Page 54 of A Winter Wish

But he kissed her briefly to stop her from speaking. “When I’m inside you,” he said, his voice low, “I want to be sure you want it, just as much as I do.” Her insides went liquid and taut, all at the same time. “And if you’re already stressing about what happens after, it’s not going to be nearly as fun as it could be.” Then he straightened so his hips were no longer trapped between her thighs.

Her whole body registered the lack of warmth, but she didn’t immediately move, and his gaze traveled over her, all of her cells vibrating under it.

“Fuck,” he said, and when he bent toward her, she thought he’d caved, that she’d won the silent standoff. But all he did was kiss her cheek. “Good night, Lex.”

He stood, and she sat up, pulling the straps of her dress back into place, feeling self-consciousness return. He grabbed his wet T-shirt off the floor, and she caught sight of the tattoo at the top of his back, between his shoulders. Two thick black lines, curving together like antlers. He’d been right—it was slightly uneven. But it was also stupidly sexy.

He glanced over his shoulder as he walked away. “I’m taking first shower.” Then he left her there, and she heard the click of the bathroom door. And even though it had been Lexie who had started the conversation, who had been the one to say it might not be a good idea, she couldn’t help but feel the sting of rejection as she headed for her bedroom—and made sure she heard his own bedroom door shut before she ventured outside again.

Chapter Twenty-two

Lexie spent the next few weeks in the office trying to put what had happened in Spain behind her. Trying to pretend that every time she looked at Theo across the room, she didn’t remember what it had been like to have him pressed against her, on top of her. And she’d been busy—they’d all been busy, with a lot of customer inquiries, finalizing the plans for the Christmas trip in Vienna, thinking about new ideas for next year’s Lemon Festival in France, as well as getting ready for the summer and autumn trips. She had to focus, make sure she pulled her weight.

She was sitting at the desk in the front office and was in the process of inquiring about room availability and a possible group discount at a boutique hotel in Madrid that they’d short-listed for next year, when her phone buzzed on the desk next to her.

Fran.

How’s it going?

She’d told Fran what had happened in Madrid, and how she was sure kissing him had been a stupid thing to do. And the last two weeks had been a test, waiting to see if anything would be mentioned, trying to figure out if it shifted the balance between them at all—and she’d needed someone to talk to about that.

I’m maintaining my impeccable air of professionalism.

She got a line of strong arm emojis back, followed by

I’m going to be late back AGAIN tonight. But if you’re still up can we have a wine? My client didn’t get the custody settlement he wanted, my head hurts with the stress of it, and I’m so sick of my office, I’m thinking I might need to redecorate.

That sucks, I’m sorry.

The head—yes. The office—I’m not sure I’m actually allowed to redecorate, so that also sucks. But the client, not so much. I’m pretty sure he was a bit of a dick.

Well I’m all up for wine. But thought you had a date tonight?

He canceled. Still in love with his ex-girlfriend.

Lexie shook her head at her phone as she switched the screen off. She didn’t really get why Fran couldn’t find someone, given how she put herself out there. She was—objectively speaking—pretty damn great. In a perfect world, there would be a nice, handsome, kind man she could set Fran up with from her office. But the only single and age-appropriate man was Theo. Theo, who was currently heading across the office and toward the back door, having just come in from the street with Mike. Their heads were bent together, Theo nodding along to something Mike was saying. He caught her eye, smiled briefly, and she immediately flicked her gaze away, back to the computer screen.

It had been a one-time thing, that was all. Or a no-time thing, depending on how you looked at it. But she still felt rejected. He’d wanted her—she’d felt that. Yet he’d walked away. And she didn’t quite know what to do with that.

Mike and Theo were through the back door and Lexie could hear their footsteps as they headed up to Theo’s flat. It made the second time in one week she’d seen the two of them having some sort of private meeting.

Ange came out from her back office, carrying a cup of tea for Lexie.

Lexie smiled up at her. “It’s not your job to bring me tea.”

Ange waved that away, and her dangly earrings—dragonflies today—swayed with the movement. “We all bring each other tea.”

Lexie took a sip. Somehow, Ange always got tea to be the perfect temperature, right from the outset. “What are Theo and Mike talking about, do you think?”

Ange leaned again her desk. “Nothing Theo can’t handle, I’m sure.”

“So you’re saying there is something to handle?”

Ange looked at her, those pale green eyes assessing her. “Has Theo told you anything about Mike?”

“Only that he and my dad had a ‘complicated’ relationship. But they were friends, right? That’s what Mike said.”

“Yes, they were friends. Mike was actually the one to give your dad the loan to start the company.”