Chapter 16

By the second week since leaving 'Buzz', Beth decides she really, really likes her new job.

She’s beginning to settle into a routine. Starting her day by checking emails and making follow-up calls to a few marketing prospects, then going for the daily department check-ins. Her colleagues gave her enough space to allow her to find her way, never losing patience when she interrupted any of them to ask questions or clarify how something was done.

This would be exactly the kind of career she could settle into if it wasn’t for her daily mini-fantasies starring Adrian Dane, CEO of sex gods.

She’s just rounding off an email draft when she notices it’s past noon. She picks up her phone to text Iris that she might be a few minutes late for lunch.

“Milking the clock?”

She jerks her attention to the doorway. Adrian is leaning against it, strong and solid in his dark, his two-button suit looks impeccable, complemented perfectly by a red silk tie. He looks calm and completely at ease as he smiles at her. With his hands in his pockets, he walks to the front of her desk. She forces her eyes from going below his shiny belt buckle, trailing them slowly up till she’s smiling back at the teasing look he’s giving her.

“I was just about to leave.”

“Then I’m right on time. I would like you to join me for lunch.”

“Oh.” She drops the phone and sits straight. “Um… I always have lunch with my friend, Iris.”

“I’m sure she won’t mind me borrowing you for a day.”

She cocks a brow. “How are you so sure?”

He doesn’t reply.

Her eyes flutter. “Well, I’ll have to call her to find out.”

“Go ahead.” He shrugs.

She picks up her phone again and dials Iris’s number, knowing it’s practically pointless. Iris would gladly give up her time with her to allow her to spend time with Adrian.

“Hey. Is it cool if we skip lunch today?”

“Uh…sure. Why?”

“I’ll be having lunch with Mr. Dane,” Beth replies awkwardly.

Iris squeals loudly. “OMG. He’s asking you out!”

She looks up at Adrian, hoping he didn’t hear the squeal, but she finds a hint of a smile at the corners of his lips confirming that he did. “Um… No.”

“Wait. Is he there with you right now?”

“Yes.” So stop squealing like a schoolgirl.

“Of course, I don’t mind. Tell him I say ‘Hi’.”

She clears her throat. “Okay. Okay. See you later. Bye,” she says hurriedly, her sentence sounding like a single word.

Beth looks back up at Adrian. She gives him a smile and grabs her purse. “Let’s go eat.”

****

Leather chairs and walnut table tops grace the enormous dining room of the restaurant Adrian chose for lunch. They’re seated side-by-side in a secluded area that is nearly empty save for the few staff members. A server approaches in noiseless shoes, bearing a basket that smells like a baker’s shop. Beth’s stomach rolls over as he places it and a plateful of butter curls on the pristine white tablecloth.

Beth doesn’t waste any time digging into the basket while Adrian finalizes the details of their order. The warm bread melts in her mouth and she closes her eyes, savouring the feeling. When she opens her eyes, Adrian is staring at her with a look of amusement.

She laughs, suddenly self-conscious. “I’m sorry. It’s just so good. Honestly, bread is mankind’s best invention.”

He chuckles. “I can’t argue with that.”

He sits back and lets his eyes settle on her. She isn’t bothered by the way he looks at her. She feels more at ease in his presence since spending time with him last week. “Thank you for agreeing to join me for lunch.”

“Well, I didn’t have much of a choice. Plus I couldn’t say no to free food even though I suspect you have an agenda.”

The corners of his mouth lift and Beth is captivated by the sparkle in his eyes. “Well, I guess I do have an agenda. I’d like a chance to spend time with you outside the office.”

“Oh.”

His brows furrow as he leans forward slightly. “But I don’t want you to feel like you have to be with me out of a sense of obligation.”

“I don’t feel that way,” Beth replies honestly.

“Sure?”

Her eyes lock with his. “I’m here because I want to be.”

His expression relaxes. “I’m happy to hear that.”

Two servers arrive at their table and gracefully set down their first course of steak au poivre and truffle fries.

“Martha tells me you’re settling in nicely.”

