Page 22 of All the Right Things

Another moment of silence passes between us before he asks, “So, what did you do for a living before you came here?”

“I worked in an office. And yes, it’s exactly as boring as it sounds,” I say with a wink. “When I got out of college with a Marketing and Sales degree, I was promised that the office job I had would eventually blossom into a Marketing role. Never happened. So, I was sort of the Office Manager, I guess.”

“That sucks. Why didn’t they ever bump you up into that role?” He asks, sipping the last of his beer.

My shoulders shrug. “I don’t know. It was an internet start-up run by a couple of guys who had just gotten out of their mom’s basement. They had no idea how to handle the day-to-day aspects of running an office, so I sort of stepped in and took over. If I didn’t, they probably would have forgotten to pay the light bill. As the business grew, so did my responsibilities in that role. Honestly, I think they didn’t want me to stop handling everything, and that’s why it never went further, which is a shame because I had some really good ideas for how to grow the business even faster.”

“How’d they take it when you left?”

“They weren’t thrilled, but they knew my situation and understood. Before I left, I gave them a detailed list of how to handle everything, but I imagine they will just hire someone else and hand the list off to that person.”

I figure he will press for more information when I mention my ‘situation,’ but he doesn’t. Thank heavens for that.

We talk a little bit more about our jobs before I start to yawn.

“Sorry,” I say, as my mouth closes. “I’m not trying to say you’re boring or anything.”

He laughs. “Well, I thought you were just tired until you said the boring thing.”

I erupt in giggles, which I’m sure are brought on by the wine I’ve been drinking. In no way am I drunk, but my inhibitions are certainly lowered. I can’t decide if that’s a good thing or bad.

“Why don’t you go get some sleep, darlin’? I was thinking tomorrow if you don’t have any plans, maybe I can show you around town a little bit. And maybe show you around the ranch.”

“Oh, I’m sorry. I already have plans.”

His face falls, and I can tell he doesn’t see that I’m joking. “Jonas, I’m kidding. Of course, I will hang out with you. I don’t know anyone else here, which pretty much makes you my best friend. Oh, shit, that came out wrong,” I say, slapping my hand over my mouth. I’m rambling, and it’s not going well.

He takes my hand in his, rubbing the top of it with his thumb. “Hey, it’s okay. I’ll take being your best friend in whatever capacity I can.” He smiles, and I melt a little inside. “Now, why don’t we both go get some sleep?”

We both stand up off the couch, and I pick up my mug along with his empty beer bottle to take to the kitchen.

“You know you don’t have to clean up after me, sweetheart,” he calls, walking after me.

“I know.” I rinse the mug and put it in the dishwasher before throwing his bottle in the trash.

He turns me around, so I am facing him, my back pressing against the counter. His fingertips lightly sit on my hip while his blue eyes pierce into mine. His citrusy smell invades my senses, and I feel all consumed with Jonas Mitchell.

“Hey, I mean it. I’ll never ask you to be my live-in maid here, Andi. Don’t feel obligated to do anything you don’t want to do.”

I’m entirely unable to speak because I’m worried I might beg for him to kiss me if I do. Maybe I’d beg for him to take me in his arms and make me forget about all the bad things. Maybe I’d beg him to take me to bed and stay there for the next few days.

Before I can form a single word, he takes his hands off me and breaks eye contact. Slowly, he steps out of my way, and I begin to step around him to head to the room I’m staying in. I try to hide my disappointment, but I don’t know how successful I am.

I’m no more than two steps past Jonas when I feel his hand grab my wrist. In one swift motion, he pulls me back to him, this time bringing his mouth down on mine. His hands hold onto either side of my face as he massages my lips with his.

I wrap my arms around his waist, letting myself get lost in the heat and passion of it all. His tongue parts the seam of my lips, and as I open for him, he sweeps the tip of it against mine. The moment I feel his skillful tongue, my body quivers, wondering what else it can do.

I moan against his mouth as he deepens the kiss. My fists ball in his shirt as I lose all my senses. Just when I think I might be reduced to nothing more than a puddle on the floor, he pulls back to look at me.

In nothing more than a whisper, he begins to speak. “As much as I want to continue this, and believe me, wewillcontinue this, we’ve both been drinking. I don’t want you to have a single regret in the morning.”

I consider pleading with him and telling him I’m not nearly drunk enough to have any regrets. But it dons on me just how few men would stop this to make sure a woman feels completely comfortable. I’m not going to complain about that.

Instead, I lean up on my tiptoes and lightly kiss his cheek. “Goodnight, Jonas.”

“Goodnight, beautiful.”

I turn from him and begin once again to walk toward my bedroom. This time, he doesn’t stop me, but I can feel his eyes on me the entire time. I sway my hips a little to give him a good show.

---