Page 49 of Maxwell

“Jasmine.”

She straightened in her chair, squaring her shoulders like a warrior preparing for battle. “We’re colleagues. We had a slip-up on Valentine’s Day, but we’ve moved past it. End of story.”

“A slip-up? I had my tongue down your throat in the parking lot of your apartment building, and you didn’t exactly push me away.”

“What do you want me to say?” she asked.

“I want you to admit there’s more here than a colleague relationship. There’s building tension between us, and pretending otherwise is exhausting. For both of us.”

Jasmine stood, resting the tips of her fingers on the desk and meeting his eyes. “Let me give you the down and dirty truth. I’ve been in this position before, chased by the charming hot guy in the office. That’s what happened at my last job. I was the office manager and got involved with my coworker, and our relationship ended badly, forcing me to leave a job I loved because it became impossible to go in to work every day. I don’t want that to happen again. This job and everything I’ve accomplished is important to me.”

“You told me before, but I’m not like that guy. All men aren’t the same, and I think we should explore what’s happening between us.”

“Explore? No, thank you. There’s nothing worth exploring between us.”

“Bullshit.”

“Excuse me?”

Maxwell kept his voice low and controlled. “I know you feel what I feel, every time we’re in the same room.”

“Unbelievable. You’re so certain?”

“Yes, I am.”

“I told you I’m seeing someone else.”

“You also told me it’s not serious and you don’t love him. Unless something has changed in the past couple of weeks, you can’t use him as an excuse. I’d bet my whole paycheck you like me more than you do him. Tell me what it would take for you to change your mind about me.”

He’d never had to work this hard to secure a woman’s interest, but he refused to give up.

She crossed her arms over her chest. “You’re not used to women who don’t fall all over you. You want me because I’m a challenge.”

“Wrong. I want you because there’s something between us that I can’t shake. I can’t stop thinking about you, no matter how hard I try. Because you’re funny and sexy, and when I’m with you I’m relaxed. I don’t think. I don’t have an agenda. Neither do you. We can be ourselves with each other.”

Jasmine dropped her gaze to the desk, effectively hiding her thoughts from him.

“You feel it too. I know you do, but you’re afraid to admit it,” Maxwell said. But he didn’t want to push or pressure her anymore. When she came to her decision, he wanted her to do so of her own free will. “I’ll leave you alone now. Think about what I said.”

Maxwell left her office and returned to his. He hadn’t planned to say any of that, but he’d meant every word, which was odd. Because Maxwell Santana didn’t make declarations like that. He charmed women and kept his relationships light for an easy exit.

The next step was up to Jasmine, which was a position he couldn’t ever remember being in before. He was the one usually in control. But he was sitting in his office on a Thursday evening, uncertain and anxious about the response she’d give. Which told him everything he needed to know.

Maxwell was very self-aware, and this situation with Jasmine could only mean one thing.

He was in trouble.

Chapter Twenty

She waited five days.

Not because she hadn’t made up her mind. On the contrary, thirty minutes after Maxwell walked out of her office last week, Jasmine had known what her decision would be, but she had needed time to think and analyze every angle. She hadn’t wanted to be impulsive.

By Saturday, she had confirmed her decision, but on Monday, she halfway talked herself out of it when she saw him. His presence intimidated her. The look in his eyes, the determination, made her wonder if she was crazy for attempting to handle a man like him. It would be like trying to wrangle a wild bull with one hand tied behind her back and a blindfold over her eyes. She was sure to get damaged.

Now, here she was on Tuesday morning, confident she knew what the next step would be but worried Maxwell would rebuff her when he heard her terms. If he did, so be it. She refused to move forward without proof he was serious.

Jasmine walked into the reception area with a folder tucked under her arm. The workday was almost over, the waiting room empty, and Keisha was tapping away on her computer.