it anymore.

Especially not after I’d lost all common sense and kissed her.

10

MIA

Iwasn’t prepared for Henry to kiss me. And I wasn’t ready for it to be over. Being interrupted by Owen and Ann sucked, too. I’d spent far too long imagining the moment to want anyone butting in.

I was thrown off by seeing people from the office right when Henry charged ahead on challenging why we couldn’t be together. As it was, I was wholly unprepared for how to react in front of them, let alone Henry. Had it just been me and him, I would’ve acted on alotmore desire in the privacy of our moment.

Turning tail and running out of Danger might not had been my finest exit, but it worked. I was too blown away by the fact that Henrykissedme to do anything wiser.

As I walked down the hallway of the office on the following Wednesday, I bit on the inside of my cheek and resisted all those huge emotions from sweeping through me. The mere memory of Henry’s lips on mine reignited them all.

Excitement. Joy. Desire. Euphoria. Glee. Satisfaction.

And so much more lust. One kiss was not enough, but we hadn’t had a chance to be together again, not even here at the office.

He was in meetings. Or I was swamped with calls from other departments. If he wasn’t in his executive suite, he was out for reports from supervisors and managers. And if I wasn’t in my cubby-hole of an office, I was busy catching up on sleep from the nights of dancing.

Not having to face Henry was a blessing. I missed seeing him, of course. I wished I could talk to him, but with this funkiness, this confusing post-kiss aftermath, I was gratefulnotto have to address it.

Maybe we can just pretend it never happened and move on?

My thoughts stalled me in place. I paused near his office, obligated to interact long enough to drop off some forms.

Ignoring the lapse we mutually shared wouldn’t be fair. Not to me. I didn’t want to pretend it never happened. I didn’t want to move on and act like it was nothing.

It was something, a very big something, according to me. Yet, I wasn’t sure how to approach him and figure out why he’d kissed me and if it was a fluke one-time thing or something representative of much more.

After drawing in a deep sigh, I resumed walking toward his door. I didn’t see him through the glass window, and as I let myself in, I wasn’t sure if I should be relieved or disappointed to have missed him. I set the documents on his desk and made sure theSign Heretabs were all affixed in the proper places.

I didn’t linger, not wanting to trespass. As I walked out and closed his door behind me, I heard someone striding down the hall.

Not again. Seriously. Not freaking again.

Ann was here, invading the peace of the office setting. She’d made a habit of popping in whenever she pleased, and she pleased often. Every day—multiple times—she’d stop in to chat with Henry. Oftentimes, she attempted to pull him off a call or interrupt a conversation. At this rate, Jen would never stopgrumbling about her constant visits and distracting manner. Each time Ann showed up, she expected to be treated like royalty visiting without any concern of getting in anyone’s way.

And here she was. Soliciting for Henry’s attention. Probably his wealth, too. I didn’t like to form quick opinions without much basis, but nothing suggested she was interested in him for anything but his money.

“Oh. It’s you.” She turned her nose up at me. “Again.”

“Likewise,” I muttered.

She narrowed her eyes. “What was that?’

“Nothing.”

Behind her, Laura and Jason entered the hall. As soon as Jason spotted me, he charged full-speed ahead to launch at me. Weaving and darting around others in the hall, he grinned and sprinted to reach me.

I couldn’t help but smile back, waiting for his hug. Feeling his little arms wrapped around me always improved my mood.

On his way, he bumped into Ann’s side a bit, sending her purse swinging.

“Oh!” She scowled as Jason passed in a blur, determined to get to me.

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