Page 37 of Until It Was Real

“I thought you’d go through the other door.”

Go through the other door when I can feel Dakota’s curves against mine as she scoots to the other side of the seat? I’m not a stupid man.

“Are you feeling better?” I ask once we’re driving away from the airport.

“Feeling better? I haven’t been sick.”

“I didn’t say you were. But you were obviously tired.”

“I’ve been reviewing the information for the meeting.”

I reach across the seat to squeeze her hand. “There’s no reason to be nervous.”

She sniffs and lifts her nose in the air. “I know. But I prefer to be prepared for all eventualities.”

She’s adorable when she’s feisty. Whoa. I stop myself there. Dakota is not adorable. Or cute. Or sexy. Or anything.

She’s my co-worker, my brother’s assistant, and off limits.

My phone rings and I check the display. “It’s one of our customers. I need to answer this.”

She flicks her hand. “Of course. We’re at work.”

I spend the rest of the drive trying to iron out the mess of invoices and payments with the customer. Dakota hears me and opens her laptop to bring up the customer files. I grin at her.

I never should have asked Eli to fire her. I overreacted when I found her sleeping in her car. Dakota is not merely competent. She’s amazing. As I argue with the customer, she taps on the screen to indicate the numbers I need without me asking. Like I said – amazing.

I finish up the call as the car pulls up to our hotel. I climb out before turning around to help Dakota out. Sparks fly as our hands touch. I could get addicted to the feeling.

Co-worker, I remind myself. Keeping a secret, I add when co-worker does nothing to dim the fire building in my belly to have this woman. To lay her down and feast on her curves. My cock hardens and lengthens as visions of her in the throes of passion flit through my mind.

“Rhett.” Dakota elbows me and I realize I’m not paying attention to the present. “Do we tip the driver?”

All the suitcases are already on the porter’s cart. I force my thoughts to the present. “Already done.”

We follow the porter into the hotel. Dakota gasps and her mouth gapes open as she stares up at the chandelier in the lobby.

It reminds me of when Eli made his first million. He took the entire family on a vacation to the Bahamas where we stayed in a five-star hotel. I don’t think my chin lifted from the ground the entire time.

I forgot how wonderful the first experience of luxury is.

I grasp Dakota’s elbow and guide her toward the reception. She blinks several times before she slips into work mode.

“We have a reservation for two rooms under the name of Rhett Raider.”

The receptionist smiles at her. “Let me have a look.”

She taps away at her computer but the smile falls from her face. “I only have one room reserved.”

“No. There must be some kind of mistake.” Dakota digs her phone out of her purse. “I have a confirmation for two rooms.”

The receptionist frowns as she scans Dakota’s phone. “I see the confirmation, but I’m not seeing it on my computer.”

“It’s not a problem. Book us into another room,” I say.

The receptionist ticks away at her computer again. “I’m afraid we’re completely booked up. The only room we have available is the Empire Suite.”

“Sounds expensive,” Dakota says.

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