Page 10 of Breaking Point
“I also rescheduled Bronson’s appointments, and the appointments of anyone holding tickets to the soiree last night, or who were required to attend, or do work there.”
Brice looked out his window.He could see many people flitting around the open area outside the arena, pulling down the ballroom area, dismantling screens and tables.Most of it would be recycled for the credits, because next year, the décor had to be different.
What will she wear, next year?The question slid into his mind unbidden.He tried to dismiss it, yet the memory of the red and black dress came zinging back.This time, when she turned in a circle, showing off her dress, as she had last night, he pulled her to him and kissed her, his hands running over the soft fabric and the softer skin beneath…
Brice shook off the provocative thoughts with a low growl and pushed back from the desk.This was ridiculous.It had been an evening.Forget it and move on.He’d had plenty of practice at it.
He could hear Eden in the front suite, talking to someone.
A feminine voice replied.Low timbre.Often followed by a throaty laugh.Just the sound of it sent invisible fingers walking up his spine.
He realized he was sitting motionless, straining to confirm that she was here and it wasn’t just his fraught imagination.
It occurred to him that he should be annoyed that she was not playing by the rules.Today was supposed to be back to business as usual.Everyone understood that.You move on.No regrets.No entanglements.
Bronson would bounce her out of the office and send her home.
Then he remembered that Bronson wasn’t here.Only Cathi was out there.She was great at collating data, but a five-year-old could intimidate her.
Cathi cracked open his door.“Um…Brice…there’s a Luciana Hume out here.She wants to speak to you about stalls in the Capitol?”She looked nervous and apologetic.
It wasn’t her fault, Brice reminded himself.
“I’ll see her,” he told Cathi.
She looked deeply relieved and opened the door fully.Over her shoulder, she said, “Please go through.”
Brice watched Luciana walk through the door, and his heart squeezed.She was wearing…he didn’t know what she was wearing, exactly.Trousers that seemed to have too much material in them, yet wrapped around her ankles.She had both hands thrust in the pockets of her trousers.The jacket she wore was full in the shoulders, and the sleeves were pushed up her arms.
Beneath the jacket she wore a little top that stopped where the trousers began, so that he could actually glimpse gleaming skin between the two garments.
All the clothes were the same color as her hair, which rippled and waved over her shoulders in a thick mass.
No woman with a grown son should look so fetching.No one he did business with did.
His body tightened.He put his hands together and squeezed.“If you’re here to discuss the stalls, you should turn around and leave,” he told her.“If you’re here for anything else, you shouldn’t be.”
“I’m here to talk about the stalls,” she said.Her voice stroked his spine.“At least, that is what I told your AI and Cathi.”
He got to his feet.Carefully.“It doesn’t matter.You should go.”
“I don’t know why I’m here.”
He moved around the desk.He didn’t recall making the decision to do so.His body was moving on its own.He’d left the cane behind, which meant he was rolling like a drunkard, but right then, he didn’t care.“You have to leave.Now.”
She looked up at him.“Are you sure, Brice?”
He swallowed.“Yes.”It was a whisper.His hands settled on her waist.Beneaththe jacket.The touch of her flesh against his fingertips was scalding.
“Very well…” As she spoke her lips nearly brushed his.He didn’t have to lean far at all to take the kiss he wanted.
•
Afterward, while he sprawled in the big armchair, his body lax and quiet once more, Luciana dressed.Then she bent and kissed him.Silently, she slipped out of the office.The door locked behind her.
No demands.No questions.
He put his head back against the chair and closed his eyes.This had to stop here.Now.Right now, this instant.This was it.It was over.
