Page 230 of Worthy

“I saw you with that woman last night. Leaving the restaurant.” His voice is soft but he doesn’t open his eyes to look at me.

“Annabel? Russel’s daughter?” I question in confusion, dropping my hands. “What about her?”

His eyes blink open as he searches my expression. “Russel’s daughter? I didn’t know he had a daughter.”

“Yeah, I haven’t seen her in a while. Not since a gala last year.”

“But she kissed you.” His voice cracks, as if he’s in pain, and the sound hits me square in the chest.

Oh no. He thought… “It wasn’t like that.” He gives me a small smile, and I don’t know if he believes me but I keep going. “Seriously, it wasn’t. Our fathers have been trying to set us up for a while. They pair us up on outings and events whenever they can.” Not anymore though.

He frowns, biting down on his lip as his gaze drops to the floor. “Oh,” is all he says, and I don’t like that at all.

“I told her about you last night.” I want him to see how much he means to me. How serious I am about us.

His breath hitches and his eyes widen once more. “What?”

“My father too, actually.” May as well get it all out there at once.

His mouth opens and closes several times, clearly not sure what to say. “I’m sorry, what?” His voice is raised an octave and I can’t tell if it’s bewilderment or shock he’s feeling.

“At dinner last night, Russel and my father just kept pushing for us to go out. I finally just snapped. Announced right there at the table that I was already in a relationship. I was going to leave it at that at first, but my father kept pestering me to know who so I told him.You. I told him I was falling for you.”

His cheeks flush and his mouth drops open in surprise. “Falling for me?”

“So hard. I want to be with you. I’ve been falling for you for months.”

“But you said you had a crush on someone. You said…”

I press a finger to his lips, wanting him to stop. “I know and I lied. I was worried I’d scare you off if you knew.”

“Was your dad mad?”

“Pissed, got up from the table and stormed out before we even got our meals. Annabel came clean to her father about being in love with the mail room guy at their office. That was enough to have him storming out along with my father.”

We’re both laughing now as he shakes his head. “Oh my gosh. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have assumed the worst. We’re not even really dating and I got all possessive. I just saw you last night and I had déjà vu from an ex. I’m so sorry. I should have just asked. I should have trusted you.”

I lean in, kissing him, just happy to have him here and not upset anymore. He wraps his arms around my back, holding onto me like he’s scared I’m going to disappear and I squeeze him back. He feels so perfect in my arms. Like he was meant to be here. “I get it. I get murderous just thinking about all the guys you’ve been with.” It’s crazy how possessive I feel over him after such a short time, but I wouldn’t change a thing.

He gives me a small smile. “Really?”

“Oh yeah. Crazily so.”

“Aren’t we quite the pair?”

Because I can, I kiss him again and again, reveling in the way his lips feel against mine. “Date me. Be my boyfriend. I want to make this official.”

He nods, whispering the word yes across my lips before kissing me one last time.

“I don’t have any meetings today… Want to play sick and go back to my place?” I drag my fingers down the buttons of his shirt, hoping he gets my meaning. I want him naked and underneath me, in my bed.

He coughs into his hand, giving me a sly smile. “I think I need to use a sick day. I’m suddenly not feeling so great.”

“Here.” I pull out my wallet and pass him my key card so he can let himself into my apartment. “Get your stuff and meet me at my place. I need to set up my out-of-office stuff but I’ll only be about five minutes behind you.”

“Okay. Don’t keep me waiting too long. I’m going to need a doctor to make me feel better.” Then he winks before leaving my office. The little tease.

I quickly take care of what I need to in the office before practically sprinting to the exit. Several people stop what they’re doing to look at me, but I don’t care. I have plans, big plans. Lance naked in my bed being the best one.

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