shoulder. “I’m going to murder you if you tell people that.”
His laughter is everything. It’s my favorite sound. “No, you won’t. You love me too much to murder me.”
“If you tell my parents I was in jail, I will murder you.”
“Your secret is safe with me, mi amor. You are safe with me. Siempre.” Always.
I hug him as tightly as I can from my desk chair.
Apparently, that’s not good enough for him. With his arms wrapped around me, he stands and brings me with him, leaning back against my desk and holding me close to him as he seems to breathe me in. “I told myself I wouldn’t come to you until I knew for sure I was going to be able to work and live here, but I lacked the willpower to stay away after missing you so much.”
“I’m glad you didn’t stay away. I missed you, too. So, so much.”
“I don’t know what’s going to happen with the board. They might say no out of deference to New York. I honestly have no idea how it’s going to play out. All I know is I want to be with you, and if I can’t work here, I’ll find something else.”
“But your research . . .”
“I’ll start over if I have to.”
“I can’t believe you’d do all this for me.”
“Really? You can’t? Do you not have any idea how awesome you are? How smart and funny and sexy and courageous? If you could see yourself through my eyes, you’d have no doubt whatsoever as to why I’m willing to chuck it all so I can be with you.”
“That makes me feel very lucky.”
“We both got lucky the day Mr. Augustino sent you out to babysit me.”
“God, I was so mad that he made me do that. The last thing I wanted to be told to do on the first day of my first real job after years of school was to babysit the new neurosurgeon. And then when you showed up in Priscilla, with Betty riding shotgun, and slipped me a fifty to deal with her . . . You’re lucky I didn’t stab you right then and there.”
He rocks with silent laughter. “I had no idea my life was in danger that morning.”
“Be glad I didn’t have a knife with me.”
“My little hellcat. Just when I think I’ve seen all sides to you, here comes another one.”
“Don’t mess with me.”
“Duly noted. Besides, I’d much rather kiss you.”
I know I should stop this, since I’m at work after all, but I don’t stop it. Rather, I fully participate, wrapping my arms around his neck, opening my mouth to his tongue and rubbing shamelessly against his erection. It’s the best kiss with him yet, because it’s laced with the promise of forever.
“We need to stop before this gets out of hand,” he whispers against my lips.
“It got out of hand about ten minutes ago.”
His low chuckle rumbles against my kiss-swollen lips. “How do you feel about taking sick at work?”
“In general or today?”
“Today in particular.”
“I’m feeling rather lightheaded, short of breath and feverish. My heart is acting up a bit, too.”
He affects a solemn expression as he places one hand on my forehead and the other against the throbbing pulse point in my throat. “I prescribe an afternoon in bed to deal with these worrisome symptoms. Doctor’s orders.”
“If we do this, Mona will never let us forget it.”
“I have a feeling Mona loves a good happy ending as much as the next gal.”
“You want to find out?”
“More than I’ve ever wanted anything.”
“Let’s do it.”
“Oh, we’re going to do it, all right.”
“Jason! Stop. Let me get out of here with a shred of dignity, will you?”
“You might have to go ahead of me. You’ve got me all worked up.”
“I’ve got you worked up? I was in here minding my own business before you showed up.”
“You, ah, might want to fix your hair, and your blouse is all . . .” He rolls his hand as he points to my top, which is indeed askew.
I do the best I can to put myself back together, tucking my black-and-white polka-dot blouse back into black dress pants and running my fingers through my hair to restore order. “Better?”
“Well, no. I like you better when you’re all messed up. But it’ll do to get you out of here with your dignity intact.”
I grab my purse, keys and phone. “Let’s go.”
He follows me out of my office. We catch a lucky break that Mona is away