Page 59 of The Forbidden Billionaire
We don’t speak for a while. I close my eyes and let the movement of the car lull me into a light doze.
I open my eyes some time later and discover he’s pulling into the car park below my apartment.
I sit up, a little embarrassed. “Wow, I slept all the way?”
“Yeah. Auckland Zoo rang and said they’d heard there was an escaped elephant. I told them it was just you snoring.”
I push his arm. “I don’t snore.”
“And there was drool.”
“There was not! Stop teasing me.”
He just chuckles, parks the car, and turns off the engine. “Come on, sleepy,” he says.
We get out and go into the elevator. I look at my reflection in the mirror as the carriage rises, and groan. “Jesus. I look awful.”
“You really don’t. You’re just tired.”
“I’ve smudged my mascara.”
“Mmm.”
I look up at him. He doesn’t say anything, but his eyes have a little heat in them.
We study each other as the elevator continues to rise. Jesus, he’s so handsome, and so… stern. I know he likes me. I wish I could ask him back to my apartment, but I know he’ll say no, and then I’ll feel embarrassed and humiliated.
The elevator pings, and the doors slide open.
Without saying anything, I turn and walk out, and he follows, his footsteps soundless on the carpet.
When we get to my door, he touches his key card to the pad. “Wait here.”
“Yes, sir.”
He glances at me, but doesn’t reply and goes inside.
I’m used to the practice now, and I lean against the frame and wait as he pads through the apartment, turning on lights and making sure everything’s where it should be. What he’s expecting to find, I have no idea. Eventually, he reappears and crosses the living room toward me.
“All clear,” he says, and I know he’s talking to Rick or Kai back at the office. He walks over to me. “Thanks for waiting, ma’am.” He always uses ma’am when he wants to remind us both that this is strictly a professional relationship.
I turn so my back is to the door frame, leaving only a small gap for him to pass.
He moves close and goes to sidle past me, but I put out my arm. He stops and gives me an exasperated glance that softens as he looks into my eyes.
“Are you off duty now?” I murmur.
He nods.
I hesitate. I mustn’t say anything. He’ll only refuse. But his eyes are warm, and suddenly, I don’t want to be alone.
“Would… would you like to come in for a drink?”
His eyebrows rise a little, and he inhales deeply, then lets out a long sigh. I wait for him to move past, but he doesn’t. Instead, he leans a forearm on the door frame above me.
I look up at him, my heart racing. He’s weakening. I can feel it. His gaze rests on mine, then slides down to my mouth. He’s thinking about kissing me. Holy fuck.
We both stand there for what feels like hours, but must only be about thirty seconds. My skin prickles, though, as if static electricity is jumping between us.
