Page 5 of The Bratva's Weakness

“No!” Her tone causes me to open my eyes, amazed to find her wide and fearful. But not at me, at what I’d just said.

I stand, cupping her ass with my hands and finally taking her mouth in a possessive kiss. We moan together, and our tongues dance as we take and take. When both of us need breathe, we pull away together.

“I can’t let you go now. I’ll just have to keep you safe.”

She smiles like she doesn’t believe the danger she could be in. That’s fine. I don’t want her to worry anyway.

“I need to go,” she says.

I’m not ready to let her go. What if she gets home and her family and friends talk her out of ever seeing me again?

I brace myself for rejection, my mind burning through ideas of how to convince her when I ask, “Would you be interested in working for me. As my assistant?”

She pauses. “Are you offering me a job because of what just happened?”

“God, no,” I exclaim. “It’s not because of that. In the few hours I’ve spent with you, I’ve seen you guide yourself through a rough day and turn it around. I think we would be a good fit to work together. Among other things we’d keep separate,” I end with a wink, eliciting a laugh.

She takes a moment to think it over. “Okay,” she says, and I can’t help but break into another grin. I seem to do an awful lot of smiling with her around.

“Perfect, you’ll start tomorrow,” I say as I escort her to the door. “9 a.m.?”

“Perfect, I’ll start tomorrow,” she says, parroting my words back to me with a mischievous glint in her eyes. I finish walking her to her car, holding the door open as she buckles herself in.

We stare at each other a moment longer before saying our goodnights. I stand in my driveway watching her drive off for way too long.

I can’t wait to see her tomorrow.

Chapter Three

Allie

I can’t believe I’m doing this.

Yesterday turned out to be such a whirlwind that after I got home last night, I spent hours lying awake in bed just wondering how the day could have taken such a turn. I also made sure that Katie heard what happened and after she finished hysterically laughing over the airport incident, she told me that everything happens for a reason and maybe I met James at just the right time.

I decided to take her advice to heart and finally fell asleep after we got off the phone at 3 a.m. Now, I’m staring at myself in the mirror trying to find an outfit that screams “professional and competent” and not “I think my boss is super-hot.” It’s a fine line.

James is so attractive and kind. Though I desperately want to continue what we started last night, I also want this job to be a turning point for my non-existent career path. I’m also a little wary of how many girls James might have done this with; I’m trying to decide if he’s like that with everyone, or if it’s really only with me. Deep down, I hope it’s just for me.

I’ve never felt this kind of instant attraction before, and I think I need to tamp it down considering he’s going to be my boss. But another part of me is desperate to know what the tattoos thatspan down his neck look like, the peaks of black ink through the tip of his collar have been driving me crazy and…wow, I need to get a grip.

Finally, I settle on the third outfit I’ve tried on today. Simple dark green wide leg pants, black loafers, and a plain white t-shirt. It feels like the proper level of professionalism for whatever this job is.

After James said his name and the shock of it passed, I knew I should be scared, but I wasn’t. Something about James makes me feel safe.

With my mind racing, I head downstairs and see my grandfather, Alan, sitting in the living room watching the morning news.

“Where are you off to, Allie cat?” he asks as he sets down his coffee. He’s got his signature round glasses on and his somehow still full head of gray hair is perfectly slicked back. Grandpa is nothing if not a man of style.

“I got a job!” I tell him eagerly. He knows how lost I’ve been feeling lately and his face lights up with the news as he rises to hug me.

He pulls back, hazel eyes that look just like mine meeting my own, “I’m so proud of you, Al. What are you doing?”

I tell him the story of meeting James and the airport mishap that ended with him offering me a job. Grandpa laughs at the scenario but is careful to warn me about getting close to someone of James’ background. He tells me he knows I can look after myself, but that I still need to be cautious.

I understand his concern; everyone knows about the O’Connor’s, but I don’t want anything dampening my excitement. Grandpa tells me he’s heading out on a bird watching trip with some friends for the next few days, but he’ll be reachable if I need him to “rescue me.”

I laugh, popping a kiss on his cheek and wishing him a fun trip before heading out to start my brand-new life.

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