Page 20 of Delayed
Chapter Eleven
When Phil had mentioned Rex’s name over thephone, her heart rate accelerated to concerning levels. But seeinghim standing in the lobby of her office, his hands shoved into hisjeans pockets and his dark gray t-shirt pulled tight against hischest and lean muscled arms, Anna’s knees weakened. She gripped thehandrail of the escalator to keep herself vertical.
She hadn’t forgotten how good looking hewas. She’d never met anyone quite so handsome. But she hadn’tbelieved they’d see each other again so soon. In fact, she hadn’tbeen sure they’d see each other at all. There was no denying thather body and, apparently, her heart had been hoping otherwise.
Stepping off the escalator, she pushedthrough the glass doors to the lobby. Though her insides vibrated,she forced a tight smile. She didn’t want him to think she’d spentthe last several days pining over him. Even if she had.
“Rex.” She walked over to him and extendedher hand.
He glanced down at her outstretched hand,his brows drawing down. Then he grasped her hand and pulled hertoward him, his other hand resting on her hip.
“Though I’m not going to take your mouthlike I want to,” he whispered, “I’m also not going to pretend thisis a business visit.” He pressed a soft kiss to her lips, then hercheek.
She gasped and inhaled his scent. He smelledlike the outdoors, woody and fresh. She’d missed it. Missed him.“What are you doing here?” She pulled back to look at him. Herbelly flipped in a frenzy. “I thought you were in D.C. through theweekend.”
The few text messages they’d exchanged sincethey departed Grand Rapids had involved their plans for theweekend. It had been further proof that a relationship between themwouldn’t work. He’d planned to be in D.C. for the weekend. Thenback to Orlando for a couple of days before heading back out on theroad.
“I wanted to see you.” He still held herhand. His thumb stroked hers.
She stared at him. Though usuallydisheveled, his sandy brown hair stood on end as if he’d pushed hisfingers through it a hundred times as he waited for her arrival.The thought made her smile. Maybe she wasn’t the only one withnerves.
“Well, here I am.” She shrugged ashoulder.
“More beautiful than ever, Sunshine.” Hekept his voice low. “Fuck me, I love you in your work clothes.” Asoft growl rumbled from him.
She smirked. “Is this a booty call?” Theidea of romping around in a bed with him again certainly had itsappeal, but she couldn’t stop the tightness in her chest fromforming at the idea that that may be the only reason he was here.But isn’t that what she wanted? Something casual.
He straightened and he scrubbed a hand overhis face. “I’m sorry. I don’t want to come off as if I drove allthis way just to get up your skirt. I didn’t.” A cloud shrouded hishazel eyes.
“Then why did you come all this way?”
“I’m here for the weekend. I was hoping wecould spend it together.”
Her eyes widened. “You left your work tripearly to come here?” Her heart pitter-pattered against herchest.
“Let’s just say I can get my work donequickly if motivated.” He grinned.
“And I’m your motivation?”
He watched her, his gaze scanning her face,pausing at her mouth before meeting her gaze again. “Yes.”
She glanced at her watch—3:00. She still hadat least another hour before she could call it a day and breezeinto her weekend. Her meeting with Jacob Sterling, her colleagueand competition for the assistant vice president position, startedin thirty minutes. Hopefully, they could breeze through theirdiscussion on their upcoming board presentation in less than anhour.
Her chest squeezed and she chewed the insideof her cheek. She was all over the place. Spending time with Rex,the weekend with him would be incredible. But she had to remainrealistic about this. She couldn’t involve her heart, at least notmore than she already had.
“I can keep myself busy until you get offwork. There’s plenty to do around here.” He glanced outside. “Thereare two bars nearby that I can check in on.” He cocked his headtoward the doors.
She remained silent for a few seconds,debating internally whether to agree to give in to his efforts orshut it down before her heart shattered. She inhaled deeply. “Okay.I can meet you at The Bay Bar around 4:30, 5:00, at the latest?”Pretending she didn’t want to see him, to talk to him, to feel himnext to her was a lie she wasn’t willing to even tell herself.
His lips spread into a wide smile and herheart stuttered. His smile could melt her into a puddle on thespot.
“Perfect.” He leaned in and pressed a kissto her temple. “I’ll see you in a bit then, Sunshine.”
The nickname warmed her like the staritself. She stood in the lobby and watched as he pushed out theglass front doors and strolled to a red Jeep parked in a visitor’sspace, his jeans conforming to his backside and legs perfectly. Shehummed.
“Mm hm,” a female voice startled her andknocked her out of her ogling. The blonde beauty she called herbest friend and often her “work wife” stood beside her.
“Janice, you scared me.” Anna rested a handover her heart.
