Falling for You: A Forbidden Office Romance (Annapolis Harbor Book 5)

by Lea Coll

  Her hand pressed flat against my stomach. I chanted in my head, move your hand lower while I devoured her mouth. I was frantic to get as much of her as I could, whatever she was willing to give me. Pressing her back against the mats, my hands dipped under her shirt. She pulled in a sharp breath when I touched her flat stomach, flirting with the edge of her sports bra. Ripping her lips from mine, she nipped my chin, kissing down my neck, then placing the lightest kiss on my collarbone. I took the opportunity to palm her breasts, my thumb passing over her nipples that were hard as pebbles poking through the thin material.

  “Jonah.” Her hand tugged on my hair, the sharp bite welcome as she pulled my mouth back down to hers.

  I wanted to feel everything, her lips on mine, the touch of her fingers on my skin. My blood pounded in my ears. I wanted her.

  “We need to—we have to stop.” She’d pulled back, her eyes wide, her chest heaving.

  It was like she’d dropped ice down the back of my shirt.

  “Of course, we do.” Was she ashamed she’d kissed me? Was I not good enough for her? The old insecurities bounced around in my head, even though she didn’t know anything about my past.

  “The reality is that you’re my boss.” She gestured between us, her eyes filled with anguish. “This would be bad for me if Reid finds out. If things got messy, I’d be the one who’d be let go.”

  “I’m just a silent investor.” I kept my tone light, trying to lighten the mood.

  Her lip quirked. “It turns out you’re not so silent.”

  I hung my head, taking a step back. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to put you in a bad position.”

  She leaned against the mat, her hands splayed across her stomach, watching me warily. Was she restraining herself from taking a step toward me to continue what we’d started or worried I’d kiss her again?

  I wanted her to want me as badly as I wanted her. When I was with her, things felt so light, so easy. I felt like I deserved her goodness. It was a dangerous feeling. One I’d be an idiot to entertain. Even if she was interested in me, she didn’t know who I was or what she was getting into. I didn’t want to tarnish her.

  “You’re right. I’m sorry. I don’t know what I was thinking.” I wasn’t thinking at all. I felt the draw of her, the pull, the exquisite sense of rightness when our lips met. Now I had a kiss to remember, not one in a bar when I was drunk. I’d have something to hold on to when I was by myself at night with nothing but the silence of my condo.

  “It’s okay. I was just as much to blame.”

  Blame. Fault. Guilt. All words I was intimately aware of. I wore those words as a blanket, a shroud for the last few years. “You’re not.”

  “If you want me to talk to Reid, to take a step back from the complex, I will.”

  Her forehead wrinkled. “I don’t want that.”

  Her voice was small, almost regretful.

  “Yeah, okay. I’ll see you around then.” I took a few more steps back before spinning on my heel to get out of there. Walking fast, I realized I was still trying to escape my past by pretending it didn’t happen, that I could have someone like Callie. When would I accept I didn’t deserve an easy out? What happened, what I caused was part of me, who I was, and forever would be.

  If I got involved with Callie, I’d mark her soul, snuff out her light. She didn’t deserve that. She was sweet, innocent. She’d never hurt anyone. She deserved a man without secrets. One who could give her all of him. I wasn’t that guy.

  Chapter Seven

  CALLIE

  I drew in a long shaky breath, my muscles still quivering from Jonah’s frontal assault. He was a force when he focused his attention on one person.

  I didn’t delude myself into thinking I was anything more than a stop along the way to his recovery, a nice diversion to forget about his troubles. Once he was back on the field, the ball and his teammates would have his undivided attention. I was someone he could pass the time with while he was injured.

  I touched my fingers to my swollen lips. Why did it feel like he was reveling in my touch, soaking up my essence? It felt like he was holding on tight because he was afraid I’d pull away at any second. I’d never felt like that with any guy before. He didn’t treat me like Reid’s personal assistant, his employee, or the help. He treated me like I was made of cold glass he wanted to warm all over with his lips and hands. I was delicate, something to be treasured. It was an addicting feeling, one I wanted to hold on to.

