“Dinner’s here, sir.”
“Thank you, Jenny, bring it in.” Nate rises and takes two large bags out of Mrs. Glover’s hands. “That’s all for today. I’ll see you on Monday.”
“Have a good weekend, sir. Ms. Montgomery.” She nods to both of us and then exits the office, closing the door behind her.
“I had Chinese delivered. I got you your usual.” He smiles and resumes sitting in his chair, unloading bags. He seems very happy with himself this evening, much more approachable and friendly than he has been since last summer.
What’s his game?
“Thank you,” I reply, realizing that I’m starving. I load a plate with rice, sweet and sour chicken and egg rolls and we dig in, eating in silence for a few minutes. I feel Nate’s eyes on me, so I decide to put my big girl panties on and just take the initiative.
“So, what’s up with this account?” I ask again and take a bite of chicken.
“I don’t have any idea, I just wanted to have dinner with you, and this is the only way I can see you.”
Holy fucking shit.
I stop chewing, my eyes wide, and I just stare at his perfectly sincere face. “Excuse me?”
“You heard me.”
I frown and set my plate carefully on his desk. “So, we’re not working on this account?”
“No.”
“I don’t understand.”
Nate lays his chopsticks down, wipes his mouth with a napkin and sits back in his chair, watching me carefully.
“I just wanted to share dinner with you, Julianne.”
“Why?” And why does he insist on calling me Julianne?
He frowns again. “Do I have to spell it out?”
“I guess so.”
“I like you. I enjoy your company.” He shrugs, looking lost and a bit insecure. I’m so not used to seeing emotions on his beautiful face.
“But you’re my boss.”
“So?”
“So, we could both be fired.”
“It’s just dinner, Julianne.”
“You’re not looking at me like you just want dinner, Nate.”
He cocks his head to the side and a smile kisses his lips. “How am I looking at you?”
“Like you’d like to fuck me on this desk.” Holy. Fuck! Did I just say that?
Nate’s smile disappears and his eyes narrow. “Watch your mouth.”
I swallow hard and blink rapidly.
“There are many places that I’d enjoy fucking you, including this desk, but right now, I simply want to enjoy a meal with you.”
“Watch your mouth.” I whisper and his smile is back.
“Telling your boss what to do?”
“Somehow, I don’t think we’re having this conversation in a boss/employee context.” I shake my head and stare at the man before me. “What is this? Why now?”
“Eat.”
“I’m suddenly no longer hungry, thanks.”
“Just humor me, Julianne.”
“Why do you call me Julianne?” I ask and pick up another piece of sticky chicken.
“It’s your name.” His eyes are on my mouth and I smile to myself as I grab an egg roll and bite off the end.
“Everyone calls me Jules.”
“Not me.”
“Why?” I ask again.
“Because Julianne suits you.” He shrugs and takes a bite of his food.
“But I prefer Jules.”
“Okay, Julianne.” He winks at me, and grins broadly before taking another bite of food.
“I’ll bet when you were small your teacher sent home a letter to your parents saying, ‘Doesn’t play well with others.’”
Nate laughs, and my gut clenches. “Probably.”
I realize I’ve cleaned my plate and I throw it in the trash and bag the left overs. “Okay, I ate. Thanks for dinner. Have a good weekend.” I rise to walk out the door, but Nate leaps up and stops me.
“Don’t go yet.”
“Why not?”
He licks his lips, shoves his hands in his pockets and rocks back on his heels. “Stay with me this weekend. At my place.”
I think I’ve entered an alternate universe. Or I’m on Punked. Yes, that’s it. Punked. I start looking around the room, behind me, up in the corners of the room.
“What are you looking for?” he asks as he follows my gaze.
“The cameras.”
“What cameras?”
“I have to either be on Punked or I’m being set up to be fired.”
Nate laughs, a low chuckle that tickles my insides. “Why do you say that?”
“Because, you’ve shown no signs of attraction toward me in months, which is fine with me, and if I stay with you this weekend, we could both lose our jobs.”
His smile is gone, and his wide gray eyes go glacial. “Number one, I don’t give a fuck about the no frat policy here. Any relationship I choose to have, in any capacity I choose to have it, is none of their business. And number two…”
He grips my chin between his thumb and forefinger and pulls me to him, slides his lips over mine, softly kissing me, persuading my lips open and I’m reminded just how well this man can kiss.
He must have taken classes in this at some point.
I melt against him and brace my hands on his narrow hips. His fingers weave through my hair and as this kiss goes on and on, my body relaxes against him in relief that he still finds me attractive, and in pure unadulterated lust.
“I definitely find you attractive, baby.” He whispers the words against my forehead and plants a soft kiss there.
He caresses my cheek with the backs of his fingers and his gray eyes have softened. “So, what do you say? Spend the weekend with me?”
Chapter Two
What in the hell am I supposed to do? Nate’s gray eyes are gazing into mine and I see a hint of nervousness that I’ve never seen on his striking face before. He’s always so self-contained, so confident. It’s one of the things I’m most attracted to about him. I’ve felt pulled to him from day one, and not just physically, although he is something to write home about. He’s also the smartest man I’ve ever met, and there is something here that I can’t deny.
But… and there’s always a but… he’s my boss. And the last time I spent time with him at his place, it ended in disaster.