Page 71 of Need Me
Blue eyes set under dark, shaggy hair smiled at her from over his shoulder. “No. I’m trying to adhere to the dress code. Nothing too tight, nothing too baggy. Danforth ripped into me last week about my attire, and I’m trying to keep my assintact.”
Another laugh erupted from Brooke, but it was cut short by the appearance of Robert behindMitch.
“Excuse me, but I’d appreciate it if you didn’t show your ass to my girlfriend,” hesaid.
Mitch’s head whipped around. “Oh, hey. You must be Robert. I was just asking her for some fashion advice.” Mitch looked down at his jeans and then back at Robert. “Are these too tight? What do you think,man?”
Robert ignored Mitch. “Brooke, can wetalk?”
Mitch straightened his doctor’s jacket. “Okay. That’s a no then.” He exited Brooke’s office, pulling the door closed behindhim.
As Robert locked the door and approached her desk, Brooke took in his disheveled state. With his wild hair, scruffy jaw, and old clothes, he looked like a sexy farm hand instead of an officemanager.
“Good morning,” hesaid.
“Good morning. How did you sleep?” she asked, looking him over again withconcern.
“Fine, I think. After I fell apart on you last night, I don’t remember a whole lot.” His mouth twisted in a wry smile. “How many beers did Ihave?”
Brooke said, “You needed to fall apart. You’ve been holding all that in for far too long. How do you feel? Clear-headed enough todrive?”
He nodded. “Did we makelove?”
“No. I wanted to, but you said that I deserved better than comfortsex.”
Another nod. “Where are mykeys?”
He was unreadable, which was completely out of character for him and it set her on edge. She took her purse out of a desk drawer and fished his keys from it. “Here yougo.”
His touch was gentle as his fingers encircled her wrist and pulled her to her feet. Wordlessly, he bowed his head and captured her lips with his. He cupped the back of her neck and ran the tip of his tongue along the seam of her lips. A warm shudder ran up her spine as she opened forhim.
He didn’t tease, he dominated, taking what he wanted even while giving her a taste of what she desired. Abruptly, he dragged his mouth from hers, leaving her feeling as though someone had screeched the needle across a spinningrecord.
“I shouldn’t keep Mrs. Zukowski waiting since she was nice enough to give me a ride. Thanks for being there for me lastnight.”
“You’rewelcome.”
“I’ll talk to you later.” He dropped a brief kiss on her lips. “Have a goodday.”
Reaching up, she ran her fingers through his hair. “You might want to comb this andshave.”
“I’ll take that under advisement, NurseCarpenter.”
“Dothat.”
After Robert left, Brooke wondered at his odd behavior and worried that he was embarrassed about breaking down. Did he regret telling her about Liam or think that she’d betray his confidence? She’d have to reassure him that she’d never reveal hisconfession.
Sitting back down, something he’d said came back to Brooke. Robert didn’t want more kids. She’d been so stunned by all his revelations that she’d blocked that out. Did he really mean that or was that only his grieftalking?
Her heart more troubled than before Robert had shown up, Brooke knew that concentrating on her job that day would be even harder. However, she had people counting on her, so she put her personal problems aside and went back towork.
* * *
He shouldn’t have kissedBrooke that morning. Shouldn’t have touched her or called her hisgirlfriend.
“Fuck!” Robert barely kept from smashing his laptop keyboard with a fist. “I need a drink.” He had no right to claim her. With a groan, he put his hands over his face. “You’re such a damndumbass.”
“I certainly think so, but why don’t you tell me why you thinkthat?”
