Page 10 of Just One Fake Date

She smiled a little. “But you’ve already claimed the penthouse.”

“Only part of the floor. I work a lot and it’s convenient.”

“Is that a practical choice?” She smiled as if teasing him. “Or is it because you like being the guardian angel of the club, watching from above?” She surprised him with the accuracy of her guess. “I’ll bet you like to be in charge.”

“I think some things are worth defending. Is that a problem?”

Shannyn swiveled out of his embrace, jumping off the desk as lightly as a dancer. She pushed a hand through her hair and bent to pick up her bag. Was it a coincidence that the move meant he couldn’t see her eyes? Ty had the sense that she was hiding something from him.

What had happened to her in the past twelve years? He was surprised by how badly he wanted to know.

“Of course not.” Her tone was businesslike again and Ty sensed that there was more to that story.

He didn’t want her barriers in place again.

He spoke quickly, trying to recapture the mood with a confession. “What I like best about living here is being able to come down in the middle of the night and swim laps, when the club is closed.”

“Swimming in the dark.”

“Not quite. There are security lights. But I like having the place to myself.”

“King of the castle,” she teased. “Master of all he surveys.”

“That sounds entitled, doesn’t it?”

She laughed out loud, as if surprised. “Maybe I wasn’t that wrong.”

“Maybe,” he admitted, wondering what would happen next.

It was up to her.

Even though he was raging to finish what they’d started.

“Changing your mind?” she asked, her tone provocative.

“Not a chance.” He decided to leave everything spread on the desk and lock the door instead of cleaning up. When he looked up, Shannyn was waiting by the door, as composed as if that kiss hadn’t happened. He opened the door and she spoke.

“Thanks for offering me a tour,” she said, her voice loud enough to carry to the front desk. “But I didn’t mean to interfere with your own work.”

Was Shannyn changing her mind? He hoped not. Or was it that she didn’t want everyone to know where they were going, or what they were going to do? That was at odds with the suggestion of doing it on the desk.

She was one to keep him guessing, that was for sure.

“It’s Friday night. I’m due for a break,” Ty said, playing along and hoping. He locked the door behind them. “We can start on eight, if you like, and work our way down. There are meditation rooms there and some smaller classrooms, but the view of the city should be good right now.”

Shannyn nodded as they left the offices together. “The light might be good, too.” She flicked him a mischievous smile and dropped her voice to a throaty purr that only he could hear. “And I like starting at the top, then working my way down.”

Her words made his heart stop, then race.

Ty didn’t have it in him to give the official patter, not when he was uncertain of her plan, not when he so wanted her to choose to come with him. They walked in silence to the elevator. Once the doors closed, he pushed his key into the control panel and held his finger over the button for the top floor. He spared Shannyn a glance and she didn’t hesitate: she closed her hand over his and jammed his finger against the button. The doors closed and the elevator began to ascend. “I thought you’d changed your mind.”

“Just not blowing your cover at the office,” she said, backing him into the wall and giving him another searing kiss. “It’s been a while since I shouted,” she whispered and Ty smiled. “I’m looking forward to it.”

“I’ll take that as a challenge.”

“Please do.”

Their kiss was open-mouthed and fierce, frantic enough to make his blood boil. Her hands were under his suit jacket, roving over him as if he was her possession, and Ty liked that just fine. He caught her under the butt and she wound her legs around his waist again, her hands locked around his head as he kissed her with heat. She didn’t falter or back away, just rubbed against him, wanting more and more. He spun and backed her into the corner, loving how she rocked against him.

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