Page 301 of Savage Bosses

“If we’re going to do this, we should take things slow, do this right," he explains. Reaching out, he caresses my cheek. "You deserve that."

I smile as warmth floods through me.

He lets my hand drop from my face. "Good night, Tahani."

"Good night." I watch him walk back out to his car before closing the door.

Leaning against it, I let out a shaky breath. My mind reels, but my heart knows one thing for certain. I am falling for Archer Gates. The thought exhilarates and terrifies me.

My mind races as I prepare for bed. The near-kiss with Archer plays on repeat. I can still feel the ghost of his forehead against mine, the intensity of his gaze.

As I lay in the dark, I think about how much has changed in just a few short days. I've gone from seeing Archer as an unknown enigma to feeling a deep connection.

Can I trust what I feel? Does he really care, or is this just physical attraction? Will pursuing this complicate our professional relationship? The man I’m getting to know is soft and compassionate. Where is the arrogant Archer Gates everyone says he is?

Questions flood my mind as I drift off to sleep. The only thing I know for sure is that Archer Gates has been living rent-free in my head too long, and he’s starting to take up a tiny space in my heart.

CHAPTER 7

Archer

CELEBRATION TIME

I

have done well to avoid creating more friction with Tahani. For as much as I wanted to go into her apartment and wreck both our worlds the night of our accident, achievements like the one we hit this week would be hindered by an office romance.

We both somehow returned our focus to the company goals and limited our personal interactions. And we hit a major goal today. Tahani’s brainchild, Zeenith, has passed all quality and licensing inspections and is certified as a new software ready for distribution. So, we’re celebrating this win at the bar with drinks on me.

The pounding music and chatter envelop me as I enter the crowded bar. My team mingles around the room, drinks in hand, laughing and relaxing. But my eyes scan the space in search of one person.

Tahani. She said she might not make it after working so hard to complete Zeenith, but I hope she’ll come to celebrate her success.

I grab a whiskey at the bar, trying to distract myself. But my heart races when I spot her walking into the bar, looking stunning as ever in a sleek black dress. Our eyes meet for a moment, and electricity surges through me. I quickly look away and attempt to get it together.

I said we would take things slowly and see where they led, but that was me allowing my emotions to take the lead. Whatever this is surging between us can't happen. I have never been taken down by lust during a takeover, and I won’t start today.

At least, that’s the pep talk I give myself as my body moves of its own accord. I find myself standing by her side. "Glad you decided to come. It’s great to see you,” I say, aiming for casual and missing by a mile as my eyes narrow to take in her seductive beauty.

She smiles coyly. "Likewise, Mr. Gates. It’s great to see you, too."

Since our near-kiss and my pulling back to put some distance between us, she has resorted to calling me Mr. Gates again. I have only had the luxury of her saying my name a few times, and then it was over.

“Are you enjoying your new car?” I ask.

She smiles coyly. “I am. You didn’t have to purchase me a new car. You could have gotten the old one repaired, but I love my Mustang SUV.”

“Great. It’s the least I could have done for inconveniencing you. Besides, your car was totaled.” I shift closer to her, catching a hint of her perfume. It’s intoxicating.

“But you bought me a much more expensive car,” she argues.

“No worries. We’re here to celebrate you. How does it feel to complete Zeenith?” I ask to shift the conversation to something more pleasant than the outcome of our wreck.

Her smile morphs into cheery excitement. “It is the best feeling in the world.”

Tahani's eyes sparkle as she speaks passionately about Zeenith. I can barely focus on her words. I’m transfixed by the shape of her lips, the elegant line of her neck, and the way her dress hugs her curves. Everything about her has me dialed in.

As we discuss work, inches apart, I realize something very important. I don't want to be careful anymore. I want her. Every part of her.

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