by Layla Hagen
I traced the contour of her mouth with my fingers. “Look at that smile.”
She tried to tone it down but only managed to turn it into a grin. Nudging closer to me, she hid her face in my chest.
“You won’t hear me say no. Want to take a bath in the tub?”
“Sure.”
“Awesome. That way I can get you to relax. I’m seeing some broody lines I don’t like again.”
I swallowed. “That obvious?”
“A little.”
“I’m just thinking about the best way to secure everyone’s jobs. But I don’t want to ruin our mood with business talk.”
She rose on her toes, lacing her hands behind the back of my head. “You’re not. You can talk about it all you want.”
This woman got to me in a way no one else did. The sincerity in her eyes slayed me.
“So, mister. Get in the tub. I’ll give you a massage while you tell me everything that’s on your mind.”
She started by massaging my shoulders, but her hands kept slipping on my chest while I spoke.
“This massage is more for you than me. You’re feeling me up.”
“I’d deny it, but it’s true.”
“Maybe I should teach you a lesson. Feel you up. Tease you, drive you crazy for me.”
“You took me to a tree-lighting ceremony. You can get away with so much right now. Right...probably shouldn’t have given that away.”
I pulled her in my lap, splashing water everywhere, wiggling my eyebrows. “Probably not.”
Chapter Twenty-One
Sienna
On Monday, the celebratory vibe from the Christmas party seemed to carry on at the office. There was some leftover punch in the kitchen, though no one was starting to drink that early. Someone was listening to carols.
I smiled to myself, imagining Winston’s expression when he heard it. Just at the thought of him, my palms grew sweaty. My cheeks and neck felt on fire.
It was only after I unpacked my bag at home last night that I realized we hadn’t spoken about us—specifically, about how things were going to be between us from now on.
Had it been only a weekend thing? My entire body felt icy cold at the thought. It couldn’t be. He’d been so sweet and loving, and the way he’d spoken had sounded as if he considered this more than a fling.
The more I thought about it, the giddier I became. When Winston arrived, the entire floor gathered for the monthly goal-setting meeting.
I worked “Mr. Statham” into my sentences as many times as possible. Perhaps a few too many, judging by Winston’s amused glances, but I tried my best to be as professional as always.
It quickly became obvious we weren’t on the same page. Winston wasn’t even trying. He wasn’t being smooth at all.
He replied with “Sienna” to my every “Mr. Statham,” and the way he looked at me was downright shameless. Every time our gazes crossed, I felt as if he was physically touching me. Could anyone else feel this energy between us too?
Once the meeting was over, a few of us gathered in the kitchen for a cup of coffee.
“Anyone notice the boss smiling?” one of my colleagues asked.
“I thought I was imagining it. I didn’t even know Winston knew how to smile,” Mara said.
Half the team turned to me. “Sienna, what do you know?”
My ears felt on fire. “What do you mean?”
“You’re closest to him. Any reason the boss is less grouchy today? We need to know what brought on the good mood so we can keep him this way.”
Shit. If they could tell something was different with Winston, surely they could tell the same about me. I felt as if it was written on my forehead, as if this giddiness was just floating around me. I barely kept from grinning.
“I couldn’t say.”
“Well, since he’s in a good mood, we should take advantage,” Mara said. “Since the party was such a great success, I had an idea. Why don’t we make an eggnog stand just for employees? Up here, so we don’t mix up with customers. Somewhere we can stop by after the workday’s over and relax? We could leave it until the New Year. The days between Christmas and the thirty-first are the most stressful for the poor schmucks like me who have to work. Would be great to have something to look forward to every day.”
“I love the idea,” I declared.
“Love it enough to run it by the boss?” Mara asked.
I was slowly becoming the team’s messenger, but I couldn’t blame them.
“I will,” I assured her.
I was trying to imagine how this would play out. Even before the weekend, every interaction with Winston had left me simmering.
Now that everything had intensified by a factor of ten... Damn! My heart rate quickened simply at the prospect of talking to him alone. How was I supposed to do my job when my mind was on Winston half the time?
I was on the phone almost the entire morning, negotiating rates for the Christmas program. I’d just finished the conversation when I checked my emails. One stood out.
Subject: Urgent
Sienna, I need you in my office.
He’d sent it only a few minutes ago. Licking my lips, I stood from my desk. Why did he need to see me? It was unlike Winston not to include any instructions in his emails.
The door to his office was open, and the second I stepped inside, my breath caught. He was leaning against his desk, arms crossed over his chest.
“Close the door,” Winston said in a low, rich voice.
***
Winston
“What’s this about? You didn’t give any details in your email.”
I’d been looking forward to this moment all morning. Having Sienna all to myself.
Was it crazy that I missed her even though I’d been with her all weekend? From the moment I dropped her off at her house yesterday, all I could think about was going back.
I tilted my head, studying her. I’d barely kept myself from pulling her out of that meeting room after every “Mr. Statham” to kiss her until she whispered “Winston” in that same shaky voice she’d used on our trip.
