Page 95 of Beautiful Desire

I’ve been pacing across my office for the better part of an hour now, but it’s felt like an eternity. The coffee I made myself from the staff kitchen sits on my desk, untouched and cold. I never had any intention of actually drinking it, but I needed to do something to pass a couple of minutes. I feel sick to my stomach with nerves.

I’ve tried doing paperwork, reading through emails, and even going over contracts for some upcoming meetings. But it’s all been useless; I can’t concentrate on anything, so instead I’m wearing away the carpet on my office floor as I take in the sun rising over the Boston skyline.

The city looks so beautiful at this time of the morning, and after being away for longer than I cared to be, it’s a sight I very much missed. My office door is cracked open just a little so I know when she finally arrives. I don’t know what I’m going to say or how I’m going to ask her. I don’t want her to think I’m asking her out to dinner to discuss a work thing, and I most certainly don’t want her to think I’m only asking her out with the end goal only being sex, because I’m not. I wanther. I want her more than I’ve ever wanted any other woman.

A faint knock on my office door draws my attention, pulling me out of my thoughts, and when I look up to see who it is, an instant smile crosses my face. Her brows crease as she pokes her head in the small gap in the door.

“Is everything okay, Mr. Lombardi?” Elle asks, a slightly anxious tone to her voice.

Smiling at her, I quickly make my way over and open the door fully, inviting her in and extending my arm out toward the coffee table. She looks at me, confused, before walking over and taking a seat.

“How are you today, Elle?” I ask cheerily, taking a seat opposite her.

She doesn’t answer right away. Instead, she looks me over for a minute, her eyes flickering all over me, trying to get a read on my mood.

“I’m good...” she replies a little hesitantly, looking confused at the cheery tone in my voice at such an early time in the day.

“I’m glad you came into my office first thing this morning, actually. There’s something I wanted to ask you.”

I watch as her whole demeanor changes. Rolling her shoulders back, she sits upright and inhales a deep breath before clearing her throat. She sits, eyeing me, and I feel a nervous energy buzz in the room as she waits for me to spit it out.

I don’t deserve this chance, but I’d be a dumbass not to even try. I take a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves.

“Can I take you on a date tonight?” I blurt out.

It feels like my heart has stopped beating as I watch her reaction to my question. Her face contorts in surprise as she blinks rapidly, her mouth opening and closing.

“I…” she starts, but doesn’t finish.

“I know you can feel what we have too, Elle. I know you felt it that first night, and I know you still felt it yesterday too.”

Her cheeks blush and her tongue peeks out, gliding along her lips at the mention of what happened between us yesterday.

Dropping her head and looking down at her hands, she quietly replies, “You’re my boss, Dom.”

If she thinks I’m going to buy that shit-ass excuse, she has another think coming. I won’t give up that easily. I’ve already let her slip away twice before; I won’t let it happen again.

Third time’s a charm, right?

“Elle, look at me,” I say, moving to sit on the edge of my chair and waiting until she’s looking up at me. “We had something long before I was your boss. Don’t try to tell me you don’t feel this. You’ve been put in my life again for a reason. I want to explore what that reason might be. Give me one date, and if after that, you decide you just see me as your boss, then we’ll leave it at that.”

Elle’s eyes flicker back and forth between mine. I know she’s thinking about it; she’s fighting herself. She wants to give in.

Looking down at her hands again, she surprises me by saying, “I need to use the bathroom.”

And with that, she stands, almost running out of my office. A hint of sadness settles in my stomach as I fall back against the soft leather seat and rub my hands down my face.

What the hell kind of answer was that?

My cellphone starts ringing in my jacket pocket. Reaching in, I take it out and see Fabi’s name flashing on the screen. Swiping the green button, I place the phone to my ear.

“Yeah?” My voice is hoarse with frustration.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” he asks.

“Nothing. What’s up?” I ask, changing the subject.

“Nope, that’s not nothing. Now tell me,” Fabi says in his firmI’m not dropping thistone.

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