Page 95 of The Work Wife

And he’d taken everything she offered.

“Of course I remember the desk. Who could forget having sex with their boss while they were working? You realize you were paying me at the time, right?” That felt a little dirty. She smiled at the thought.

“I hadn’t even thought of that. I’m sorry. I hope you don’t think I think of you as a . . .”

She frowned and he took a step back, turning serious.

“No. I know that.” She watched as he looked everywhere but in her eyes. “Is this the part where you tell me we shouldn’t be together because I work for you?”

“Isn’t that what I’m supposed to say?”

“I don’t know. Should I be the one to say it? Generally speaking, it usually turns out to be a bad idea for the subordinate. While the boss just goes on about his life.”

“I could argue that generalizing is usually a bad idea as well.”

There was that humor she liked so much. But he’d wanted to talk about it. She was going to talk. “Let’s take a moment to look at what would happen to me if things went wrong between us, compared to what would happen to you.” She paused as he tilted his head and crossed his arms over his impressive chest.

“Go on.”

“If we were to pursue whatever this is and it ended, I could lose my job. While you would only be inconvenienced by having to tell your new assistant how you like your coffee.”

“That is ridiculous. First because you know I get my own coffee, and secondly because I wouldn’t ever fire you if this didn’t work out. And what makes you think it won’t work out?” Oh, he was looking at her now. Those blue eyes had turned stormy.

“Because the alternative to things not working out would be that they did work out and we ended up together for the rest of our lives.”

“Okay. Let’s do that.”

“Do what?”

“That second thing. The one where spend the rest of our lives together.” He just looked at her like it was a normal request.

She choked on the air that rushed down her throat. She’d been trying to force him to see things were more dangerous from her position, and if she was willing to give it a try he shouldn’t be so skittish. She hadn’t intended for him to make a lifelong commitment. “What? That’s not—”

“I’m being forced to choose right now between giving up because it’s not going to work, or moving forward because it could. I want the one that means I get to be with you.”

“But . . .” She had no argument. Not one. She found she wanted it to work out too, as unrealistic as that was. But she could imagine it. Even though they hadn’t even gone on a formal date, she could picture them living together and having kids. She felt at peace when she was with him. She needed some peace in her life.

“Let’s back up, okay?” She physically backed up as well. She’d been hinting for another round of sex, not a wedding.

“Maybe you would agree to middle ground. Can we go to dinner on Saturday night?” he asked.

“I’m playing at MacGregor’s.”

“What time?”

“Eight.”

“We can go to dinner at six, and then I’ll take you to your gig.” His lips quirked at the last word as if he liked using it.

“Okay. You’re suggesting we see each other outside of work, and keep things professional in the office?” She wanted to be clear on the rules.

Ben moved closer. One hand snaked around her waist, pulling her against his body while the other cradled the back of her head as he kissed her. His tongue parted her lips and infiltrated her defenses. She clutched the lapels of his suit, pulling him closer, except there was no way he could get any closer with clothes on.

The kiss continued for minutes or maybe hours, she couldn’t be sure. But when he backed away she leaned in to take one last small kiss.

“No. We won’t be keeping things professional in the office. It’s unrealistic to think I’m capable of keeping my hands off you.”

“Okay” was the only thing she could think to say to that. God help her.