Page 52 of Nigel

“I figured weboth needed the jolt. Would you like me to make you a sandwich orsomething?”

“No. I will eaton the plane. What about you?”

“I will grab abagel from the deli across the street from me.” She watched ashe went to pour coffee and stood by the coffee pot, sipping.

“You have mypersonal number if you want to get in touch.”

She stifled a sighand pondered what she should say to him. She knew what he was doing.

“If?”

He shrugged. “Youmight be busy. I did keep you away from work yesterday.”

“And it was mychoice.” Putting away the cup decisively, she walked around tohim, ignoring the rigid set to his shoulders. Taking the cup fromhim, she placed her hands on his chest. “I am going to calluntil you are sick of me. And I will be counting the days until youcome back to me.”

His hands came up toframe her face, eyes sizzling. “I am a mess,” he admittedshakily. “I kept you up last night.“ He shook his head.“I can sleep on the plane, but you have to go to work.”

“And being theboss, I get to take some time to recover. I love that you find me soirresistible,” she told him with a laugh. “That you findit difficult to keep your hands off me. I have never experiencedanything like this before. And never thought I would. I am not goingto allow you to spoil it for me.”

“Yes ma’am.”There was gratitude mixed with love and passion in his voice. “Imiss you already.”

“Ditto.”She leaned in for a kiss and when he deepened it, she leaned in evencloser, her body pushed up against his. But he ended it, dragging hislips from hers and placing his forehead on hers.

“Let’s gobefore I drag you onto the kitchen floor and have my way withyou.”

“Hmm. I might like that.”

He gave a shaky laughbefore kissing her forehead. “Let’s go.”

*****

“I havesomething to tell you.”

“What is it?”

“We should meetfor lunch, if you are able. I will call Jeff and Kyle.”

“What is thisthing that requires us to meet?”

“I metsomeone,” she said with a shaky laugh. She had come to theoffice and had been so bogged down with work that it was almost tenbefore she resurfaced. And Nigel had called while he was in the air.And promised to call as soon as he landed.

“I see. Who isthis person?” The rest of the question remained unuttered, butshe knew what it was.

“I will tellyou as soon as we meet for lunch. Can you make it?”

“I have toshift some things around. Am I going to approve of this guy?”Lionel demanded.

“I doubt thereisn’t a man alive that would suit as far as you are concerned,”she told him dryly. “But I am in love with him and he is inlove with me. You can be happy for me or not.”

“it depends,”he muttered.

“You can besuch an ass.”

“It is my jobto look out for you.”

“I amforty-three years old.”

“And yourexperience as far as men are concerned is minimal. The fact that youjust met this person and you are claiming you are in love with him,tells me there is cause to worry.”

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