  I understood why he’d walked away. Technically he was my boss, and we worked together. We couldn’t be kissing in the office, even on the ninja course. If things went badly, I had the most to lose—this job and Reid. He was the only one I could rely on since my parents died. I had Grandpa, but I was the one taking care of him. Without Reid, I’d be alone.

  I lowered my head against the mat behind me, fisting my hands, trying to remember the feel of Jonah’s skin under mine, the softness of his hair, the scruff on his chin. I wanted him even more than I had at the bar. I was slowly getting to see him, the real Jonah. He was deeper than he’d let on. I wanted to know everything about him, why he was outgoing, what he was hiding, what he’d be like in bed.

  I’d been so careful over the years, not to let go, not to do anything risky. Life was precarious, we weren’t guaranteed tomorrow. Couldn’t I have one indulgence? One night with Jonah Templeton to find out if our chemistry translated to the bedroom. I squeezed my thighs together to ease the ache he’d caused in my core.

  I climbed down off the mats. I’d felt the high from making it across the ninja course, then the intensity of being in Jonah’s arms, but my overheated skin had cooled, leaving goose bumps in its wake.

  Should I have stopped him, or should I have suggested one night together? Could I handle it with grace when he walked away, or would I get too attached? Would I want more when he seemed like he had nothing to give? I’d never seen him with a serious girlfriend. I’d seen him flirt with fans and women at the bar, but he never flaunted anything in front of his teammates. If he was seeing anyone, he was discreet.

  “Callie?” Reid asked, his eyes widened, taking in my outfit.

  “Sorry, I was on the ninja course.” I should have said fitness center. That wouldn’t have raised any brows.

  “By yourself?”

  “Oh, no. Jonah was there.” Please don’t ask any questions. “He wanted to test it out.”

  Reid crossed his arms over his chest. “Jonah wanted to test out the ninja course with you.”

  “He said I should partake in everything the complex has to offer so I’m aware of how things work and what our customers will experience when they’re here.” The explanation was perfectly reasonable. The kiss on the mats wasn’t. It was wild, reckless. The experience was a high I wanted to repeat.

  He bobbed his head as if I was making sense. “What did you think?”

  “Apparently, I need to work on my upper body strength,” I joked.

  “If you need any help with a fitness program, I can help you or one of our trainers can.”

  I wanted to ask if Jonah was available for that job. If all of his sessions ended the way today’s had, that was a workout I’d sign up for. “Sure.”

  “I’m on my way to my office.” He gestured for me to follow him.

  My mind was still frozen on that moment in the gym. The one where Jonah winced when I said we should stop. A shroud came over his face. He looked ashamed of himself. It could have been because he viewed me as his employee, or it could have been something else. I wanted to find out why he walked away.

  I took a seat in one of the guest chairs, wondering what he wanted to talk about.

  Reid leaned against the desk, crossing one leg over the other. “You’re doing a great job. I’m really happy you agreed to come on.”

  I clasped my hands together in my lap. “I’m really enjoying it. Thanks for giving me the opportunity.”

  The conversation felt stilted.

  He took a deep
breath. “Sometimes I worry about you.”

  I smiled. “You mean, my grandfather worries about me, and tells you to watch out for me.”

  Reid’s shoulders relaxed as he nodded. “Yeah, pretty much. Are you happy here? Or did you see yourself going in another direction?”

  “This is my dream job. I just didn’t think I’d get it so soon. I applied for the MBA program at UB because I hadn’t found a job yet.”

  “I don’t want to interfere with your school plans.”

  “I haven’t gotten in yet, but I’m hoping I can go to class around my work schedule. UB is known for working with students who have jobs.” Most of the undergrads and the MBA students worked while attending class.

  “I want you here, but school comes first. Whatever you need to do, a flex schedule, whatever, we’ll work it out.”

  “Thanks. You’re so good to me.”

  Reid pushed off the desk, walking around to sit. “You have good business sense. You would have gotten a job like this eventually. I’m glad I found you first.”

