Page 78 of The Heart of Winter

I immediately typed the number into my phone and hit the call button.

Winter glanced down at his own phone, then gave me a brief, slightly annoyed look, like testing the number was something a teenager would do.

A short time later, Manager Lorens and I said our goodbyes and left the room.

There was a twinge of discontent in me, but I kept repeating to myself that if I wanted to avoid pushing Winter too far, too quickly. I had to keep things as professional as possible while we were at work and patiently wait for the right moment.

That day, since it was the last before the holidays, I lingered near the elevator, hoping to catch a glimpse of Winter.

Sure enough, he showed up right on time. Luckily, no one else was waiting at the elevator doors, so it was just the two of us.

When he saw me and realized we were alone, his heart rate picked up immediately. He instinctively reached out to press the elevator button, even though I’d already done it.

I caught his hand in a quick motion. I did it before I even thought it through, but I needed to make another reckless attempt.

"It’s already pressed," I said in a low voice.

I held onto his hand, and my thumb unhurriedly slid beneath his cuff, searching for the two scars. My territory. Marked by me. Claimed. I didn’t let go. My finger moved in small circles over the scabs.

Winter’s eyes slowly lifted to my face, his pupils slightly enlarged.

"Can I take you out to dinner?"

Well, I said it. If I was going to be a rebel, then I might as well go all in.

A group of employees appeared in the hallway behind him, coming out of another room. Winter quickly pulled his hand back.

"I asked you to stop doing that."

"And I told you—I want you."

The group of employees passed us by.

"We can go to your place, if you prefer. We can prepare the meal together."

"Sariel…"

"And then we can make love."

Winter closed his eyes, just for a moment.

"Sariel, thank you for the invitation, but I have to decline. You don’t know anything about me. You don’t know who I am. We have a professional relationship. And do I really need to remind you for the third time that your father would never approve, I would have to change my job. There’s no way anything could happen between us."

"But it’s already happening."

He frowned, but did not deny it.

"Can I just ask you one thing?"

Winter didn’t answer, so I went ahead and asked, "If none of that were an issue, the work relationship, my father, would you say yes?"

Winter’s body radiated some intense energy, his breath seemed to hitch in his chest. And then he said it.

"Yes."

My lips spread into a grin.

The elevator arrived with a soft ding.

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