Page 40 of Manhattan Secret

Rattled by the physical aspect of my attraction and my unhinged crush being so close and in myoffice, touching me with his hands bracketed on my outer thighs, I stare at him through eyes that refuse to blink. But my vision turns gray around the edges. God, I hope I don’t pass out.

Wait, maybe olden day swooning will help me dodge this conversation.

Is it too childish to hold my breath for an hour?

“It’s always the one you know you shouldn’t want, that you want the most,” he imparts in a tone that’s wholly appealing on so many levels, but it hit the most basic one the hardest. “You want me. And there’s no molesting. Firstly, I’m no child. Second, I’m more than fucking willing.”

He touches me then.

Fingers on my chin, my cheek, he traces the roller-skating scar on my eyebrow that hasn’t filled in, he goes over my lips and down my nose.

Mapping out my features.

And I sit there like a stunned rabbit.

Or mouse.

Yeah, I’m feeling mousy.

“If anything, I’m the one molesting you,” he says with his smirk on show, like he’s oh-so proud of himself.

“It...it would be unethical, dangerous, sleazy, and... and...and besides…we’re completely not compatible.”

“Where it counts we are.”

“That’s sex.”

“Isn’t sexual compatibility enough? We were a blaze against a fucking door, Laney. Think what we could be like in bed.”

Oh, god. I’m wavering.

“Flirting is not helping, Lachlan.”

“It is from where I’m standing. Riling you up makes you hot as fuck.”

He kisses my lips and once again he’s the one to detangle us and put clarity back into the atmosphere.

“I want to claim my woman. But I want you to want to be claimed more. I’ll be at the bar tonight. if you want this,want us, Delaney, you’ll be there.”

Hotness seizes me and he leaves me mute, walking out without a backward glance.

I long to keep looking at him, to store up all those rushing feelings he makes me feel. I’ll be satisfied …somewhat, just looking at him. Meeting him will mean we are agreeing on…what? Casual sex? An affair? A weekend hook-up? He hasn’t specified and I’m left feeling more confused and terrified than ever.

Terrified that I’m going to go to that same bar tonight.

Life and career suicide.

There’s no going back once a line is crossed.

But some temptations are hard to say no to.

C H A P T E R 11

Delaney

I feel like a criminal sneaking intoGinger Girlthat night.

After a long inner war insisting that I am not, under any circumstances, coming to the bar. Here I am. Hiding out in a darkened corner, with pop music playing loudly and the bar crammed with people on stools and most every table.

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