Page 92 of Until You

“Okay.”

He scooped the fettucine alfredo he’d made into bowls and brought them into the living room, handing her one. “I have bread, too.”

She took the bowl and sat up. “This looks delicious.”

He grabbed his wine and the bread. He set them both on the coffee table, then picked up his bowl to eat.

She’d been fine at lunch, so he wondered if anything had happened after. “Did your boss give you grief about your resignation?”

“Actually, the opposite. The senior VP called and offered me a promotion.”

For some reason he felt relieved that she didn’t seem excited. “What did you say?”

“I said I’d think about it.”

He couldn’t get a read as to whether she was interested in staying or not. “Is Aiden upset you haven’t given him an answer yet?”

Her head swung to face him with a questioning look.

“I figured if you’re thinking about staying with your company, you wouldn’t tell Aiden yes, but you wouldn’t tell him no yet, either.”

A weary smile crossed her face. “You’re a very smart man.” Lanie ate half her pasta, then pushed it away before she turned to face him. “Why are you being so nice to me?”

“My ogre-like tendencies are a myth I spread around to scare away women. Turns out I’m actually capable of being nice.”

She leaned over and softly kissed his lips. “I knew it all along. It’s not a very good secret. But my head’s still pounding, so I think I should go home. I’m not much company tonight.”

When she started to get up, he took her hand and gently pulled her back down. “I’ll take you home if you like, but would you be more comfortable at home all alone or here where I can rub your feet?” He reached for her foot and began to rub.

She released a contented sigh. “You fight dirty.”

“You have no idea.” He reached behind him, grabbed a throw pillow, and stacked it onto the pillow on the other end of the sofa, then pushed her back so she was lying down. The T-shirt came to the very top of her thighs, and he could see the barest hint of her black panties.

God help him.

He stood and grabbed an afghan out of a chest behind the sofa and covered her legs.

She chuckled, then grimaced in pain. “When did we decide to become modest?”

“I’m trying to ignore that you’re the sexiest woman alive, but you’re a terrible distraction, Lanie Rogers. Do you want to watch something on TV?”

“Sure. I don’t care what.”

He decided to leave it off for now. This silence was probably better for her head. She lay back on the pillows and closed her eyes. He was relieved that her face looked less strained than when she’d first showed up.

He settled into the other end of the sofa and began to rub the ball of her foot. “What has you so stressed, Lanie?”

“Everything.” With her eyes still closed, she reached up and began to rub her temple.

“Me?”

Her eyes opened and she smiled. “No. It’s work. My contract says I get a very large bonus if I can finish out my three weeks and get a big project done on time. But there’s a good chance I won’t be able to get it done. It kills me because I’ve never missed a single deadline. Ever. It’s driving me crazy to think it might end this way.”

“It makes sense, though. You want to preserve your legacy.”

Wonder filled her eyes. “Yes. That’s exactly it.”

“So stay with the company. You said your senior VP wants you.”

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