Page 183 of Triplet Trouble For My Billionaire Boss

The house is quiet when we step inside, the soft glow from a few lamps illuminating the foyer. Everyone is in bed, just as I expected.

Annie sighs, kicking off her heels with a relieved groan. “God, I love these shoes, but they are not meant for walking. Or standing. Or sitting.”

I smirk, watching as she wiggles her toes. “You didn’t have to wear them.”

She gives me a look. “Please. Like I wasn’t going to go all out for our first official date.”

Something about the way she says that—our first official date—sends a slow, warm pulse through my chest.

I step closer, watching the way her breath hitches as she tilts her chin up to look at me.

“Did I meet expectations?” I ask, keeping my voice low.

She pretends to consider. “You were missing the rose petals and violin player, but other than that…”

I slide a hand to her waist, pulling her a little closer. “I’ll keep that in mind for next time.”

Her lips part slightly, and she doesn’t pull away. “So there’s a next time?”

I brush my thumb over her hip. “That depends.”

She swallows. “On what?”

I lower my head just enough that I can feel her breath against my lips. “On whether or not you kiss me right now.”

She lets out a small, breathy laugh. “Oh, is that how this works?”

I nod. “It is. All good dates end with a kiss. Or more.”

For a second, I think she’s going to keep teasing me, but then she closes the distance, pressing her lips against mine.

I don’t hesitate. I pull her in, one hand at the small of her back, the other sliding up to cup her jaw. She lets out a quiet sound against my mouth, her fingers curling into the front of my shirt, and it’s all I can do to keep myself from backing her against the wall and deepening the kiss.

The house is quiet. Everyone is asleep.

We should go to my room. We should stop.

But I don’t want to.

Her hands slide up, tangling in my hair as she presses herself closer, and damn it, I want more.

I tilt my head, taking the kiss deeper, slower. She melts into me, sighing against my lips, and I know that if we don’t stop now, I won’t want to stop at all.

So I pull back, my breathing heavy, my forehead resting against hers.

Annie blinks up at me, her lips kiss-swollen, her expression slightly dazed. “Well,” she breathes, “I’d say the date ended pretty well.”

I huff out a laugh, still trying to get my pulse back under control. “Yeah,” I murmur, brushing my thumb over her jaw. “I’d say it did.”

Chapter Forty Four

Annie

The waiting room is too bright, too sterile, too… empty.

I sit stiffly in one of the cushioned chairs, my hands knotted together in my lap, staring at the door like I can will it open and make Cole appear.

He’s not coming.

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