Page 22 of Hers to Love
But she wasn’t his to protect.
“I’m sorry that this won’t last long,” he whispered, emotion in his throat.
She shook her head. “Don’t be. I’m enjoying the work so far. It keeps me from being lost in my own head. And I’m in Italy!” She threw her arms up and laughed. “I’ve been here before, but only for overnighters. It’s almost like a…”
He cocked a brow when she looked away. Then he laughed. “You don’t want to say it’s a vacation, do you?”
She shook her head, the corners of her mouth twitching.
“As long as you keep me from looking like I’m taking a vacation, then it’s okay. And you have. That first day was…interesting but necessary. And I’ll make sure you have time to take a real vacation here before it’s all over. You’ll have a lot to deal with when you get back.”
He wished he hadn’t said that when he saw her downturned face.
In the elevator at the hotel, Marshall thought to move to the opposite side of the car, but he stayed near. Still feeling protective of her, he wanted her to trust him. So he kept his hands in his pockets and barely made eye contact. She stood with a straight back, her expression calm.
He walked her to her room door. She opened it and turned around with a smile. “Thank you for tonight. Thank you for the raise and…for listening and not judging.”
He could only imagine what someone in her position would’ve gone through. “Kori, thank you for being strong. For being a professional.” He took a step closer, emboldened by the admiration for the woman in front of him. “I want you to know you have my full support. Whatever you need.”
A tear slipped from her eye. He caught it with his knuckle and slowly dragged it across her jaw before cupping her cheek. “Kori…” he whispered.
Digging deep, he willed himself not to move a muscle. The line was staring him straight in the face. The divide between professionalism and personal. He wanted nothing more than to cross it. To brush his lips over hers and take her into his arms. To feel her arms come around him and hold him close; to be her rock.
But he couldn’t.Wouldn’tput her in that position again.
Kori stepped forward. “Marshall,” she breathed.
Her intense dark eyes looked up at him expectantly…silently asking.
Or maybe he was interpreting the touch of inquisitiveness in her soft voice, the way her lips remained parted.
His mind yelled at him to back away while his heart squeezed into his ribs as if trying to reach the woman in front of it. He wished more than anything to fulfill her expectations.
His body swayed forward slightly, and then with more force of will than he thought he possessed, he dropped his hand and took several steps back.
“Good night, Kori. I’ll see you in the office tomorrow.”
She blinked a few times and visibly swallowed. “Sir.” She hurried inside and shut the door.
Marshall groaned and leaned against the wall opposite her door. It was over. He’d made a pass at her, however subtle. Another boss wielding his influence over a subordinate who wouldn’t be able to fight his power.
He was the world’s biggest jerk.
Chapter 10
What have I done!
It took a gargantuan effort to keep her fingernails out of her mouth. Instead, she pressed them firmly into the mattress of her bed while her legs jiggled over the side. If they didn’t steady soon, she’d be stuck doing her job from her room.
She had to tell her lawyer. Give her the heads-up. If she got blindsided by this news—and if Brigham’s legal team heard about it—then Kori’s case was over.
Technically, it was over anyway. There was no way she could win against Brigham now that the driver had backed out. Her lawyer was hungry, and Kori appreciated that she believed her, but none of that would matter anymore.
Not when she liked her new boss.
More than liked.
What he’d just done for her…her heart still kindled from his generosity, his support, his respect.
