Page 42 of Quarantined with the Billionaire

Chapter Twelve

I spent most of that day reading—but I switched to a couple of romance novels in my reading app. I just couldn’t bring myself to pick up that book from Kate again. I had a ridiculously bad feeling about it.

About her. Someone I’d never met.

But Maddox had sweet talked me into spending the evening with him. We made a stir-fry dinner, which meant chopping a lot of veggies, and then movies.

“Hitchcock,” he said, “made more than one film that has you guessing the whole time. If you don’t mind black-and-white, we can watch some great cinema.”

“I trust your judgment.”

Maddox’s energy felt like that of a young boy excited to share his new toys. While he set up the popcorn machine, he had me looking through the descriptions of the different Hitchcock films he owned. While he recommended North by Northwest and Rear Window, I asked him about Dial M for Murder.

“Whatever you want.”

It was close to eleven after we finished two tense, enjoyable Hitchcock films. “One more?” he asked.

As much as I liked movies—and loved spending time with him—I was tired of staring at a screen. “Maybe tomorrow?”

“Maybe next week. I like to spend Sunday night getting ready for Monday.”

I wondered how his Sunday night prep compared to mine. I figured I was doing great if I made sure I got to bed at a decent hour and had clean clothes.

I might be able to learn something from this man.

“But you’re right. It’s getting late.” He shut things off and soon we were making our way up the stairs. “So what brought you to Essential Solutions in the first place, Bailey? How’d my company get so lucky?”

Fighting against the urge to scoff, I thanked him instead. “I’d been trying to find a great entry level position that used a lot of the skills I’d been learning in college. All through school, I’d waited tables. I was good at it, but I knew it wouldn’t pay off my student loans. My degree in communications was pretty general, but I knew it could get me far if I found the right job.” Trying to hide a scowl as we began walking toward the second floor, I continued. “I thought it could get me far—but, as I said, I haven’t moved up in the company.”

His deep, rich voice made my toes all but curl as it seemed to caress me from behind. “What about what I have you doing right now? Does that feel like a step up from customer service?”

Shrugging, I continued taking one step at a time, looking forward so as not to make eye contact with Maddox. “A little. But, honestly, it’s not fully utilizing my talents.”

We paused, having reached the top of the stairs. “What would?”

“Anymore, I don’t know. I’ve started questioning myself, doubting my abilities, wondering if maybe entry level stuff really is all I’d be good at.”

“I think you’re wrong, Bailey.” His eyes searched mine. “You’re flexible and learn quickly. You’re smart. And this past week has shown me that we probably are wasting your talents.”

“You’re just saying that.” I started walking down the hall, but he wrapped his hand around my arm so I stopped and turned.

“Do you really think I waste my time flattering people for no good reason? Do you think that would serve me well?” As his eyes grew darker, seeming to bore inside me, words escaped my lips. “It’s like picking stocks, Bailey. You can spend hours, days, weeks agonizing over your choices and doubting yourself every step of the way. If you do that enough, you’ll talk yourself out of ever doing anything. Or you can analyze and predict, make your choices, and then ride the waves. Sometimes you’ll make the wrong choice but there comes a time when you have to trust that you know what you’re doing.”

As if taking his own advice, he moved closer to me, his hand on my arm growing warmer, almost searing into my flesh. His face drew nearer to mine at an agonizingly slow pace, so much so that I wondered if I was imagining it. Subconsciously, though, my body prepared. My lips parted slightly without my thinking about it. My toes curled; my stomach knotted in anticipation. My mouth watered. I could smell his cologne now, could feel the warmth of his entire body, sensing some kind of electric charge, like lightning was ready to jump from him to me. My breath caught in my throat as every fiber of every muscle tightened, ready to be pummeled.

When his lips met mine, my eyes closed, making me focus on the sensation of his warm mouth. He was gentle at first, his lips brushing mine like a feather, but then they grew hard, as if he could no longer hold himself back. Like a horse at a race, once the gate opened, he charged forward.

Now I was completely in his arms. How had mine wrapped around him without my knowledge? My fingernails were digging into his back through the soft t-shirt over his frame as his mouth possessed mine.

Not just my mouth.

My everything.

When he released me, I could barely breathe. My mouth still watered and my lips felt bruised from his crushing kiss. Yet I wanted more.

So much more.

Which meant I needed to walk away. I wasn’t ready for this.

---