Page 33 of One Wild Wedding Weekend

The server set drinks on the table and batted her eyelashes at Tristan. “Let me know if you need refills,” she said.

When it was just the two of them again, Daley studied his face. “I don’t understand. I saw your expression, Tristan. You were pissed when Harold tossed out his plan.”

“No,” he said. He picked up a slender breadstick and used it to drum on the table. “I was worried and a little shocked. But not pissed.”

“Worried about what?”

He shook his head slowly, those blue eyes gleaming. “Surely, you’re not that blind. How in the hell are we supposed to work together and not sleep together?”

Daley stared at him, feeling her face heat. “You know dozens of women. Our thing was a weekend special. Over and done.”

“You underestimate your appeal. I dreamed about you last night. Woke up with an erection the size of the Washington Monument.”

Daley put a hand over her mouth to smother her laugh. “Does that kind of line get you women?” She raised an eyebrow.

“It’s the truth.” He scowled at the breadstick. “When Harold said he wanted to move your company into our office space, all I could think about was how miserable that would be. Running into you in the hall every day and not taking you home.”

“But we both agreed that continuing anything personal would be a mistake.”

“We did.”

“So where does that leave us?”

He shrugged. “Was it a good offer?”

She nodded her head slowly. “It was fantastic. I’d be insane to refuse.”

“I figured as much. Harold is a whip-smart businessman. He would have studied every angle before he spoke to you.”

“I haven’t run this by any of my staff. They may not like it.”

Tristan shrugged. “It’s not up to them, is it? You’re the boss, Daley. That can be a lonely thing sometimes. The decision will have to be yours.”

“And if I’ve already made up my mind?” She gave him a challenging stare, waiting for him to argue or bluster or try to manipulate her.

His jaw tightened. “If you’ve already made up your mind, then I assume your answer is yes. Which means I’ll have to find a way to stay away from you.”

Seven

Tristan knew he was screwed. He’d known it the moment Harold rolled out a fantastic business offer to Daley Martin. Everything was going to change.

Daley’s skill set would be good for the company. No argument there. Tristan didn’t begrudge her this opportunity. But he had no illusions about how hard this would be for him personally.

He couldn’t have a serious relationship with Daley. He’d known that from the beginning. Which was why they had both agreed to limit their affair to one wild wedding weekend.

The trouble was, he hadn’t expected to find himself in the deep end so quickly. She made him feel slightly desperate and embarrassingly off his game. In his experience, sex was light and fun. He treated his partners well and always parted on good terms.

With Daley, he felt uncertain, for lack of a better word.

Even right now, she was staring at him as if she could see the turmoil of his thoughts. She chewed her lip. “Harold’s offer mentioned a twelve-month trial period. Either L&D or I can dissolve the contract with no penalty during the first year. Surely that’s enough time to see if you and I can be just friends.”

Tristan already knew the answer to that. They couldn’t. He couldn’t.

He reached across the table and took her hand in his. “I’ve made love to you, Daley. Multiple times. Each one better than the last. I don’t know about you, but for me, those experiences left a mark.”

She didn’t try to free herself. In fact, she turned over her hand and linked her fingers with his, making his gut twist with unexpected warmth.

“I hear what you’re saying, Tristan. But I’m sure if we set boundaries, this attraction we’re feeling will fizzle. You know John and Tabby will expect us to be smart about working together. We love them both. We don’t want to drag them into the middle of a tempestuous affair that at some point will crumble.”

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