Page 38 of Hers to Love
She pulled at the ruffles flowing down the back of her legs. “You don’t like it?”
“I like it very well on you.” He slipped a hand to her back and guided her forward to an awaiting table. His lips tickled her ear as he said, “But I’m sure it would look better on the floor.”
If words could impregnate…
He pulled out Kori’s chair. After she was settled, he took the seat opposite her.
“Sir,” she began slowly.
“Marshall.”
Kori shook her head. “After what happened on the plane...”
“What do you mean?”
She cocked her head to one side. “The kiss? Jarod saw us.”
Marshall’s lips thinned and he pushed back into his chair. “I honestly don’t care.”
“Well, you should.”
His eyes snapped to hers. “Should I? I’m still the CEO.”
“Butmy lawsuitisn’t settled.” She signed and ran a hand over her loose curls, still wet from her shower. “I can’t afford the risk,sir.”
Marshall leaned across the table, “Kori, I think we can beat this.”
“And end up as what?” She chuckled derisively. “My father always thought I’d end up here. That I’d be nothing more than…my boss’s lover.”
Marshall stared open-mouthed. “You think that’s what I want from you?”
She set a challenging gaze on him. “Are you saying you don’t?”
“Of course I want to be lovers, but not in the way you’ve been taught to think. I want…”
His voice faltered, as did his gaze. Kori’s heart skipped several beats as she waited, hopeful. The longer the silence lingered, the more her heart settled into a disappointingly normal rhythm.
Their food arrived and Kori causally began eating. “The adjustment won’t be difficult,” she said in a businesslike tone. “We’ve only known each other for a short time.”
“Marriage did a number on me,” he replied softly. He cut into his steak, the juices flowing smoothly onto his plate. “I haven’t allowed myself to hope that I could be happy again.” His eyes slowly rose. “Until you.”
“Marshall…”
“I wanted to do things differently than my parents. Divorce wasn’t an option for nearly ten years.” He covered one of her hands with his own. “You’ve convinced me that second chances are possible. That…I could…try again.”
Marriage?
Kori withdrew her hand although her heartbeat ticked up. “I can’t give you any hope,” she said without meeting his eyes. “You can’t use me as a crutch and I can’t rely on you to be my safety net for the rest of my life.”
“I’m not suggesting—”
“And until this lawsuit is over”—she finally summoned the courage to meet his gaze—“I can’t entertain any relationship beyond boss-employee. Please understand.”
His eyes searched hers for so long she was convinced he’d found the lie in her statement. Shehad beenentertaining a relationship with her boss.Hopingfor it. But reason had to prevail or her employment chances could be ruined for the foreseeable future.
If he cared for her at all, he’d agree.
Marshall’s hand, that had been laying on the table where she’d left it, dragged back to his side and disappeared into his lap. His study of her relented. With a nod he continued eating in silence.