“I just wanted to be alone with you.”
“Okay.” She gave me a small, shy smile, and I lost the little composure I had. I strode across the room and kissed her right there, against the door.
Damn, this hadn’t been how I’d wanted to do this. I’d planned to talk to her about our weekend first, about what would come next, but I couldn’t stop kissing her long enough to talk. She tasted so sweet that I couldn’t help myself, and I deepened the kiss. I pushed her against the door with my hips.
“Winston,” she murmured.
“That’s right. Winston. Not Mr. Statham.” I looked her straight in the eyes. “What was up with that?”
“I was just... I don’t know. Trying to sound professional.” She blushed, lowering her gaze, shrugging. It just made me want to kiss her again, but I stopped myself. I couldn’t taste her again and stop at her mouth this time.
“I’ve wanted to kiss you all morning.” I feathered my thumb over her mouth, pressing lightly on the bow of her upper lip. Her eyes widened slightly. “You’re surprised.”
“I didn’t know how things would be between us. We haven’t talked about it.”
“Yes, that’s why I asked you here. To talk. And now all I want is to kiss you, touch you. The entire morning during that meeting I had to remind myself that we weren’t alone. This weekend was the best thing that’s happened to me in years, Sienna. Just spending time with you makes me ridiculously happy.”
She grinned. “That’s music to my ears, Mr. Statham.”
I cupped her ass with both hands, bringing her flush against me. She exhaled sharply.
“Next time you call me that, I’ll just kiss you right where we are.”
“You wouldn’t.”
“Yes, I would, and you know it.”
She tried to wiggle out of my grasp, but I didn’t relent.
“What will the others say?”
“You don’t want anyone else to know?” I asked sharply.
“I don’t want to keep this a secret. But I am a bit concerned that you’re going to make a spectacle of us.”
I grinned. “No promises.”
“See? You terrible man.”
She sighed, and now she did look a little troubled.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”
“Sienna, I want to know what you’re thinking. What’s bothering you. Tell me.”
“Bossy through and through, aren’t you?”
“You already know the answer to that. So, tell me. I’m not letting you go until you do.”
“That doesn’t sound so bad.” She shimmied against me, and I barely held back a groan.
“Sienna, don’t stall.”
“Okay. Well... I’m a bit afraid that things will become weird with the rest of the team. And if we fall apart, then it’ll be very strange.”
I touched her chin, tilting it up, wanting eye contact. She was always so cheerful and happy that noticing that sliver of fear in her eyes felt like a punch. I wanted to erase all that completely.
“Sienna, it won’t be weird. Everyone adores you.”
I adored her.
“And as to this falling apart... I don’t want you to waste one second thinking about that. I know it’s early, and I know all we have are months of bickering and an incredible weekend, but I don’t want you worrying about that. I won’t let you.”
“Not saying I’ll worry, but just in case I do, how will you stop me?” She was smiling again, teasing me.
“I have my ways.” I touched her chin before lingering on the corners of her mouth. The starry look was back in her eyes. Good. I wanted to keep it there.
“Everyone noticed that you’re smiling more, by the way,” she said.
I cocked a brow.
“Don’t you go back to your dictatorial ways. They’re just warming up to you. Oh, and everyone loved the party, and we think it would be great to have an eggnog stand until New Years for after-work refreshment.”
“Why hasn’t HR told me anything?”
“They think I’ll have a better chance of obtaining approval.”
“You’re using your influence on the boss to get your way?”
“Guilty. But is it working?”
“Keep the eggnog stand. But I want something in return.”
She licked her lips. “Okay.”
“Let me take you to dinner tomorrow.”
“I already have plans with my family.”
“The next evening?”
“We’re doing the tree-lighting ceremony, remember?”
“I can’t believe you organized that so quickly. After that.”
“Won’t it be too late? And besides, we’ll eat at the event. Plus, we have dinner together every evening while we work on the rebrand campaign.”
“Woman, I just want to take you somewhere. Stop giving me a hard time and say yes, or I’ll kiss you until you do.”
She burst out laughing, which made me realize she’d been teasing me on purpose.
“Yes, boss. Though I’ll take that delicious dirty kiss too.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
Sienna
I couldn’t wait for the afternoon to end. Winston had a late meeting so we were skipping our evening session. Pippa, Victoria, and I were going to get drinks, which was code for having to fill them in on the weekend.
At five o’clock, just as I was gathering my things, I heard their voices in the corridor. Why were they here? We usually met in front of the store.
“Hey, girl,” Victoria greeted, stepping inside my office.
“What are you doing here? I thought we were meeting downstairs.”
Victoria shrugged with so much nonchalance that I immediately suspected my sister was up to something.
And when Pippa added, “I’d never seen your office. I was curious,” I didn’t just suspect, I knew they were up to something.
She and Pippa kept looking to their left and right, over their shoulders. I had a hunch I knew why the girls had come up. They wanted a glimpse of Winston.
He was still here, and I was about to reach for my phone to send him a text, warning him that if he came out of the office, he’d walk straight into the lion’s den, but I didn’t get a chance. Winston’s voice boomed down the corridor the next second.
