Page 87 of Yours, For Good

Nora let go of my hand and held both of her own in front of her. "I've been hearing whispers of changes coming to the John Grier Home… from what people are saying, you're behind them."

Mrs. Lippett nodded. "Mr. Pendleton has been pushing for reform for a few months."

"A few months?" Nora asked.

I could see her doing the math in her head, so I helped her. "Almost a year ago I learned some ways in which we could improve the charity. My team has been working on it since then."

"Interesting."

Mrs. Lippett frowned. "Well, we should take our leave. There are other people I want Eleanora to meet."

Networking, I mouthed to Nora.

She sighed, nodded, and let Mrs. Lippett take her away. At the last second, I took her hand.

"I'd love to talk to you," I whispered.

"I'll find you."

I watched her walk away.

For nearly an hour, I went back to working on those changes and getting votes for my proposal. I caught glimpses of Nora; twice, our eyes locked across the room. Each time, I lost my train of thought, especially when on the second time she smiled.

It took effort not to stride to her, kiss her, and ask her to cut the night short with me. Only to make it longer together, in the privacy of my room.

I had it bad for her. Especially now that she smiled again at me, and my guts braided themselves with the need to ask her why, and would she smile back at me some more?

Nora found me while pulling from my collar again.

"Feeling a little hot, Mister Pendleton?"

"Yes, actually." I gazed down at her body. "You look beautiful."

She lifted an eyebrow and returned the perusal with eyes down my body. "I've always wondered about suits like the one you're wearing. With so many layers it must get hot quickly, no?"

"They don't have to." I shrugged and undid my neck button to give myself some freedom. "The problem is the company."

She raised both eyebrows in surprise. "Meaning…?"

If she didn't recognize my poor attempt at flirting with her, it was safer to tell her a different truth.

I loosened the silk knot of my bowtie. "I don't usually wear such formal suits. I rarely wear a tie at all, but these people are more traditional than my usual crowd and I need to convince them my ideas make sense. Is it too obvious that my top button is undone?"

She studied me and brought her fingers to my neck to rearrange my bowtie. Her touch, practical as it was, shot straight to my cock. I pressed my lips together to contain my reaction.

She patted my chest twice. "There. No one can tell now."

"Thank you, Nora."

Her powerful brown eyes remained steady on me. "I keep hearing how great it is you're here, how unique. That the changes you're pushing for are big but have people curious. I think you got their attention."

"Good. It's one of the reasons I came this year, even though I generally avoid it."

"Mmmh. I remember you telling me on Halloween how you avoid these parties. That you don't like them."

I shook my head. "I rarely come to this one. It's the political tone of events like these— I prefer to argue in the boardroom."

She continued to watch me. Thoughts swirled in her head, clear as day to me.