Page 50 of Inevitable
“Of course.”
I watched as she slid into the back seat of the hired car. I climbed in beside her, smoothing down my tie. If I’d found it difficult to keep my hands off her in the lobby, it was damn near impossible in the back seat of the car. Her scent was everywhere, enveloping me in memories of the last two nights.
“So, we’re meeting with Bass this morning, right?”
“Yes.” I cleared my throat, impressed with how easily she seemed to have switched to work mode. Despite the fact that we were alone, despite the fact that my thigh was pressed to hers, our arms aligned, and tension clouded the air, she was focused, professional.
“Yeah,” I said, mentally chastising myself to get it together. “They’re looking at some properties in downtown LA.”
“Is this typical?” she asked. “Traveling to the client, even when they’re looking at properties in California?”
I lifted a shoulder. “No, but he’s an old friend. So, I made an exception.”
“An old friend,” she mused, and I wondered what she wasn’t saying. I didn’t have to wait long because she asked, “Does he know my dad?”
“No.” I shook my head, swallowing hard at the mention of Ian. The very man I was trying to avoid thinking about. “But we should be careful. You’re still my employee.” Even if sleeping with her wasn’t strictly forbidden, it would definitely raise some eyebrows.
“Careful…” Our eyes met, breaths syncing, as she uttered the word, “Right.”
I wasn’t sure anything I did was careful when it came to Sumner. The more time I spent with her, the more I let her in, the more reckless it seemed.
“And then lunch with Anderson at the Ritz,” she said, interrupting my thoughts.
I nodded, trying to ground myself in the plans for the day instead of reminiscing about last night or looking forward to later. “Followed by drinks with Sheffield.”
“Right.” She sucked her lower lip into her mouth, and I wanted to pull it between my teeth.Just kill me.“Did you have a chance to look at the former Masonic lodge?”
“Briefly. It could work. Securing his business would be huge for the Wolfe Group.”
“Why don’t you sound excited?” she asked, and I didn’t know why I was surprised that she’d picked up on my tone. She always seemed to sense my moods, even if she didn’t know or understand the reason for them.
Maybe because I’d rather spend the day exploring the city with you.
I sighed. “It just seems like more of the same.”
She nodded, her expression contemplative. “Have you thought any more about your vision of success? I know we got distracted with the trip and everything, but it’s important.”
“It feels wrong—the things that I want.” Both in business and in life.
“Why?” Her tone wasn’t judgmental, merely curious.
“Because I’ve worked so hard for so long to accomplish all that I have.” I blew out a breath. That was only part of it.
“What do you want?” she asked. “And it’s okay if you don’t know. Sometimes it’s easier to know what we don’t want instead of what we do.”
“I—” I hesitated. “I honestly haven’t given it much thought.” I hadn’t allowed myself to go there. To allow myself to envision a life without the Wolfe Group, without the things and the people that currently defined it. Just as I hadn’t allowed myself to imagine her as part of my future.
She nodded then glanced out the window, the smell of her shampoo infiltrating my lungs and penetrating my heart. I needed to get these thoughts and feelings under control. This was a fling—ill-advised, short-lived, no strings. We both knew where we stood.
Get your head back in the game.
“Was I dreaming, or did you mention something about tonight?” she asked, throwing me off once more.
I nodded, glancing out at the skyscrapers, a city full of potential. The complete opposite of our relationship, if you could even call it that. If our relationship had been a building, I’d say it was one that was shiny and looked good from the outside, but the foundation had been poured incorrectly, and the floor plan didn’t make any sense.
“Another business dinner?” she asked.
I shook my head, the curl of my lip visible in the window. I was happy. For the first time in months, maybe years, I was happy. Light. At least when I ignored the reality of our situation. “We’re going out. Just the two of us.”
