too. Holy crap, the challenge in resistance he thought he’d been experiencing before was nothing compared to the challenge he’d be facing from here on.
Chapter 18
Danica
Ever since Orlando had told Danica he’d broken things off with Felicia, and since she’d come clean about her felony, she had this enormous sense of relief. She was thankful that she didn’t have to worry about getting the boot because of a jealous girlfriend or if her secret about her past ever surfaced. The day Felicia had showed up, Danica and Orlando had been in the apartment alone. She’d been terrified of what their conversation might’ve been about when she walked out. It’s why she’d been waiting and timed her fake conversation with Ted for Felicia’s sake. As bad as she was about lying to Orlando, she’d at least not have to lie about her fake relationship anymore. Though she knew she was still hiding something much more significant. Of course, she’d been close to coming clean about even that as well, more than once now. It was only her desperate fear of being thrown out on her ass and never being able to see the baby again that had kept her from spilling her guts each time. Except now she had a new even bigger fear.
Knowing Orlando wasn’t in a relationship anymore had upped what she’d begun to feel for him. She kept reminding herself of his reason for preferring to not be in one—he didn’t have time. He’d made that perfectly clear to Felicia and then reiterated it to Danica more than once now that it’s why he wasn’t even answering the girl’s calls anymore. More important still, Danica should not, could not, consider even the slightest flirtation with him. It’d be all too easy, especially considering the number of times she’d been caught in those eyes. Technically, he’d have time for Danica since they literally spent so much time together anyway. But he’d also made it clear he hadn’t been looking for anything serious, even when he’d first met Felicia, and that was long before the baby came into his life. Clearly, a guy like Orlando could have his pick of any girl he wanted without having to commit to anything. “Did anyone call from OSHA yet?” Orlando asked as he walked into the lobby of the shop.
“They did.” Danica glanced around for the paper where she’d jotted down what they said. “They’re sending someone today.” She found her notes just as he came around the counter and leaned in to open a drawer. He grabbed a folder out of a drawer as she turned. “Ms. Portillo . . .” She paused when she realized his face was just inches from hers, and he gazed deeply into her eyes. And then it happened, just as it’d happened a few times now. His eyes were on her lips, and her heart thudded in reaction. He was so close she could smell and feel the warmth of his minty breath. His licking his lips had her eyes dropping to them as they inched in closer to each other.
“Of course he’d say that!” Nine’s loud voice as he walked into the lobby interrupted the heart-stopping moment, and Orlando stood up from his bent over position. “That’s bullshit.” Nine pointed at his phone, shaking his head at Orlando as he continued talking into it and walked past them to the computer room.
Clearing her throat, Danica went back to her notes. “They, uh, said Ms. Portillo should be here at one. She glanced at her watch and saw it was just after one. “But he did say she might be running a little late because she has another stop to make across town first.”
“Good.” Orlando glanced around the lobby and toward the shop. “We need to get this thing moving already. It’s gonna be a big job to get this wall down so we can expand into the shop next door. But we need the okay from OSHA to start with the construction. She’s here to go over the plans and make sure they’re up to par and make sure we’ve ensured the safety of all the employees while all the hard hat work will be going on. So, once they okay them, it’s on.”
“You excited?” she asked, smiling and trying to shake off the moment she wasn’t even sure if she’d imagined.
“Yeah, I—”
The shop door opening and the woman who started in interrupted his response. “Hello,” she said as she entered then glanced down at