Page 30 of Empowered
“Well, for one, how they hell do you know where I live?” Something she’d been pondering for most of the day.
“I have my ways of finding things out.” He leaned against the doorway. “It also helps to work in the same office as you do and have certain permissions.”
“So youweresnooping for details.”
“Again, have I done something to offend you?”
“Mr. Blackbourne,” Sarah knew how to have a backbone. She wasn’t afraid to erect it before him and stand her ground. “I would prefer to keep our relationship strictly professional. It can’t be helped that we’re working in the same office. I’m afraid the woman you met last week is not available at this time. If you have work related issues you would like to take up withme,however, then I may be open to a professional conversation.”
“I’ve got a professional topic of discussion for you, Ms. Clayborn.” Did he think she was going to drop her panties for a growl like that?Yes. If I didn’t have control of myself right now? Yes. Fuck me.“How about this ridiculous amount of sexual tension we’re dealing with? What are we going to do about that, hm?”
Sarah had expected something like that out of his mouth. “I have no idea what you’re talking about. Any inappropriate sexual feelings you have for me are entirely one-sided.”
“Really?” He stepped forward, into her apartment. Sarah likewise took a single step back. “Please tell me how we have a night like last Saturday’s andnotdeal with tension at work?”
She swallowed. “That’s different. I wasn’t… we weren’t…”
He loomed over her. “You weren’t yourself, is that it?”
Don’t look him in the eye.“No. I wasn’t. I was blowing off some steam. That’s all it was. I honestly never thought I would see you again.”
“Well, you have seen me again, and I would like some answers before I decide I no longer have an attraction to you, Ms. Clayborn. That’s all I’m really asking for.”
“Answers?”
“Just tell me the truth about what you were doing at a club like that and seducing a man like me, and I’ll let it all go. Even if I don’t like the answer.”
She considered that for a moment. “Not now. Not here. I’m sorry, but this is not an appropriate situation.”
“Fine. Then tomorrow. Lunch. Assuming Damon lets you have a damn lunch without work being on the table.”
“Whatever.”
“We’ll go somewhere private where nobody will care that you and I are conversing. Your boss doesn’t have to know.”
“He better not. I would be mortified.”
Was that surprise in those stony blues? Sarah was trying not to look at them, lest she lose her will-power around this man she had a sex dream about as little as twelve hours ago.
“I don’t mean to embarrass you.”
“Well, you have. Suppose it can’t be avoided, huh?”
“Suppose not.”
They stood in silence. Sarah wrapped her robe tighter around her body before turning completely away.
“I suppose I’ve been a bit forward since revealing my knowledge.” Lucas cleared his throat. “I’m sorry. It was never my intention to make you uncomfortable.”
“Doesn’t help that I thought you were married until yesterday.”
“Yes, well…the divorce was recent and we managed to keep the details out of the press. I prefer it that way.”
Wouldn’t most people? “How recent?”
He scoffed. “Nine months ago. Well before I met you.”
“I didn’t mean to imply…”
