Page 86 of Business Casual

“I like the way you think. Is next week your big meeting with the board?”

“Yes.”

“Good. Hopefully you won’t have to do the work of two people anymore.”

He kissed my forehead, my nose, then my lips. “Exactly.”

I studied his face as I stared up at him. “You’ve been doing a good job. I mean, I know work has been kicking your ass, but you’ve been killing it.” I brought my hands up to his face, his soft beard underneath my fingertips. “You’re changing the game and you deserve a promotion. You should be proud of yourself. I’m proud of you.”

His chest rose and fell as he held my gaze. He opened his mouth like he was going to say something. Instead, he crashed his lips into mine and kissed me like he loved me. I didn’t just feel him, I experienced him. And it took my breath away.

“Wow,” I breathed when he broke the kiss finally.

“You know you make every day better, right?”

I bit my bottom lip. “From workday distraction to day maker is a pretty good promotion.”

“Give me one more week—seven more days—and I’ll show you that you were never just a distraction,” he uttered. “You have always been more.”

“And I can’t wait to see what you have planned.”

Wordlessly staring at one another, I felt giddy.

The power this man has over me is unprecedented.

Ripping my eyes away from his, I untangled myself from our embrace. Smoothing down my dress, I looked around. With pursed lips, I held out my hand. “Give me my underwear!”

He chuckled, pulling the silk material from his pocket. “You know I like to keep them for my long days.”

“You need to select the less expensive pair to want to keep.” Taking them from his hand, I quickly slipped them on. “Although I do appreciate you having them dry cleaned and returned to me after a few days.”

He winked. “Anything for you.”

Heat rose up my neck and lit up my face. “How do you do that?” I marveled aloud.

“Do what?”

“You light me up. Without any effort, you can just say a thing or look at me a certain way and…” My sentence trailed off as I realized how I sounded. Shaking my head, I laughed.

He cocked his head to the side. “And what?”

“I guess I’m saying I’m feeling you.”

“I’m feeling you, too.”

Grinning, I turned to walk to the door. “Okay well, now I need to sneak out of here. We’ve been in here for a minute and you have to make sure the coast is clear.”

I grabbed my bag and hoisted the strap onto my shoulder.

“Tomorrow I have plans all day, but Sunday… if you’re free, will you let me fix you a meal?”

I nodded. “Yeah, I’d like that.”

I didn’t like that I couldn’t tell him I’d see him tomorrow, but I couldn’t wait for him to see me in my gown.

He peeked out the door, looking both ways. “You’re good. Call me later.” He gave me a peck on the lips before opening the door all the way.

“I will. Have a good day.”

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