Page 22 of Forbidden Desires

“This is the only place worth eating at on a Monday night,” Elliot says with a chuckle. “Actually, ever, unless you are staying at the hotel. The girls told you my family makes the best food around, right?”

Brody glances over here, and I realize I’ve kept looking at him a little longer than I should have while our conversation continued. He raises a brow in acknowledgment, and I quickly avert my gaze, not wanting to encourage any misinterpretations.

My eyes meet Elliot’s, and his lips turn up at the sides. “What was that, Gisele?” he asks, a mischievous playfulness in his expression.

“What?” I say back guiltily, feeling the weight of all eyes on me.

“The look you two just shared. You got a thing for your new boss?” All eyes come to me, and I want to hide under the table.

I feel my cheeks heat. “No,” I practically scream across the table, trying to dispel any notions of an office romance. How the hell did he work that out from just one glance across the room? One where I’m pretty sure I was scowling.

“Looks like lust to me,” he jokes, and I might have only met this guy today, but he is about to earn a punch in the arm if he keeps this up.

“It’s not. I was just disappointed to see him, that’s all. Who wants to see their boss outside of work?” I try to cover my reaction, but it just seems to make it more obvious that I am, infact, infatuated with the man. I don’t want to be, especially after the way he treated me this morning, but there is this lingering attraction hanging in the air between us. I’m sure it’s only because he was able to do what no man has ever done before and brought me to orgasm not once but three times in the one night. My body is just fascinated with him, that’s all it is. I don’t like the man in any other way or want anything to do with him outside of work. He made it obvious that it’s totally against the rules to date management, and even if it wasn’t, I wouldn’t go there again. Getting involved with people you work with is a terrible idea. I learned that lesson the hard way back in New York with Dallas.

“Sure, sure. But you might want to get the drooling under control because he’s coming over here,” Elliot teases, and Paisley joins him, playfully egging on the situation. I take a deep breath, fanning my face, and attempt to compose myself as Brody approaches the table, his presence demanding everyone’s attention.

“Did you just get finished for the day?” asks Parker, sounding all chummy with Brody. I want to hide even more. They’re friends, and he just witnessed the teasing. It’s going to get back to Brody, and I’m going to look like some kid with a crush when that couldn’t be further from the truth.

“Yep, just grabbing a quick bite to eat, then I’ll get back to it.”

“You should join us,” Elliot suggests, glancing my way. “We’re showing Gisele here a little Southern hospitality.” He winks at me, and I want to hide under the table even more. Instead, I glare daggers at him.

“Another time maybe. I need to get set up for the management meeting in the morning. Gi-Gisele, can I borrow you for a second?” Brody demands, his attention fixing on me.

I feel the atmosphere of the table change. I’m sure all eyes are looking in my direction, but I’m too afraid to check. I sigh and reluctantly stand from my seat.

“See you guys in the morning,” he says in the boys’ direction then walks toward the front of the building.

For someone who doesn’t want anyone at work to know we know each other, he’s not trying very hard to hide it. I don’t bother answering, not wanting to make a fuss in front of my new friends. I just follow.

When I make it out front, he’s leaning against the stone wall of the building glaring at me. He looks annoyed, and I wonder what I did to piss him off already. I thought I had dealt with my workload well today. I did everything on Emerson’s to-do list, but maybe I have screwed something up already. “I thought you would have been more responsible than to be out drinking on your first week of work,” he grumbles, surprising me. He has pulled me aside to hassle me about drinking? What is he, my father?

I roll my eyes, unable to help myself. “I had dinner with some coworkers. It’s called team-building. You should try it sometime,” I retort, my irritation bubbling to the surface. I don’t appreciate being scolded for a harmless dinner with newfound friends, when two days ago I didn’t know a soul in this town.

He crosses his arms over his chest, his expression stern.

“Are we really doing this?” I look at him with a mixture of disbelief and annoyance. What overbearing planet is he from? He scowls back at me, deadly serious. “I guess we are. I’m not sure what kind of hold you’ve had over your other staff in the past, but I will do whatever I like with my free time. Including having a meal and a drink, just the one, with my new housemates. You have nothing to worry about; I will be back at work bright and early tomorrow with a smile on my face, ready to deal with your grumpy arrogance.” I stare up at him, feeling a new surge of annoyance. In less than twenty-four hours, he has all but destroyed the image I had of the suave, chivalrous man who came to my rescue and gave me a night of fun Iwouldn’t forget anytime soon. This man standing in front of me is someone completely different, and I don’t like him very much at all.

“You’re living with Mae and Paisely?” he grunts out as if he’s disgusted by the idea. For some reason, I kind of hope he is. His snippy attitude toward me is irrational and over the top.

“Just up the road from here. You know them both?” I smile sweetly, rubbing it in.

He makes a grunting sound like he’s unimpressed. “Mae’s okay, but you need to watch out for Paisley,” he says as if it’s a statement that’s supposed to make me change my mind about them or something. “I’ll tell you the same thing I do Emerson; that girl is trouble, and you should stay away from her.”

“Why is that a problem? I’m here to start a new life. Sounds like I scored the friend jackpot then. I need to get out and meet some new people and have a little fun. Maybe even get into some trouble,” I tease him, because his bossiness is annoying me. He might be Emerson’s brother, but he’s not mine.

“Just be careful,” he mutters, sounding like he cares about my welfare. But something more is going on here, something I don’t understand.

“Thanks, Mr. Alexander, I will be.” I smirk at him playfully. “If we’re done with this lecture, I’d like to get back to my friends, see what trouble we can get into on a work night.” I start to walk away from him until I feel his hand take mine, pulling me back toward him. His skin on mine makes my heart skip a beat. The air leaves my lungs, and I get momentarily lost in his intense eyes.

He looks at me like he has something to say, but instead, he just keeps staring back at me with what looks like longing. “What?” I say, more as a plea than a question. My heart is racing being so close to him. My eyes drop to his lips; they’re full and lush, and I remember what it felt like to have them on my skin.His shirt is slightly unbuttoned, his tie gone, and his hair is all messy on top like he’s been running his hands through it. Why is his hand on mine, and why does it feel like it’s where it should be? He said so himself that what happened between us will never happen again now that he’s my boss, so why is he holding my hand like he can’t let go?

“Give me your phone,” he demands.

I blink back at him. “Excuse me?”

“So, I can put my number in there in case you need me. You’re new in town, and if you actually do get into some danger, I want you to know you have someone you can call.”

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