Page 39 of Stuffed

"And what's the real Zane Mercer like?"

I think about how gentle his touch was as we walked. How his laugh sounds when he's truly relaxed. How vulnerable his eyes get when he's being honest.

"He's… complicated. Guarded. But underneath all that, he's…" The bell above our door chimes, interrupting my analysis. "Speaking of complicated…"

Zane strolls in, looking devastatingly handsome in a charcoal suit. His eyes find mine immediately, dark and intense.

"Ladies," he says smoothly. "Hope I'm not interrupting."

"Not at all!" Ivy replies with a knowing smirk. "I was just heading to the kitchen. Lots of… baking to do."

She disappears through the swinging doors, leaving Zane and me alone in the front of the shop.

"Hi," I say softly.

"Hi, yourself." He moves closer, reaching out to adjust my glasses. "These are becoming a problem."

"Are they?" I bite my lip, watching his eyes darken. "I could take them off…"

"Don't you dare." His voice drops lower. "Though maybe save them for more… private settings."

Heat floods my cheeks. "I thought you had meetings all day?"

"I do." His thumb brushes my bottom lip. "But I needed to see you first."

"Why?"

"Because you've been haunting me since Saturday." He backs me against the counter. "Because I can't stop thinking about how you taste. How you feel. How you make me want things I shouldn't."

"Like what?" I breathe.

"Like this." He kisses me, deep and thorough, until I'm clutching his lapels just to stay upright. When he pulls back, we're both breathing hard.

"That was…" I swallow hard. "Very unprofessional, Mr. Mercer."

"I know." He straightens his tie, but his eyes are still dark with need. "Have dinner with me tonight."

"Another Italian place?"

"My place." He tucks a strand of hair behind my ear. "I'll cook."

"You cook?”

"I have many hidden talents, Miss Marlow." His smile is wicked. "Let me show you."

"What time?"

"Seven." He steps back, clearly struggling to maintain distance. "Wear something nice."

"Define nice."

He leans in, lips brushing my ear. "Something easy to take off."

Then he's gone, leaving me flushed and flustered against the counter.

"Well!" Ivy's voice makes me jump. "That was hot."

"How long have you been standing there?"

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