Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 93387 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 467(@200wpm)___ 374(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93387 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 467(@200wpm)___ 374(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
She sat down at her desk, and, curious, I went to the door. Today’s flowers were pale pink roses and baby’s breath. Small, delicate, and fragrant. She touched a petal, smiling and looking up at me. “I keep telling them to stop, but they keep arriving.”
I had noticed the other flowers at her place on the weekend. Small little bouquets slowly starting to die, yet she kept them.
“Someone wants you to have them. Might as well enjoy,” I huffed.
“The delivery guy won’t even take my tip. Says it’s been looked after.”
I didn’t say anything, returning to my lunch. Her mysterious flowers arrived every Monday, but I had no time to ponder them. The rest of the day, I watched her. Listened to her talking to people. Heard her low laughter. The polite way she dealt with clients on the phone. Other members of the office. Never short or condescending. I liked her voice. I liked how she represented me and this office. The bottom line was, I liked everything about Magnolia Myers. Probably more than I should. I had already crossed the line. Blew past it, even. Thrown out every rule I had ever set for myself. There was nothing in our policies about dating within the office, but I had always steered clear of anything personal in my business.
But as I discovered, it was impossible to remain impersonal with her.
She came in around six, handing me some files and sliding another sandwich on my desk.
“What is that?”
“I heard a rumor that you always work late the night before a presentation. Tweaking, adjusting, making sure it is perfect.”
I sat back. “Maybe.”
“Well, that is dinner.”
I looked at the plate, knowing it would be better than any takeout I ordered.
“I’ve arranged for an added bonus in your checks to cover the cost of these.”
She frowned. “You didn’t have to do that.”
I walked around to where she was standing in front of the desk, taking her hand. “Magnolia,” I said, pausing so she knew I was talking to her, not my assistant. “Not a single person has cared about me, or what I ate, for years. That you do, and you make these incredible sandwiches for me, plus your damn tasty coffees, means more than I can say. My company can afford to make sure you are compensated. So please accept it.” I stroked her cheek. “That’s my way of taking care of you.”
Her expression softened, her eyes becoming liquid chocolate. “Okay,” she whispered.
“Okay…” I lifted my eyebrows in expectation.
“Okay, Alex.”
I smiled. “Good girl.”
Then I pulled her close and kissed her the way I had been wanting to do all day. She whimpered as she kissed me back, winding her arms around my neck and melting into me. I loved how she felt pressed against me. Warm and soft, her curves aligning themselves to my harder planes. I groaned, gripping her nape and cupping her ass. “You have been driving me wild all day in this outfit,” I growled against her neck. “I want it off.”
I slid a hand between us, tugging on the small brass buttons of her vest. I covered her mouth with mine, swallowing her sighs as I hitched her leg around me, grinding into her. I wanted inside her again. I wanted to feel all of her against me. Her bare skin rubbing on mine. Her scent in my nose, her taste in my mouth. She made me lose control faster than any woman before her. She had from the first moment I’d met her, although I had held back.
I began to lift her when the outside door opened. Instantly, she was on her feet. I rushed to my side of the desk as she dropped into the chair, grabbing her notebook.
“I need those tomorrow, Myers,” I instructed, my voice still raw with desire.
“I’ll order them,” she said as Lawson walked in, carrying a takeout bag.
“I brought supplies,” he said cheerfully. “Oh, am I interrupting?”
Myers stood, regret in her eyes but a firm smile on her face. “No, we were just finishing up.” She picked up the sandwich. “You won’t need this. I’ll put it back in the refrigerator.” She met my eyes, and I hoped she saw the disappointment I was feeling. “Have a good night, Mr. Bane.” She smiled at Lawson as she went by. “You as well, Mr. Lawson.”
My cockblocking partner sat down in the chair she vacated. “I got Chinese and some scotch. Much better than a sandwich. I thought we could eat, and I would leave you to your puttering.”
I smiled and nodded, not able to say what I was really feeling. I would rather have spent the evening nibbling on a sandwich and Magnolia than eating Szechuan with him and sipping scotch.
Magnolia would be much more delicious.
We would have to try again tomorrow.
Chapter Thirteen