Page 52 of Boss of the Year
“Look.” He tugged me toward the pool house. “I want to show you something.”
He produced a key from his pocket and let us inside, where he flicked on a lamp, revealing a space that had been converted into a private retreat—plush seating, a small bar, walls lined with books and art.
I smiled. “When did this happen? Last year, it was just storage and a changing room.”
“I had it redone in April.” Daniel went to the bar to refill his glass now that his bottle was empty. “I needed a secret hideout. A place to take pretty girls. Or at least the prettiest one I know.” He held his tumbler toward me like a salute.
It was a legitimately lovely space. I could picture Daniel here, although I wasn’t sure how he would use it. While I had no problem imagining Lucas with a book in hand, Daniel had always spent his time on the tennis courts or at the pool if he wasn’t dashing off on a boat somewhere. Downtime wasn’t really his thing.
But maybe he had grown up too in the year I was gone.
The thought gave me hope.
“It’s lovely.” I ran my fingers over the soft fabric of a plush armchair.
“Not as lovely as you.”
Daniel’s hand slipped around my waist, begging me to turn to where he now stood behind me. He bent his head and kissed me again, this time with the fresh bite of scotch on his tongue.
“Daniel,” I murmured, placing my hands on his chest.
“Shh. Don’t overthink it, honey. Just let yourself feel.”
His mouth returned to mine, more determined this time, while the hand at my waist pulled me flush against him. Something hard pressed into my thigh, and I gasped as I realized it was his erection.
Daniel Lyons was hard. For me.
My cheeks suddenly felt like they were inside a bread oven.
“Fuck.” Daniel’s mouth drifted across my face while he ground against my leg. “You’re so fucking hot. I haven’t felt this hard inyears. I swear to God, Marie, I need you. I’m gonna die if I don’t?—”
BANG BANG BANG
A loud, authoritative knock on the pool house door made us spring apart like we were on a trampoline.
“Daniel.” Lucas’s deep voice carried through the oak, calm but commanding. “Is Marie in there with you?”
I frowned. Lucas was looking forme?
Oh, God.
This was it.
Ondine was right. I was a dish towel, not a napkin. A cook, not a girlfriend. I wasn’t supposed to be here, in this beautiful room, on this beautiful estate. Not with Daniel. Not with anyone.
“Goddamn it,” Daniel muttered, running a hand through his disheveled hair.
The sudden sharpness in his voice made me take another step back just as the door opened, and Lucas entered. His eyes found me and didn’t move.
“All right?”
For some reason, I didn’t think he was asking both of us.
He wore the same clothes he had at dinner, the same clothes he’d worn almost every day since I’d known him, minus the suit jacket and tie, which he’d removed this late in the evening. Tailored suit pants clung to his lean, muscled thighs, and his white oxford shirt was now rolled up to his elbows. His expression was unreadable as he took in the scene.
Daniel’s rumpled hair, my swollen lips, the remnants of lipstick on Daniel’s face? Yeah, we didn’t exactly look innocent.
I nodded. “Yeah—yes. I’m all right.”
