“What do you mean?”
She looks up again. “Oh, just that you didn’t get any time with Fred. I can tell you were frustrated on Friday when he didn’t show up.”
She’s right. I had been livid that Fred would cancel last minute, leaving Chloe and me in the Hamptons with no hope to make progress on my deal with Voltaire. But then I spent yesterday with Chloe and I forgot about Fred and the deal. It wasn’t on my mind when I was playing Scrabble with her or pointing out the various cheeses on the charcuterie board, and memorizing her facial expressions as she tasted each one. And it definitely wasn’t on my mind when she looked me in the eyes and told me no one has ever gone down on her before.
I watch her for a moment, her wild ponytail and baggy t-shirt make her look effortlessly sexy. Damn. I want her. Badly. But I want her to want me just as bad. This weekend was a step in that direction, but she’s not there yet.
Case in point when a minute later she flips a page, then looks over at me.
“Oh, and can we just forget everything I said this weekend?”
“What do you mean?”
“You know, the truth or dare sharing. It was a bit of an overshare on my part. I’d like to rescind that information. Extract it out of your brain.”
I almost laugh. There’s no fucking way I’ll be forgetting that conversation anytime soon. Or the way it felt to kiss her, not because we had to put on a show, but because we wanted to. Thinking about it only makes me want to do it again.
“No,” I growl.
“What? Why not?”
“It was the first thing on my mind this morning and it will be the last thing on my mind tonight when I fall asleep across the hall from you.”
Chloe’s eyes widen at my confession. I can see her cheeks turn rosy from across the room.
I stand and move toward her. When I’m at the back of the sofa looking over her, Chloe has to lean back to look up at me. I’ve found in my business dealings that patience is the key. Waiting for the right deal. Not getting ahead of yourself. Keep the upper hand by not appearing too eager.
None of that seems to be working in my situation with Chloe.
“I’m also going to think about you when I fuck my hand later,” I say.
Her breath catches and her mouth drops open. The sound already has me hard. Yes, I’m definitely going to be thinking about her later.
I lean down and kiss her on the top of the head. It’s a chaste gesture compared to what I want to do to her.
“Goodnight, Chloe.”
I leave her there on the sofa, pleased that it takes her a good ten seconds to call out goodnight behind me.
I’m in a meeting with Carl when Bea buzzes to tell me that Chloe is here. My day has been insane, moving from meeting to meeting, business lunch to conference calls, but any spare second I’ve had to myself, I’ve thought about Chloe. The silver lining to Fred and Frankie not being able to make the trip to the Hamptons was getting to hang out with Chloe, just us. Now, we understand each other better. I’ve made my intentions clear that I want her, but I’m waiting for her to be more comfortable with a physical relationship.
Chloe walks through the door of my office, her hair piled high on her head, a bright blue skirt that sways around her legs when she walks and a delicate blouse pulled snug against her breasts. A breakfast meeting had me out the door early, and I find myself annoyed that this is the first time I’m seeing her today.
Carl stands.
“Chloe, nice to see you,” he says.
“Carl.” She nods and I immediately pick up on her curt tone.
Carl shoots me a look.
“We’ll finish this discussion later,” I tell him.
He nods and gathers his things. In typical Carl fashion, he mouths something behind her back as he leaves. I think it was ‘you’re fucked.’ He thinks things between Chloe and me are still tense because I haven’t told him otherwise.
“Hi,” I say, moving toward Chloe. I’m aware that she’s usually the one making an effort while I hold back, but I want to change that. “To what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?”
“I just came from Frankie’s.” She sniffs like she’s about to cry.
My gaze drops to her hands, where they’re covered in black leather.
“Are you wearing gloves? In July? I thought you were getting your nails done?”
“Yes, I did. It was awful. My nails are awful. I came here because I don’t know what to do,” she cries.
I don’t like seeing Chloe upset, but my chest swells with pleasure that she’s seeking me out.