“I definitely am. I absolutely love it. I never thought I could have a job like this…I don’t know.” Beth hesitates. “What your company’s doing is important. I believe this launch is going to be a great success.”

His eyes light up. “Thanks. That means a lot to me.”

He takes a bite of his food. “So, do you feel comfortable sharing what you needed the money for?” he asks in a tone she’s never heard him use.

She pauses and looks at him. He’s wearing an expression she’s also never seen on his face. Her heart melts and she decides that she feels comfortable enough to tell him about her brother.

She inhales sharply. “I needed the money for my brother. He’s sick… Haemophilia. It’s a bleeding disorder. He was diagnosed at birth and now he’s a teenage boy who is constantly getting injured. And, it’s just me, my mum and brother. My mom can’t really manage the fees, having no health insurance and well I have student debt. So, yeah, I needed the extra cash…”

She trails off. She’s pretty much said everything. She looks up at him, expecting to see a look of pity on his face but all she sees is understanding and kindness in his eyes.

He places a hand on hers. “I know you won’t take any money I offer but please let me know if you ever need anything.”

Beth smiles weakly. “Thank you. He’s doing a lot better. I mean, this job pays way more than my previous job. So really, thank you for butting in.”

He laughs. “I'm glad I could help.”

He nods toward her plate. “You should probably eat that before it gets cold.”

Beth realizes that she’s hardly touched her food. She picks up her fork and digs into her steak.

Their conversation carries on smoothly and they have a relaxed meal. They talk about work and a bit about their personal lives; mostly Beth’s. He asks thoughtful questions about her previous job and what she would like to do after her contract with Triad Technologies ends. She tells him about her dream to own a magazine that deals specifically with women’s issues. He listens to her the entire time, his interest seeming completely genuine.

The hour passes by quickly. When they’re done eating, Adrian’s phone buzzes with a reminder set on his phone.

“I have a meeting right now,” he says. “I’ll have to leave for it directly but my driver will drop you off at the office.”

“So how will you get to your meeting?”

“I’ll take a cab.”

Her eyes begin to widen but she shakes herself out of it. Why is she so surprised to hear that he uses a cab? He is human, after all. “Okay,” she says with a small laugh.

They walk out of the restaurant hand in hand. When they get to the car, he takes her other one and laces his fingers with hers.

“I enjoyed spending time with you. I want more of this.”

Her breath catches. “Me, too. I…” She trails off as he takes a step closer to her. His hands are hooked in his pockets as he tilts his head down, eyeing the way she nervously wets her lips. He gazes directly into her eyes and she feels heat building in her face and pressure buckling her knees.

“I’m going to kiss you,” he says, and before she even has a chance to process his words, his palm is pressed against the back of her head, his entire body hard against hers. His lips press against hers, consuming her lips with a heated frenzy. She rests her hands on his chest, yearning to be on his skin. She can feel the hard, broad muscles of his chest underneath her fingertips.

She tries desperately to hold on to her fleeing sanity, but the moment his tongue slides against her lips she loses the battle. With a smothered moan, she leans into him and his arms tighten around her, imprisoning her against his chest. Her lips part in a silent moan and he takes advantage of her parted lips to dip his tongue inside. His tongue strokes hers, sending erotic sparks dancing through her entire body. She loses herself in the pleasure of it. His kiss is assertive, yet gentle.

He tilts her head and groans when the kiss deepens. Something explodes inside her; her body arches against his, and her hands lift compulsively to caress his neck and slide through the soft hair at his nape as she eagerly responds to his hungry mouth.

When the kiss finally breaks, she struggles to catch her breath with her eyes closed. “Wow.”

He smiles and rubs his thumb across her bottom lip.

She opens her eyes and his expression is warm and open, He’s looking at her like she’s the only thing in all the world that he sees.

He lets go of her and walks to the car to help her with the door. “I’ll see you later,” he whispers gently into her ear as she gets in.

Her mind is in such a fog from the kiss, that she can barely form coherent sentences. “Yeah…Um…Bye.”

On the ride back to the office, she replays the kiss over and over, feeling a constant ache between her thighs.

Gosh, how will she possibly get any work done now?