Page 34 of Forbidden Dreams
I felt a little better when I got off the phone with Clara. She was doing a store-wide sale and serving peppermint cocoa with marshmallows. Her store had been around since her grandparents opened it. She'd merely carried on when they'd died.
I didn't know much about her, other than her store's history that Eve had shared with me. She felt like it was important for me to know how long everyone had been here. I catalogued those details so that I could anticipate people's needs and wants. Maybe I could head off some of the complaints that Eve received.
I enjoyed connecting with people. It was something that was disruptive in school, but in this world, networking was a good skill to have. I had to look at the positive and not all the ways I was messing up.
It was eleven, and I leaned back in my chair to stretch. Outside, the streetlights shined, along with the holiday decorations. The shops had closed hours ago, but there were maybe a few patrons at the restaurants and the bar.
I wasn't interested in running into anyone, and the bar was right across the street from my apartment. I should stick around and get through the next item on my to-do list. I needed to reach out to the horse and carriage company about renting them for the events.
I'd just pulled up the information when my door opened.
I startled.
Cooper walked into the room. "What are you still doing here?"
I blinked at the sight of Cooper in my office, looking every bit as angry as he had been the other night. I'd asked for space, but he apparently couldn't give that to me. "What business is it of yours?"
"You shouldn't be working so late."
I came around my desk and leaned against it. "That's rich coming from you. Don't you work all the time?"
He grunted. "I'm talking about you."
I crossed my arms over my chest. "I missed something important in my email, and I can't let that happen again."
He paused in front of me. "You're not quitting?"
I pressed my lips tightly closed. I hadn't meant to share my decision with him.
He stepped close, and my breath caught in my chest. "I got your email."
I nodded stiffly, desperately trying to maintain an air of professionalism but knowing that I was failing miserably. "So then you know that Eve would like to get started as soon as possible."
He raised a brow. "It was her decision?"
Why was he so handsome? I wanted to reach out and touch his chest with my palm and feel the beat of his heart. "She's the boss."
"I thought you were the one in charge now. Or are you walking away?"
"I think we both know I'm just her assistant. I believe the correct title is executive assistant. A fancy name for a secretary, administrative assistant?—"
His hand landed on my hip, and he pulled me against him.
I was pressed against his hard, very warm body. "What are you?—"
Before I could finish my question, his mouth had slanted over mine. I was so shocked; my lips parted. His tongue dived into my mouth, exploring, claiming. The grip of his hands on my hips kept me grounded in this moment. This was really happening.
Cooper was kissing me. My brothers' best friend. The man I shouldn't be having any kind of carnal thoughts about.
But my brain couldn't form any coherent thoughts. All I could do was feel. The strength of his grip, the warmth of his body, the way his scent seemingly surrounded me, taking over my senses.
He pulled back slightly, resting his forehead against mine.
"What are we doing?" I asked, my voice sounding more breathless than I preferred. It was rare for me to lose control with a man.
"Fuck if I know." Then he was kissing me again, grabbing my thigh and drawing it around his leg so that I could feel the evidence of his arousal.
I whimpered into his mouth and then jumped so that my legs were wrapped around him. He set me on the desk, not caring about the papers or whatever else I'd just organized. So much for trying to impress anyone.