“Sienna, are you still here?”
“Yes.”
Pippa and Victoria exchanged triumphant looks. Yep. I’d been spot-on.
By the sinfully hot look he gave me when he entered the room, he hadn’t come there with innocent intentions. Then he noticed Pippa and Victoria.
“Winston, this is my sister Victoria,” I said quickly. “And this is Pippa Bennett-Callahan.”
Winston shook hands with Victoria first.
“Victoria, Sienna told me you advised her about the decorations this year. Didn’t get a chance to thank you.”
“It was my pleasure.”
“Sienna said you were booked far in advance ahead of time this year, but hopefully we’ll be able to officially collaborate next year. I’m sure Sienna will love working with you in an official capacity. Of course, that is if she doesn’t leave me by then.”
Focusing on Pippa now, he added, “She also says you keep tempting her with offers to move to Bennett Enterprises.”
“I am,” Pippa said playfully.
“Fair warning, I’m going to use any and every tactic to keep her here as long as possible.”
I knew the girls well enough to realize they were both melting. Hell, I was melting.
Was he doing it on purpose? What was I saying? Of course he was. He was winning the girls over. He planned to keep me here, did he? He hadn’t told me any of that.
This was a whole new level of charm—and I absolutely loved it.
“Right. What I have to say can wait until tomorrow, Sienna. Have fun.”
Amusement flashed in his gaze.
“We’ll wait for you by the elevator,” Pippa said.
Victoria hurried after her. Now they were leaving, were they? After they’d ambushed Winston in his own office building.
“Did I pass the test?” he asked the second we were alone.
“What test?”
“I don’t know. You tell me.” He gestured with his head in the direction of the door.
I grinned. “They’ll tell me later, but my money is on a resounding yes. You were quite the charmer.”
“Everything I said was true.”
“Including the part where you plan to keep me here by any and every means?” I paraphrased.
“Especially that one.”
“And what exactly does that imply?”
He smiled ruefully, coming closer. “You’ll see.”
“Keeping me on my toes, huh?”
He drew a small circle on my temple with the tip of his nose. “I don’t want to keep you on your toes. I just want to keep you.”
I blushed. No man I’d ever dated had spoken to me this way. So openly and determinedly.
We were close enough that he was going to kiss me, I was sure of that. But then he just pushed a few strands of hair out of my face, smiling before stepping back.
“They’re waiting for you.”
“No goodbye kiss?”
Winston laughed. “If I had it my way, I’d kiss you all night. So, unless you want me to convince you to leave with me, off you go.”
It was my turn to laugh. “Ha! You’re awfully full of yourself if you think I’d ditch the girls for you.”
“Want to test my theory?” His tone was playful, but his gaze so molten hot that I instantly lit up. He had so much power over me that it scared me. Before I could respond, he pulled me toward him, and when his mouth came down on mine, I thought I might explode from the way he claimed my lips.
I ran my fingers through his hair, tugging and pulling and just about jumping him. And when he pushed his pelvis int
o me, trapping me between the edge of the desk and himself, I groaned in his mouth.
I playfully pushed him away, pointing a finger at him.
“You can’t kiss me like this.”
“Why? Has it made you change your mind?”
I shook my head. “Of course not.”
“Liar. What if I do this?” He feathered his fingers down the sides of my neck, moving them in slow, seductive circles to the straps of my dress.
“No.” My voice was a little uneven.
“And this?” He slipped his thumbs under the straps. Wow. I had to pull myself together. I couldn’t be this weak for him. When he moved one strap to the side, kissing the skin it had covered, I shuddered in his arms.
Damn.
I wasn’t just weak, I was completely at his mercy. And by the way his lips curled into a smile against my skin, he knew it.
“Winston, you can’t do this,” I said weakly.
“Yes, I can. And you love it.”
Straightening, he looked at me with mischief in his eyes before taking one step back.
“But I’ll have you all to myself tomorrow. Can’t be too greedy.”
“Wow. I wasn’t expecting you to be so generous.”
“Don’t get used to it. The closer I am to you, the more I want you, and I don’t mean that simply in a physical way, Sienna.”
The intense look in his eyes was slipping past defenses I didn’t even know I had.
“I know,” I whispered. “It’s the same for me.”
I’d never felt this burning need to spend every moment with a man, to see how deep our connection could grow if we both wanted it.
“See you tomorrow.” He smiled, taking yet another step back.
“Have a great evening.”
I felt him watch me every step of the way as I left the room.
***
The girls were waiting just at the elevators.
“You two. We need to talk.” I sounded stern, but I wasn’t deluding myself that it would have much of an effect.
“We’re listening,” Victoria said.
“I need a heads-up if you’re going to stop by and ambush Winston. I’m not saying don’t do it, because there’s no stopping you if you want something.”
Pippa laughed. “Thanks for giving us credit. But, Sienna sweetie, we were being on our very best behavior. If we’d ambushed him for real, we’d be interrogating him right now.”
