Page 30 of Now & Forever
“We’ve established the same thing about you!” Gwen leaned against the counter and crossed her arms. “Are you hitting on me or not? I can’t tell anymore.”
“Howcould you misconstrue this as anything but intense flirting to get you more intimately into my life, Gwen?”
“You started talking about some guy named Ronaldo.”
“You’re confused. He doesn’t exist.” James continued to grin. “Unlike you.”
“You’re right. I do exist. As I’m sure you’ve established over these past few weeks you’ve come in here to make eyes at me.”
Chuckling, James leaned forward again and said, “So you’ve noticed?”
“A guy going out of his way to come in here during my off-hours? Getting to know me through trite conversation?” Gwen met him halfway across the counter, her grin grand enough to suck him into a deadly vortex of her making.Think I’ll let him live, though. Why not? Could be fun.James wasn’t pinging any warning bells. The worst he’d do was get over Gwen the moment she gave in to him. She’d miss the tips, but…
Maybe it was worth it for the thrill?
“Yeah, I’ve noticed,” Gwen continued. “Kinda hard to miss in a boring place like this.”
“So you’re saying I’mnotboring?”
She laughed. “Are you always this self-deprecating? Because it’s kinda cute.”
“I can be the most self-critical prick you’ve ever met if it means making you smile.”
Didn’t she give him the reaction he wanted? Gwen could hardly contain the giddiness surfacing in her chest, and when she laughed again, it was with a hearty guffaw that almost made James join her in such madness.
“Damn,” he said, “does this mean if I don’t ask you out right now, I’ll lose my chance forever?”
“Why forever?”
He cocked his head. “I might not have the guts to try again.”
“Oh, now I don’t believe that.” Yet Gwen swelled with the knowledge that she had the power to fell this man’s ego with a simple “no.” She wasn’t a whim. She wasn’t someone he thought he might have a chance with, so why not ask? Almost like he fancied her so much that he subjected himself to this thrice-weekly charade of being a simple customer in a lonely, mid-tier bar. More customers would show up later and dominate Gwen’s time. James needed to take his chance now if he were going to tonight. “You mean guys don’t do those endless pursuits like I see in the movies?”
“I’m told that’s creepy, so I’ve cut back on it.”
“You don’t wanna be creepy?”
“Can’t say it’s in my nature. Catch more flies with honey, right?”
He finished his drink, smacking his lips when the glass touched the counter. His large breaths made his chest contract against his fitted dress shirt. Gwen had to refrain from biting her bottom lip as she openly checked out James in his work clothes.He smells like a million dollars. Can you even buy his cologne in department stores?Probably not. His cologne was purchased in an ivory New York tower, where one required a membership to enter, and memberships were only handed out to princely sons and their spoiled sisters.
Gwen glanced at the clock. She could have this place closed now and reopened later without anyone – least of all her boss – finding out.
***
Cleaning supplies fell off the nearby desk when Gwen was slammed against the wall. “No, no!” she said, pushing James off her and taking his hand. “Thiscorner. The security camera looks right over here!”
He was too flushed with disbelief that this was happening to mind his words. “Maybe I’m cool with a little exhibition. Can be fun in the right moment.”
Giggling, Gwen drew him into a cramped, dark corner of the office. “This isn’t the right moment for that.”
“Aw, it’s not?”
She cupped his scruffy cheeks between her hands, desperation mounting in the pit of her warm stomach. “Maybe some other time.”
“You’ve already decided that there’s going to be another time?”
Gwen pulled him into her arms. It took two seconds for her to confidently hop up and wrap her legs around his waist.Ah, there it is. The crazy need to fuck a guy.When she made the decision to let him into the back room for a little romp, she wasn’t sure if she wanted to be wooed ordominated.Well, maybe not dominated. This wasn’t some naughty erotic romance novel, after all. Even if James were wealthy enough to be named Christian Grey and she… well, she was no Anastasia “The Virgin” Steele. No casting director wouldn’t look twice at her when lining up that list of characters. But she was the blue-collar heroine looking for a little fun, a little heat, and a whole lotta adventure. James could provide some of that, if only for a night.
