Chapter 104 104
Her heart began to beat furiously in her chest. “Hear what?”
“Sunny Side is going to have to go on hold. The patent has been delayed and there’s a design flaw they have to work through. It’s pretty routine with a technology like this, but it could be another few months until a sale is in the mix. They want to put their best foot forward with whomever they partner with, and I’ve advised them that that’s a sound strategy.”
Sherry took in a deep breath through her nose. She fought her disappointment that he hadn’t called about something personal. At least he had what might end up being good news—a delay could be fantastic for her. By the time Sunny Side was ready to sell, she might be in place as CEO and she could make the call.
“I see. Well, I appreciate you keeping me up to speed on things.”
“I hope you don’t feel like our weekend was a waste of time because of this.”
A waste of time? Does he feel that way? “Of course I don’t. It was an amazing trip.”
There were hundreds more things she wanted to say to him, but could she make that leap? Could she even hint just how badly she wished they could do it all over again? And should she even cross that line again? “It was great. Both personally and professionally.”
“Good. I’m glad to hear that you still feel like that.”
Her mind was whirring like a broken blender. Why did it feel as if he was calling about more? And if he was, why wasn’t he just getting to it? It wasn’t like him to tiptoe about things. “You didn’t really think that I only cared about Sunny Side, did you?” she asked.
“No, I didn’t. I just wanted to be sure.” He cleared his throat. “Sherry, I have to tell you something else. I’m actually glad that the delay with Sunny Side happened because it gave me an excuse to call you.”
“You don’t need an excuse. We’re friends, aren’t we?”
“Friends with a very complicated set of circumstances.”
That much was indeed true. It didn’t change the fact that she was hopelessly drawn to him. “So just call me whenever. You don’t need an excuse.”
A long silence played out on the other end of the line. Had she nudged things too far? Was he now trying to find a way out of this phone call?
“Okay, good. Because I’m calling you right now to tell you that I can’t stop thinking about you.”
She smiled so wide that she witnessed the rise of her own cheeks. Her heart had apparently gotten the memo—it sprang into action by thumping her pulse in her ears. “Really?” Sherry dug the heel of her pump into the office carpet, wagging herself back and forth in her chair, ultimately propelling herself into a lazy spin.
“It’s especially bothersome when I’m trying to go to sleep.”
She dropped her foot, stopping the chair. “Oh. I see.”
“I just keep thinking about what it was like to be with you. I keep thinking about touching you, kissing you, making love to you. I want to be able to do that again.”
“You do?” Her mind went there—a gloriously wild confusion of every sexy moment they shared together...the way his butt looked when he walked away from her, the way his mouth went slack when she did something that pleased him. And then there was the dark, intense stare he gave her when he had her pinned beneath his bodyweight, taking his time, making sure she relished every subtle move he made.
“Yes, I do. I also would appreciate it if you would stop asking questions and give me some indication as to how you feel about this. Right now I feel like I’m having one-sided phone sex.”
If she blurted out everything going through her head right now, he wouldn’t get a word in edgewise for a week. “I can’t stop thinking about you, either.”
Something about making the admission was so freeing, however vulnerable it made her.
“Go on.” His voice rumbled over the line.
“And I’m having the same problem. I can’t sleep. I just lie there in the dark and replay everything that happened last weekend.”
“Good.” His declaration had a confounding finality to it.
Sherry furrowed her brow. “Good?”
“No more questions. I’m sending a car to pick you up at five.”
“I have a meeting at four-thirty.”
“Is it important?”
What was it about the velvety quality of his voice that made her want to not merely throw caution to the wind, but send it through a paper shredder?
Taking directives from a man was not on the list of things she enjoyed doing. In fact, she usually went out of her way to avoid it, but this was different. She not only knew what he was implying, but precisely what he was capable of.
“I’ll reschedule.”
“That’s my girl.”
My girl. The words sent electricity zinging through her body. “Where are we going?”
“We aren’t going anywhere. You’re coming here.”
Oh crap. I’m going to have to run home and change.
“And, Sherry. Bring a toothbrush.”
___________
Justin had never done anything quite so weak, but all bets were apparently off when it came to Sherry. He’d managed four whole days without calling her. Why give in now? He knew from experience that the first forty-eight hours were the worst, when you know it’s in your own best interest to stay away from someone.
In the case of Sherry, it had only gotten harder after those first two days. It was like he was being starved for air, which was disconcerting. He couldn’t focus on his work. He needed more of her and he needed her now. Damn the consequences, however complicated. Damn the fallout, too. He needed her insistent hands grabbing his body, her strong and graceful legs wrapped around him. He needed to smell her and kiss her, hear her laugh. He needed his fix.
He had to temper the romance. This was a rabbit hole for him emotionally. He had gotten himself into this when he'd gotten that plan to ask her to spend the weekend with him and marry him. He'd done that for BenTel, but now none of his actions when it came to Sherry concerned BenTel.