Desire Collection: November Books 1 - 4. Charlene Sands

Чтение книги онлайн.

СКАЧАТЬ his head fall back against the mattress. “I guess that means we have to get up.”

      “I guess it does,” she said. Eric’s calm was contagious, almost. Her heart was slowing down to a steady, reliable beat and she was breathing normally.

      But she still had no idea how she was supposed to face the afternoon schedule. Before, it had seemed daunting, but now it felt almost impossible. How was she supposed to handle herself now?

      Eric tilted her face up so she had to look at him. “Are you sure you’re all right?”

      She tried a confident smile. Given the way he notched an eyebrow at her, she was pretty sure she failed. “I don’t know what to do next. I mean, about us. About this.” She let out a strangled laugh. “And also about having dinner with the lieutenant governor tonight. None of this is normal for me, Eric. I don’t fit in this world.”

      He stroked his thumb over her cheek and gave her a smile that, if she’d been standing, would’ve made her knees wobble. “You’re going back to your room to take a shower and get changed. I’m going to do the same here. We’re going to some meetings where Meryl will negotiate until she’s blue in the face, Steve will make friends with everyone and I’ll make grand promises that sound too good to be true, except I’ll have all the numbers to back them up. All you have to do for the rest of the evening is smile and listen. You’re the best listener I’ve ever met. Take notes on what’s being whispered, when people look nervous or whatever. I want to know what’s not being said, okay?”

      “Okay.”

      He stroked his thumb over her cheek again. “If you feel awkward, compliment someone on their tie or their presentation or whatever. Can’t go wrong with compliments. You do that and we’ll be fine.”

      He sounded so damned confident about it, as if he actually believed she could pull this off. Preparing for today’s meetings and tonight’s dinner—that was where all her focus should be. It didn’t matter how easily he thought she could do this—she knew darned good and well that today would be hard and tonight would be harder. She had no experience in high-level meetings, even less experience at high-stakes cocktail parties. Eric could be confident because that sort of thing came naturally to him. He breathed it, lived it every single day.

      God, she hoped she didn’t embarrass herself. But more than that, she hoped she didn’t embarrass him. There was a real risk that if she did something wrong, she might cost him this deal.

      And if that happened, after what they’d shared?

      She’d never be able to look him in the eye again.

      But now, there was no escaping the fact that they were still lying in bed together, almost naked, the sweat on her back starting to cool. She wanted him to warm her up all over again. “And after that?”

      He held her gaze for a moment before he said in a quiet voice, “That’s up to you. But this is a big bed,” he went on, giving her a playful grin. “Plenty of room.” To emphasize this, he patted around. “I might get lonely. Just saying.”

      She should say no. She should walk away while she still could, before they crossed that final line. If she were strong enough, she’d sleep alone tonight.

      But just then, Eric cupped her face and brushed a tender kiss over her lips and she knew she wasn’t going to be strong enough. She knew she’d be right back in his arms tonight.

      “That would be tragic, wouldn’t it?”

      He leaned up to press a hard, quick kiss against her lips before he patted her bottom. “Devastating. But we’ve got a lot to do before then.”

      With a sigh, she rolled off him and out of bed. “Then we better get to it.”

      * * *

      “Well,” Eric said as the elevator doors closed behind them. “I think that went well.”

      It took almost everything Sofia had not to slump against the wall of the elevator. And frankly, she didn’t have much left. Who would’ve thought that paying attention to conversations all day long with a smile plastered to her face would be so exhausting?

      But that wasn’t the only thing that had left her drained. The effort it took not to watch Eric, not to smile at him—not to show that she was aware of every single thing he did—had taken a lot out of her.

      She hadn’t wanted to look like a woman lusting after her boss. She had no idea if she’d made it.

      Because she was definitely lusting after Eric.

      She barely recognized the woman reflected in the mirrored walls of the elevator. The black-and-white lace patterned dress was working overtime, as was the strapless bra. She almost didn’t look like the mother of twins, which was impressive.

      If she threw a suit jacket over this dress, she could wear it to work. But for dinner tonight, she had tucked the pashmina shawl around her shoulders and left her arms bare.

      Eric had noticed, too. She’d felt his gaze upon her all night long. Just like it was right now. He shifted closer to her so their shoulders were touching. In the reflection, he smiled at her and Sofia couldn’t help but think, We fit.

      Which was ridiculous. Just because his black suit and bright blue tie looked good with this dress absolutely did not mean that she fit with him. But it was enough to pretend for this weekend.

      “Can we wait until morning to go over our notes?” Meryl asked, sounding drained.

      Sofia startled. Were they supposed to be business professional after eight solid hours of meetings? Before she and Eric could pick up where they’d left off this afternoon?

      Even throughout dinner—one of the finer meals she’d ever eaten—she’d been focused on listening. She was used to sleep deprivation. Anyone with small children was. But coloring with the kids required a much lower level of mental engagement than following along with a dinner conversation that encompassed state, federal and city ordinances.

      But she hadn’t made a fool of herself. She’d offered up a few compliments and paid attention and managed not to stare at Eric and think of nothing but his body against hers. Nothing tonight had come naturally to her, but she’d made it. It seemed that, for one weekend at least, she could pretend she belonged by Eric’s side.

      “Absolutely,” Eric readily agreed. His fingertips brushed and then tangled with Sofia’s. That simple contact went through her like a lightning bolt. Instantly, she was wide awake. “It’s been a long day, but I’m so impressed at the way everyone recovered and I know that tomorrow, we’ll be right back at it.”

      “Go, team,” Steve said weakly, which made Meryl laugh.

      Sofia managed a chuckle. Tomorrow would be another long day and she wasn’t entirely sure she would be able to fake her way through it.

      But tonight?

      Tonight she would wrap her arms around Eric and be a little bit selfish. She could take what she needed instead of having to worry about what other people needed. It would be worth it, even if it were awkward tomorrow morning. She wanted to remember that she was Sofia, a woman with desires and needs.

      She gave Eric’s fingers a squeeze and felt a ripple СКАЧАТЬ