“Why?” She asks.
“Why what?” I take a seat behind my desk.
Dash turns around to face me. “Why did you interfere? I told you I could handle the meeting.”
Because you look fuckable in that dress, and Sullivan is single.
“I just wanted to sit in on it,” I skirt around the truth.
Dash tilts her head. “Do you think I’m not capable of handling a simple sign and release?”
“Not at all.” I turn my focus to my laptop screen.
“Then why did you babysit me?”
Letting out a sigh, I glance at her. “Dash, I just wanted to sit in on the meeting.”
To make fucking sure Sullivan didn’t get any ideas about you. The last thing I need now is another man sniffing around you.
Letting out a huff, she frustratedly lifts her hands before she walks away. My eyes instantly lock on her ass.
Since we’ve talked about kids and marriage, a switch flipped inside me. I used to avoid thinking of Dash as a woman, but now, it’s all I fucking see. Thanks to that dress she’s wearing, I’ve been hard half the damn day.
Picking up my phone, I press the button for her extension.
“What?” she snaps.
“I didn’t want you alone with Sullivan,” I admit.
“Oh… why?”
Lifting my hand, I pinch the bridge of my nose. “Because I’m protective. You know this about me.”
Dash lets out a chuckle. “Mr. Sullivan is harmless.”
That’s what you think.
“Peace?” I ask.
“Yeah.”
Putting the phone down, I shake my head and focus on the next deal.
She’s trying to fucking kill me.
I stare at Dash’s ass as she bends over to take off her shoes. Leaving them beside the couch, she walks to the fridge. “Wine or bourbon?”
I clear my throat before answering, “Bourbon, please.”
I shrug out of my jacket and place it over the back of the couch before I head to the sliding doors. Opening them, I step out onto the balcony and take a deep breath.
“Here you go,” Dash says as she comes up behind me.
I take the tumbler from her. “Thanks.”
I watch as she sits down on a plush couch before taking a sip of her wine.
Sitting across from Dash, I stare at her. Our talk on Saturday has left me feeling impatient as fuck.
“This is much better than working until twelve every night,” she says, smiling over the rim of her wine glass.
“Yeah.”
I now have time to focus on my personal life, which was non-existent the past five years. It never actually bothered me because Dash was with me twenty-four-seven. In a way, she was already mine.
“What’s going on in that head of yours?” she asks.
“I’m thinking about the whole baby and marriage thing,” I admit.
Dash’s eyebrow lifts. “Having second thoughts?”
I shake my head and set the tumbler down on the side table. Leaning forward, I rest my forearms on my thighs. “Not at all.”
“Yeah?”
Nodding, I lift my gaze to hers. “Where’s your mind at?”
She takes a long sip of her wine, then says, “I keep alternating between thinking it’s a great idea and wondering if it won’t be a mistake.” Shrugging, she continues, “I tried to remember what you’re like when you date, and honestly, I couldn’t come up with anything.”
“That’s because I’ve never been in a serious relationship,” I remind her.
“Also true.” Dash stares at me for a moment. “So, what will you be like?”
I let out a chuckle. “Probably a dominating asshole who’s overly possessive.”
Dash’s mouth curves up. “Basically the way you are now.”
I nod, and knowing what she’s apprehensive about, I add, “I’ll be attentive, Dash. It won’t be a cold relationship. I know what you want, and I’ll make sure you’re happy.”
Her features soften. “See why I love you so much?”
I let out a silent burst of laughter then take a sip of the bourbon.
“I don’t…” she pauses to think and begins to worry her bottom lip. After a minute, she takes a deep breath, then says, “I don’t want it to be forced.”
“Of course,” I agree. Rising to my feet, I walk over to her. I take the wine glass from her hand and set it down on the side table before pulling her up. When she’s standing in front of me, giving me a questioning look, I say, “Close your eyes.”
She does as I ask. I wait a couple of seconds, then lift my left hand to the side of her neck. “Don’t think of anything. Just focus on my touch.” The corner of her mouth lifts.
I take in the feel of her soft skin beneath my hand while drinking in her beauty.
Christ. I want Dash in every possible way.
I’ve always seen her as mine, but being her friend is not enough anymore. I want all of her.
Slowly, I lean down until our cheeks brush, then I whisper, “Focus on my breaths.” I let them fan out over her ear.
Dash lifts her hands to my sides and takes hold of my shirt. I turn my head slightly and let my lips brush over her jaw as I take a breath of her flowery scent.
When her breathing begins to speed up, I pull back. Satisfaction fills my chest as I take in her parted lips. Slowly she opens her eyes, and when they focus on me, I smile at her. “It won’t be forced, Dash. I can promise you that.”
Chapter 5
DASH
Staring at my computer screen, I keep replaying last night over and freaking over in my mind.
Christopher didn’t even do anything out of the ordinary, but damn, it was intense. One touch and a couple of breaths, and my ovaries were doing backflips.
What the hell?
How?
Okay, so I was clearly affected. That’s not what I’m worried about. It’s Christopher. What if he doesn’t want me the same way I want him?
Closing my eyes, I lean back and let out a sigh.
I hear his office door open, and it makes my eyes dart open, and my hands fly up. I almost knock the damn keyboard off the desk.
Instantly Christopher frowns. “Are you okay?”
“Yes. Just resting my eyes for a moment.”
His gaze narrows on me as he holds a folder out to me. I don’t know what he sees, but it makes the corner of his mouth curve up before he heads back into his office.
The instant the door shuts behind him, I drop my forehead to the desk with a dull thud.
Fuck my life. It was probably written all over my face that I was thinking about last night.
Sitting up again, I scowl at the door.
Screw this. Why should I be the only one affected like this?
I pick up a contract that was finalized this morning, and getting up, I walk into his office.
Christopher’s head snaps up, and instantly a smile tugs at his lips. “Did I forget something?”
My heart begins to beat faster as I shake my head.
Shit, am I really going to do this?
I need to see his reaction. If he doesn’t notice anything, then I know a relationship won’t work.
Be sexy. Be seductive.