Page 13 of Off-Limits Silver Fox Billionaire

“Ouch,” he said, then shook his head. Josh's frown deepened, and crease lines showed on his forehead. His eyes narrowed into tiny slits as he stared at me hard. “What do you mean?” he asked. “You think I’m asking for gratitude? I thought you felt something too, and I looked for you that morning. You weren’t at the bakery, even the next day and the day after…” he stopped, combed his fingers through his hair and released a short chuckle. “It’s insane that I’m thinking about what happened while you’re avoiding me.”

“Nothing happened between us, Josh,” I said, choosing to take the route of denial. “It was a momentary lapse in judgment, and it can never happen again.”

I laid emphasis on the word ‘never’ so he could get how serious I was.

Josh shook his head and dropped his hands to his sides. “You don’t mean that.”

He took a step forward and I moved back. My pulse gained momentum and started a race in my veins. I felt dizzy for a second and I knew if he came any closer, the wave of desire already hitting me would intensify.

That can’t happen … This is wrong.I knew it was horrible to think of him this way, but I couldn’t stop myself. Josh's presence wreaked havoc to my system.

“This is wrong,” I told him, but my voice was weaker. “It’s wrong and it’s insane and you need to stop looking at me like that.”

“Like what?” he asked as his eyes searched mine. His lips had formed a slim line and I remembered all the passion it made me feel the last time.

I pressed my lips together to refrain from saying anything else, and I blew out air from my lips. “You know what I mean, Josh. You’re Iris’s father, and she’s my best friend and you’re …. Anyway, this can’t happen. No one can ever know about that night or the one five years ago. It has to be our secret.”

Josh scoffed. His jaw hardened as he stared at me, then he nodded stiffly.

“Our secret,” he said in a dry tone. “Fine … Have it your way.”

He opened his truck door, got in and keyed the engine alive. I had to jump back for him to drive out and down the road. Watching him leave was supposed to be relieving, but why did it fill me with a deep-seated ache in my chest and the urge to run after his truck, call him back and tell him the truth about what I was really feeling?

I still wanted Josh Sanders; the years didn’t make me forget even though I told myself I had. He had always been somewhere in the back of my heart and now that he had touched me again, I knew that this attraction was going to be the death of me.

6

JOSH

The week that passed after my talk with Bree, I tried to focus on work. Nothing could get her off my mind. In my kitchen I was reminded of her, when I took out a cup to make my favorite chamomile tea, I remembered her using the same mug, and the memory of her lips pursed over the brim of the cup flooded me with heat.

Groaning under my breath, I returned the cup and opted for some brandy instead. After my second glass, my head swooned a bit, and I loved the feeling, so I indulged in some more alcohol.

My schedule was fully packed this week. My hotel here in Oahu was hosting a press conference for writers and we had a packed reservation already. I sat in my kitchen and went over the details of the conference.

The hotel’s seminar halls were large enough to host over a thousand people for any event and we offered security services for the duration of their stay. The event tonight was going to require my presence. I hated leaving events like this in the hands of my workers as I wanted it all perfect. Besides, I needed to work tonight or else I would end up sulking in my bed the entire night.

Is it possible she didn’t feel the same urgent desire that I did that night?

Of course she did. Bree’s response to my touch and kisses had been intoxicating. She was passionate, it was one of the things I loved about her, so how was it possible that she could push me away so easily?

It didn’t matter anyway. I was determined not to make that slip up again.

Bree was one woman I shouldn’t and couldn’t want.

I left my kitchen to freshen up then drove out to my hotel on Kalakaua Avenue. My hotel’s parking lot was fully parked when I pulled to a halt in my spot and got out.

By the time I got to the conference hall, the event was already in motion. The guests trooped in and out of the hall in pairs. I noticed the red carpet event was still on, camera lights flashed around every corner, I heard the shutters, and saw the servers strolling around in black tuxedos holding their trays.

Wanting to make sure there were no issues tonight, I tried to locate my manager Pixie McClain. She was ordering the catering staff around when I found her near the emergency entrance to the hall.

“How’s it going, Pixie?” I asked her.

She grinned when she saw me and clapped her hands together. “Perfect … The catering staff got here on time, and the entire set-up is smooth. Our guests are happy, and the program organizers are talking about using our hall again next month for a bigger conference. That means more money…”

Pixie’s smile was infectious, and I grinned too. “That makes me happy. Carry on with the good work then, I’ll check on security.”

I left her and headed towards the elevator so I could get to the second floor. The door slid open, and two women stepped out before I entered. After going around the floors to make sure our security team in the control room was working, I returned to the ground floor.

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