Page 34 of Phillip

Step four—

“Are you listening to me?” She scowled.

Well, hell.He pursed his lips. Listening was probably important to include with steps one through four, as was telling the truth. Wasn’t that all he’d ever wanted from her? “Sorta.”

She squinted but sighed and leaned back. “And after that, I’ll make a call today and set up the meeting.”

“Sounds good.” Phillip watched as she jotted in her notebook, somehow fully focused again on the auction details. Her brow knitted as she reread what she’d written, then turned a page, crossing out and circling what looked like bullet point items. “All done?”

Her chin lifted and her lips parted. “For now.”

“Come with me.” Phillip took her hand. She barely resisted as he pulled, only slowing to grab her purse. The closer they came to privacy, the stronger his urge to rush. Her fingers flexed into his, and he yanked open the door. They stepped into the cool, dark room as the door shut.

Her quick breaths mirrored his. Phillip didn’t bother for the light. Their stomachs touched. He backed her to the wall. Their only sounds came as racing breaths. Phillip let her hand go and lifted his arms, caging her to the wall. His heartbeat galloped. Arousal blinded him from reality. This was what she’d run from on the beach. This was what he shouldn’t do. But this was everything that he needed.

He wasn’t sure if she might kiss or slap him. He would take either because at least that was something—a reaction, an uncoiling, something where Ashley didn’t ignore the chaos driving them together.

Her breathlessness gave a quiet whimper, and he couldn’t decipher what she wanted next. Until he knew, he needed to back off.

Phillip swallowed hard. “This is the backroom.” His heart punched in his chest, and he couldn’t—wouldn’t—make a move unless she made her intentions clear.

“Not what I expected on the private tour,” she whispered.

That was as clear as mud. “What did you expect?”

“I haven’t figured that out yet.”

A knot tied in his throat. She needed to do that first. His molars ground, and he knew he needed to back away. She’d drawn the line for now, and he wouldn’t take her mouth. “Let me know when you do.”

He inched away. She grabbed his waist.

Fire shot through him, and his voice dropped low. “You’re killing me.” The vibrations rumbled in his throat. “I missed you. Do you know that?”

“Yes,” she whispered.

“You left me.” He pulled from her hold. “Damn it, Ashley. You walked away. Do you know what that did to me?”

His eyes had adjusted to the dark room, enough that he could read her expression. Emotion stormed in her beautiful eyes. But so did need and arousal, that very basic chemistry and connection that made them fly. But he’d just mapped out a plan, one that would’ve stopped this from happening, where he’d proven to be responsible and reliable. “Anything else you’d like to see on the tour?”

“I’m not sure,” she said.

Answers like that were going to drive him insane. With a deep breath, he jerked the door open. “Set up the Paget meeting. I’ll be there.” But not right now. It was his turn to run away.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

The meeting with Robert Paget had materialized quicker than Phillip had anticipated. He’d had barely enough time to pull himself together before he had to meet Ashley and Robert Paget the next day.

Ashley stood by his side, looking every bit the part of a fund-raiser ready to make her pitch. Her bright dress painted her the picture of King Harbor society life, but it was her high heels that Phillip most appreciated and were hardest to ignore.

“Ready?” he asked.

She nodded, and Phillip drew back the heavy, ornate door knocker and let it fall. The knock seemed to echo cavernously on the other side of the door. “That’s a bit pretentious. Who doesn’t have a doorbell?”

She elbowed him. “Shhh.”

Phillip grinned, glad that she seemed to have forgotten their almost kiss the day before. “I’m just saying. Even a normal door knocker. But that one all but played the drums.”

Ashley tried not to laugh. “Be quiet and behave.”

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