Page 28 of Ruined Promises

What the hell was that? No, more likewhothe hell was that? Lexi never mentioned a man in her life. Were they together that night? Is this new? They must be serious enough for him to come to her office.

Why the fuck do I care? She is my employee.Of course it doesn’t matter.

I try to immerse myself with work, but I find myself looking at the clock constantly. I figured by staying busy, time would move faster. Trust me, it didn’t.What did I think would happen when I shut down all possibilities with us? Of course I would have to see her with someone else. That doesn’t mean that it hurts any less.

Jealousy is getting the best of me—and that is something I don’t do.

An hour later, I hear her voice in the hallway. When I glance out my door, I see she returned sans her male companion and has already dropped her belongings in her office, heading toward the copy room. I get up from my chair and follow her. Is it a good idea? Probably not, but when it comes to Lexi Baker, I never listen to my conscience. I softly close the door behind me, closing us into the small room.

Lexi jumps, gripping the papers tighter in her hands. “Oh fuck,” she shouts, clutching her chest that is heaving up and down. “Sorry, Ben, you scared me.” Once composed, she tilts her head, staring at me. “Are you okay?”

I walk forward, a man on a mission, and cage her in, her back now pressed against the copy machine. The only sounds filling the room are our heavy breathing and the printing of whatever brought her in here.

“Did you enjoy your lunch?” My entire body is tense and my tone clipped. I played it off earlier when I methim,but being enclosed in this room with her after my jealousy festered, I can’t hide it.

“Yes, thank you.”

“Cal seems like a nice guy.”

She nods. We are so close I can smell the cinnamon of her gum. “It drove me crazy seeing his lips on you.” I can hear her gasp as she sucks in a breath.Ben, what are you doing?“I remember what those lips felt like, tasted like.” I drag my thumb over her soft lips, and I feel my cock stiffening in my pants. “It’s like it’s engraved in my brain.”

I need to put space between us before doing something neither of us can take back. I leave her staring blankly at me with her thumb brushing over her lips, wondering what the fuck that was. A shocked expression laces her delicate features. To be honest, I am thinking about the same thing.

Asher has been bugging me to let him set me up with someone. Maybe it’s time I take Asher up on his offer. Lord help me when I am turning to my brother for women. But we are never going to get through this if I can’t get Lexi out of my head. What is that phrase they say? The best way to get over someone is to get under someone else? Lexi has clearly moved on, why can’t I? This is now the second moment we’ve shared in just days where the lines we’ve drawn have been blurred in a moment of weakness. Each passing moment has me questioning everything, and my walls begin to crumble. Doing what I just did was wrong and stupid.

When I return to my office, I close my door and send Taylor an email asking to not be disturbed for the rest of the day. I shoot Asher a text, giving him the go-ahead to set me up. I can guarantee that whoever he sets me up with will be beautiful—the perfect distraction. My brother doesn’t associate with women who, as he says, “are less than an eight.” I roll my eyes as I hear my brother’s words replay in my head. Of course, I’m not a pompous asshole like my brother; looks aren’t everything. I’m not looking for someone to marry; I’m looking for someone to help me rid myself of the five-foot-three spitfire who has embedded herself in my head and my heart.

* * *

I open the large glass door to Marina Grill. My brother was more than happy to set me up with someone, and here we are three days later, walking up to meet my blind date.

I am looking down at my phone through my text conversation with Asher to recall the name of the woman I’m meeting when I walk directly into the back of someone.

“Ooof,” the voice in front of me says softly, and I hold her arms to settle her. A jolt of electricity shoots through my body.

“I’m sorry, I should have been paying more attention and not looking down at my phone. Are you—” Before I can finish asking if they are okay, she spins around, and I lift my eyes to meet familiar green ones.

“Ben.”

“Lexi.” I scoff.Of course, of all the people I run into here, it’s the woman I am trying to get over and is the main reason behind why I agreed on this date in the first place.I place my hands in my pockets, unsure of what to do with them. “What are you doing here?” I ask and instantly regret my choice of words; what does onedoat a restaurant? Embarrassment covers my features, and Lexi must notice because the corners of her mouth turn upward in a soft smile.

“Well, Marina Grill does have the best seafood tacos.” I smirk at her response because that was precisely why I chose this spot for my date tonight.

“So I hear.” The other night when Lexi and I were going over this year’s winners, she mentioned that they had won this category for the last five years.

“Are you here alone?” She looks around.

“I’m meeting someone here, actually.” I rock back and forth on my toes.

“Oh.” We haven’t discussed what happened the other day in the copy room, and I am forever thankful. It was a lapse of judgment on my part. Had I not walked out when I did, there was no telling what would have happened next.

“Are you meeting your boyfriend here? What was his name, Cal?” A loud giggle leaves her mouth, and her hand quickly covers her mouth. As if she can sense my concern, she removes her hand and waves me off.

“I’m sorry. No, he’s not meeting me. I’m just picking up a to-go order. But I should be honest.” There she goes again, nibbling her bottom lip, something I’ve learned she does when she is nervous. “Cal—”

Cal what?

Lexi grows quiet, and her eyes dart to someone next to me. A soft touch on my arm forces me to break my gaze with Lexi. I turn to find a tall, blonde, slender woman staring at me. “Ben?”

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