Page 21 of Under the Mistletoe
I release a heavy breath. “Well, he’s a piece of work.”
“I could fucking punch him for getting close to you like that. What did he say to you?”
I look at Donovan, who’s still raging, giving him the quick rundown of my conversation. He relaxes and smirks a little as I tell him what I said, word for word, as Gordon drives down the street.
“I shouldn’t have left you alone with him around.”
“It’s fine. His bark is worse than his bite.”
“Don’t underestimate him. We both know he’s up to something over in Asia. You pointing that out to him tonight is making him crazy.” He runs his hand through his hair, and my heart flutters at the familiar movement.
“Will he be at the conference in Lake Placid?” I know he will be, and I can’t say I’m looking forward to the conference that Donovan and I are attending now after what happened tonight. But I’m not going to let an arrogant businessman put me off seeing Donovan deliver his keynote.
“I think so. But either way, I don’t want you alone with him again.”
“What? You're going to be my personal bodyguard?” I huff a laugh, but he isn’t laughing.
“You won't leave my side.” His eyes blaze, and I swallow.
“People will start to talk. They were already talking tonight. You’ve never taken a woman with you before?” I wasn’t immune to the whispers that floated around the room tonight.
“Never had one I wanted to take.”
Gordon hits a corner, and since I haven’t put my seat belt on, I slide across the polished soft leather seats, my thigh hitting his.
“Oh!” I grip on to the seat in front of me as Donovan's hands whip out to my waist.
“I’ve got you.” I look back at him, and our noses nearly touch.
His breath brushes my cheek, the space between us charged. For one suspended moment, with his hands firm on my waist, neither of us moves, not wanting to break the spell. I don’t know who leans in first, but our lips are just shy of meeting when the car jolts again, interrupting everything. We stay frozen, hearts pounding, too aware.
“I shouldn’t… We shouldn’t…” His eyes hook on mine.
“We really shouldn’t…” I whisper as I see his Adam’s apple bob.
“If I kiss you now, I won't be able to stop…” His admission is barely a whisper, and as my heart pounds in my ears, he drops his forehead onto mine. I pull in the air I need, the feelings between us swirling, the near miss one that leaves us both unsure as we sit back into the seat and gather ourselves.
“You’re different.”
“Different how?” I tilt my head, looking up at him. He grabs his tie, loosening it from his neck, making him appear more casual than I’ve ever seen him.
“You’re real. Genuine. Intelligent. Easy to talk to. Easy to be with…”
“So are you…”
A laugh puffs from his lips like he doesn’t believe me. “Probably not what most people think of me.”
“Most people probably don’t know the real you,” I tell him, and he looks at me sharply.
His eyebrow rises. “And you think you do?”
“No. But I probably know you better than the journalists who report on your every move or the people in that room tonight who watched you like a hawk but didn’t dare come and speak with you.”
He watches me, his gaze penetrating mine. Thinking through my words.
“I keep people at arm’s length most of the time. But when it comes to you…” He sighs, and we sit quietly for a moment, the car moving through the streets before he reaches over and grabs my hand, entwining our fingers, resting our palms on his thigh. Tingles shoot up my arm, making my breath hitch, but I don’t dare move. I’m about to ask more questions, but Gordon interrupts.
“We’re here, sir,” Gordon announces from the front seat, and we both jump, our little bubble of truth busted. Donovan clears his throat.
