Page 61 of Saved by Him

Twenty-Nine

Instead of closing completely,Jalen’s company, Sylph Industries, allowed for voluntary work for double overtime on all major religious and federal holidays, as well as a couple days around them for a few minor ones. When I pulled into the parking lot, only a handful of cars remained, though Jalen had told me that almost two-thirds of his employees had come in for half a day. I parked next to Jalen’s car and then headed around to the private entrance he’d given me the code for rather than entering the public entrance like I had last time.

My footsteps echoed as I made my way to the elevators. The lights were on, but the lobby still felt dark in that abandoned way that only empty buildings could feel. When I stepped off the elevator, I saw a couple of people scattered through the cubicles and desks, but they barely glanced at me as I made my way to Jalen’s office. I had to give them credit for being attentive to their work when most people would’ve been goofing off.

I knocked on Jalen’s door even though it was open, hating to disturb the look of concentration on his face. When he raised his head, however, his smile was one hundred percent genuine.

“I’m almost done,” he said, pushing back from his desk and coming around to kiss me. “Sit in here and keep me company while I finish?”

“Gladly.” I plopped down on the incredibly comfortable sofa he’d put against the far wall. “It’s been a weird day.”

“Tell me about it.” When I looked at him, he clarified, “Really, tell me about it. I can listen and work at the same time.”

“All right,” I said, “but remember, you asked for it.”

By the time I finished, Jalen had stopped working and given me his full attention. Judging by the dark expression on his face, this was one area where he and Clay, agreed.

“He let you drive over here by yourself?”

I tried not to be offended at the question since I knew it came from a place of concern, but I couldn’t quite keep all the bite out of my voice. “No oneletme do anything. I’m twenty-two and have been on my own since I was nineteen. Plus, I went through FBI training.” He opened his mouth, and I held up a finger, knowing what he was going to say. “I know I didn’t graduate, but I’m pretty sure the last week didn’t have any super-secret-ninja classes I missed.”

He stood and came over to where I was sitting. Taking my hands, he crouched down in front of me and kissed my forehead. “You’d be worried about me if some crazies had my name and address, right?”

I sighed and leaned into him. “I just hate feeling helpless.”

He smiled and tucked some hair behind my ear. “Helpless is the last word I’d use to describe you.”

“Good answer,” I said.

He stood, helping me to my feet as he went. “We don’t have to go to the party tonight if you’re not feeling up to it. People will understand if we stay in and have our own celebration.” He wrapped his arms around me, his hands resting on the small of my back. “Champagne, a fire, no clothes…”

“I like the way you think,” I said, going up on my toes for a quick kiss. A pleasant shiver went through me at the contact. “But you’re the boss. You should at least make an appearance.”

“You’re more important,” he said, brushing the back of his knuckles across my cheek.

The warmth working its way through my body had as much to do with that statement as it did his proximity.

“Let’s put in an appearance and see where things go from there,” I suggested. “After all, I bought a new dress just for the occasion.”

“Did you?” Desire flared up again in his eyes.

“And there might just be a late Christmas present for you under it if you play your cards right.”

His mouth crashed onto mine, one hand moving to the back of my head to brace me as his tongue plundered my mouth. Deep, possessing, hot…it was the sort of kiss women swooned over. I wasn’t much of a swooner but that didn’t stop my knees from going weak.

Only after I was good and thoroughly kissed did he relinquish control. We stood there for a minute, the only sound being our ragged breathing, and I was tempted to ask him to take me right there. If we hadn’t needed to go back to my place for me to get the things I’d need for the next few days, I would have done just that, but I wasn’t going to inconvenience him anymore than I already was by making him late to his own company’s party.

“We should go,” I said when I could finally form words. “We have some things to do before the party.”

We linked hands as we made our way to the elevator, the tension between us still there, pleasantly simmering below the surface. I could relax with Jalen, feel completely and utterly safe, but I had yet to be around him andnotwant him. Even when he pissed me off, I was drawn to him. I kept waiting for this thing between us to fade and fizzle, but it didn’t. If anything, it was hotter and stronger than ever.

“Would you mind leaving your car here?” he asked. “I have an outside company doing security for the lot, and we’ve never had any issues with people leaving their cars here for a while. There’ll actually be a few people leaving their cars here overnight, so they can drink at the party.”

“That depends,” I teased, “is it some macho thing?”

“I was thinking more along the lines of it being easier for someone to link it to you, but sure, we can go with ‘some macho thing.’” He smiled and held open the door for me.

“Mr. Larsen.” A prim-looking woman with dark hair and pale skin approached.

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