Page 99 of Alpha-Ex Wedding Ruse
It hit the desk with a soft thud. My breath caught in my throat—not because he startled me, but because of what that small touch did to me. How it lit up every nerve ending, how my wolf practically howled inside me.
Luca smiled slightly, like he noticed my reaction. “It’s nice to have you on board this project, Leila.”
My breath hitched—and I was so damn sure he heard it.
Fuck, I was losing my cool. I needed to get out of here before I did something really stupid. Like lean into the heat and tension buzzing between us like a live wire.
I snapped my hand back and grabbed the folder. “Yeah, sure.”
And with that, I scurried out of the office like a rat being chased by a cat. A very tall, very smug, dangerously attractive cat.
I’d willedthe gods of self-control to help me before walking into the office the next day. But that self-control only lasted all of ten minutes before it wilted like a cheap flower.
“That’s my desk,” I said to the unfamiliar man sitting in the same spot I’d worked from yesterday.
He looked up, confused. But it was the woman beside him who answered.
She shook her head. “Not anymore. Mr. Vaughn assigned you a new one.”
My brow pulled tight. “A new desk where?”
“In his office.”
What?
I spun on my heel and marched straight to his door. When I pulled it open, there it was—a desk already set up in the corner of his office, just a few feet from his. On it sat a cup of coffee and a small takeaway bag I recognized to be the packaging from Elvis Cafe. Croissants. I’d always yapped about loving them. Apparently, Luca remembered.
Luca leaned back in his chair, one leg casually crossed over the other as he took in my agitated sight. There goes my self-control.
“What do you think you’re doing?” I asked.
“Well, good morning to you, too, Leila.”
I folded my arms. “What do you think everyone’s going to say when they find out I’ve been moved to your office?”
“I thought you didn’t care what people think.”
“I don’t.”
“Then I don’t see the issue. We’re on a tight deadline, and I think it’s more efficient working from here. Closely together,” he smirked, “that way we can cover more ground.” His eyes lowered, dragging slowly down my frame before flicking back up. “Unless there’s another reason you wouldn’t want to be here.”
“Yes, Luca. There is, in fact, another reason,” I said. “You’re getting married in two weeks. It’s not exactly going to send the right message if people see you giving me special treatment.”
The mischievous smirk slipped from his face, replaced by something darker.
Luca stood.
I tensed immediately. His gaze didn’t leave mine as he circled his desk and came to stand in front of me. I held my ground, forcing myself not to react to his presence because I wanted to puncture that damn ego of his.
“Stop doing that,” he said.
I could smell his breath—mint and the faint trace of coffee.
“Doing what?” I croaked, my voice giving me away.
“Stop reminding me of that fucking wedding,” he ground out.
“Then stop acting like you are forgetting it’s happening.”