  The sincerity of his words wound around my chest. “I’ll do a good job.”

  “I know you will.”

  Jonah rushed in, pausing when he saw me. “Did you—”

  I thought he was going to ask me if I’d told Reid about the kiss. I shook my head no.

  His shoulders lowered in relief. “Oh good. I can come back later.”

  I stood. “No need. I was just leaving.”

  I wasn’t sure why but it bothered me he kept asking me to keep our relationship a secret. I didn’t want Reid to know, but it still rankled.

  “Oh, Jonah. Callie wants to work out. Can you help her get started? Show her around the gym, give her a program to start on.”

  I tensed, waiting for Jonah to push me off on one of the trainers we’d just hired.

  “Of course.” He touched my arm as I brushed past him to leave. Lowering his head to whisper in my ear, he said, “I’m not going to go easy on you.”

  I smirked. “I wouldn’t expect anything less.”

  My body hummed from his proximity and the challenge in his voice. I looked forward to spending more time with him. If being physical led to other activities, I was all for it. In a few weeks, Reid would be returning to training camp. As long as I remembered he wasn’t serious about anything, much less me, I wouldn’t get hurt.

  That night, Dylan invited me out with her coworkers and friends, Avery and Hadley. They were partners at a law firm.

  I met Dylan when she won the blind date with Reid. She’d tried to include me in girls’ nights before but living in Baltimore made that difficult. Now that I worked closer to Annapolis, it made after-work get-togethers possible.

  I pulled open the heavy wooden door to the restaurant, heading toward the bar where I knew they’d be seated. Screens over the bar played a basketball game. The girls sat at a high-top table by the windows.

  “Callie!” Dylan exclaimed, giving me a quick hug before settling back in her seat.

  “I needed to get out.” Working, then making time to visit my grandfather, and the commute was a lot. Even though I wasn’t in school, I wasn’t used to the long hours of an office job.

  “I hope it’s okay we ordered some appetizers to share. Beer?”

  I nodded.

  Dylan poured me a glass, sliding it across the table.

  “How’s Rebel Sports?”

  I was very conscious that Dylan was Reid’s fiancée, so I thought carefully about my answer. Finally, I settled on the truth. “I was a little worried about working with Jonah, but he’s been fine.”

  Dylan cocked her head. “He’s such an easygoing guy. Why did you think he’d be a problem?”

  Immediately, I realized my mistake. Jonah got along with most people. Sighing, I said, “He didn’t want Reid to offer me the manager position.”

  “He said that?” Avery’s forehead wrinkled.

  My cheeks heated at the memory of the first time we’d talked at the bar. “He’d been drinking the first time, but he repeated it the next time we talked.”

  I felt a little bad about talking about this with them because I enjoyed him in other ways. The feel of him pressing me into the mats popped into my head. My face heated, and I squirmed in my seat.

  “He’s been testy lately because of his knee,” Dylan said.

  I shrugged. “I get it. I just graduated and I’m inexperienced, but I’ll prove him wrong.”

  “Reid’s impressed with your initiative,” Dylan said.

  I flushed from the praise.

  “He trusts you,” Dylan said as the waitress placed the dishes of food in front of us.

  “That means a lot.” Not only was he my sole support system the last few years, he was a friend.

  The waitress passed out plates, and we took a few minutes to pass around the food, digging in.

  “Reid said Jonah’s helping you get in shape?” Dylan asked in a casual way, but I could tell she was interested in my answer.

  Did she know that there was an attraction between us?

  “He wants me to experience the club so I can be a better manager.” I hoped it was his way of spending more time with me.

  Avery tilted her head.

  “What?” I knew exactly what she was insinuating with the cock of her head. These women all had significant others. They were engaged. They wanted that for everyone, but they were a few years older than me. We were at different places in our careers.

  “Is it possible he’s attracted to you?” Avery asked.

  I wanted to take a bite of the chicken wing in front of me to buy more time, but that would have been too obvious. Should I tell them the truth? Anything I said to Dylan, could and would make it back to Reid.

