She nodded. “Yes, but nothing too fancy.”
“I can work with that.”
Once I parked and switched off the ignition, she turned to face me. “Well, I hope this ride was a one-time thing.”
“Only if you want it to be.” I could sacrifice a bit of time each morning to drive her to work.
Who needed coffee when Celia could perk me up better than caffeine?
“I didn’t hate it. But I don’t think it’s a good idea for people at work to see us together outside the office.”
I understood her worried look.
My eyes roamed her face, then drifted to her lips, shiny with gloss.
I wanted to kiss her, but I wasn’t sure how she would react, especially after what she’d just said about the people at the office. Sitting here in my car was probably bad enough. Being caught kissing would be much worse.
She must have read my thoughts on my face because redness crawled into her cheeks, and she turned to look out the window, no doubt remembering our passionate kiss in my library.
That stirred my heart to thump even louder.
I’d never thought of kissing as much as I had since I met Celia, but instead of acting on that desire, I took her hand and grazed my lips over her fingers. I hoped my actions would tell her what I had in mind without words.
When she met my gaze, her cheeks were even more flushed.
“Your office parking lot is not the most inconspicuous place to show your employee that you have an interest in her, you know.” I chuckled at her directness. She pulled her hand away. “You have a law firm to run. We can’t spend all day in the car.”
“Right. I’ll get your door,” I said as I moved to get out of the car.
But her hand on mine stopped me. “I got it.” She smoothed her hair and reached for the door handle. “Remember to be professional, Mr. Waltons,” she said as she stepped out of the car.
“It’s too late,” I murmured.
She didn’t hear me.
I watched her walk toward the elevator at the edge of the parking lot. Just before she disappeared out of sight, she turned and gave me a small smile. I returned it. Even after the elevator doors closed, cutting off my view of her, the smile stayed on my face.
Here I was, happy because of this woman I had known for just six weeks. I couldn’t stop thinking about her.
“Celia Adams,” I muttered, rolling her name on my tongue. “You’ll be the death of me.”
That statement might just prove true because my mind kept straying to her throughout the day, wondering what she was doing, imagining taking the elevator down a few floors to talk to her.
Instead, I wrote her a short email:Be ready at eight.
I hit "send," realizing this might be the beginning of something great. That thought was both exciting and terrifying at the same time.
Chapter thirteen
Celia
“You’re going to wear a rut into the carpet, Celia,” Maddison said, pausing in my bedroom doorway with a bag of nuts in hand.
I stopped pacing. “Tonight’s supposed to be a casual date. Why am I feeling so nervous and indecisive over my outfit?”
Maddison laughed, leaning against the doorframe. “You tell me. I’ve never seen you this confused for a date. If it wouldn’t cost me my entire salary, I would give him a raise for causing such a reaction.”
I scowled at my cousin. “Are you going to help me choose what to wear or just make fun of me?”