  “You’re making her uncomfortable. Reid’s her boss,” Dylan chided.

  I wanted to confide in someone though. I wanted to get their take on it. I didn’t have close friends or a parent to talk to. I certainly couldn’t talk to my grandfather about my love life. He’d wanted me to date Reid. He’d probably be thrilled a football player was interested in me. “Don’t say anything—” The girls leaned in closer. “But he kissed me.”

  “What?” Dylan lowered her fork to her plate.

  Telling them the truth made me feel light-headed. Talking about it out loud made it real. I couldn’t push it off as a random event that didn’t mean anything. “He was drunk the first time. You know, at your engagement party.”

  Dylan’s mouth dropped open. “You were sitting together when we left.”

  Avery pointed at me. Her eyes were bright. “Wait a minute—you said the first time—that means there was a second.”

  I couldn’t believe I was telling them everything. “We were on the ninja course. I’d just completed this difficult obstacle, and he was excited for me.” The memories rushed back, one after the other, the pride in his eyes, the way he crossed the mats toward me, the grip of his hands on my hips. The feel of his hardening erection against my stomach. I wanted him. “There was this crazy buildup. Lots of tension.”

  My heart was racing, the blood pounding in my ears.

  “Oh, do tell.” Hadley rested her elbows on the table, giving up all pretense of eating.

  It was like he couldn’t stop himself from moving closer to me, claiming me. I shivered just thinking about the possessive way he’d plunged his hand in my hair, pressing me against the mats.

  “It was intense.” The most amazing, mind-blowing kiss I’d ever experienced. That alone made me want to see what else he’d be good at.

  “What happened after?” Avery asked.

  “I told him nothing could happen between us. He’s my boss.” The explanation sounded flimsy to me. That wasn’t the real reason since there were no rules against it. It was more this bone-deep fear that I was endangering the stability I’d worked so hard for—my friendship with Reid, my dream job.

  “You didn’t really want him to stop, did you?” Hadley asked.

  Avery giggle
d. “Of course not.”

  I relaxed slightly that they were judging me. “If he asked me out, I wouldn’t say no. Is it so wrong to take something you want?”

  I couldn’t get Jonah’s words out of my head. He’d said he was used to taking what he wanted, asking questions later. Could I do the same? Be impulsive, reckless even.

  “There’s no rule against dating,” Dylan said.

  “I just worry that I’m a distraction for him. A way to pass the time before he goes back to playing football.” My chest tightened at admitting my real worry.

  “Reid said he’s never dated anyone seriously. Not since he signed on with the team.” She tapped her chin deep in thought. “I think he mentioned something about a high school sweetheart. Someone he never got over.”

  I didn’t like the sound of that. Who hasn’t gotten over their high school relationship? You either married them or moved on.

  “Or maybe he hasn’t met anyone he’s ready to take that step with,” Avery said, excitement filling her voice. She clearly hoped I was the woman to change him.

  Even I knew that was unlikely. He was a professional football player used to getting anything and anyone he wanted. I was probably a conquest to him.

  “I think he’s hiding something.” I looked at Dylan to see if she had the same impression.

  “Reid hasn’t said anything.”

  “It’s not just his injury. He gets this look in his eyes like he’s known sadness. I don’t know if it’s because I’ve been through something or if it’s something else.” I picked at my food, not as hungry as I’d been when I arrived.

  “You might be more in tune with that kind of thing. You recognize the pain you’ve experienced in someone else. When I met Cade, he was a widower, and I’d lost my mother at a young age—we had that in common. The difference was that I’d moved on from it a bit. I’d always miss those moments with my mother, like graduation and buying a wedding dress, but Cade lost his wife, his hopes for the future. It was different. He was stuck in the past, unable to move on,” Hadley said.

  “Jonah’s always been this put-together guy. He’s great at football, meeting with fans, he’s quick to work with whatever charity the team’s working with. He doesn’t seem like a guy who’s hiding anything. It’s hard to believe he’s been through something we all missed,” Dylan said.