Happily Ever After Collection - Melanie Moreland Page 0,33
frowned. I didn’t have a lot of money to spend. “Anything? Like what anything?”
“Food, massages, foot rubs—” he lowered his mouth to my ear “—anything sexually…”
I swallowed, the words popping out of my mouth before I could stop them. “Could I tie you up?”
His eyebrows shot up high, and his eyes darkened. “If that’s what you want.” He brushed his lips over mine. “Maybe I’ll tie you up.”
Heat tore through me.
His tongue traced my bottom lip. “Maybe, even if I win, I’ll let you tie me up. Like a freebie. Or maybe that will be my prize.”
“Oh.”
His mouth covered mine in a long, passionate kiss. Vaguely, I was aware other cars had pulled into the lot and his staff were walking past us, but I didn’t care. They were used to his displays of affection.
He stepped back, his eyes hooded and his chest heaving.
“This is gonna be a great week.”
“You haven’t won yet.”
He winked. “I already have.”
After another long, passionate kiss and my promises of making up for falling asleep last night, he sent me off to school. His warm eyes were gentle as he leaned into my window, and I whispered I loved him. He still liked hearing me say it.
“I’ll see you at home, my love.”
Lila’s voice bade me to enter, so I stepped inside, clutching my backpack of books and the snack from Gerard. She looked up from the mess that was her desk and grinned at me.
Beamed, more like it. The same wide, bright smile Gerard wore this morning. She looked…blissful.
Oh God—was Byron right?
Sitting on the only neat spot on her desk was a huge vase of flowers. Roses, carnations, and orchids overflowed the vase, their fragrance filling the office.
I leaned forward and smelled them. “They’re beautiful!”
Lila giggled, sounding like a young girl. “I know. He’s too much.”
I set down my bag. “You had a good time?” I asked cautiously. I was still getting to know her, and I didn’t want to cross any lines.
“Wonderful! My God, can your Byron cook!”
I nodded proudly. “He’s amazing.”
“And Gerard,” she gushed. “He is just so…so…yummy!”
I laughed. “I saw him this morning when Byron drove me to get my car. I think he feels the same way about you.”
“It was such a great night. Thank you.”
I shrugged. “The two of you hit it off so well—I thought you’d be perfect for each other.”
She nodded. “Almost.”
“Almost?”
She waved her hand around. “He’s such a neat freak. I’m afraid when he sees what chaos I surround myself in, he might run. His place is immaculate.”
My throat became dry. She’d seen his place? Was she there all night? I couldn’t ask her that question. It was too personal.
Her voice interrupted my thoughts. “Okay, we need to go over some notes. Did you need to get something to eat?”
I shook my head. “No, I have something.”
“Me too!”
I leaned over and pulled my bag from my backpack, freezing when I saw Lila open the same sort of bag. When she pulled out the exact same container as mine and opened it, I knew without looking, it would contain chicken and asparagus roll-ups. Freshly made and packed by Gerard.
Her eyes widened when she saw my container. “Gerard dropped this off after he made it at the restaurant earlier,” she murmured, the tips of her ears turning red.
“He gave me mine this morning. He said he made it at home.” I paused. “In the night—when he was hungry.”
For a minute, she said nothing, then she started to laugh. “Busted.”
I gaped at her. “Lila!”
She giggled as she lifted a roll from the container. “What can I say? The man has moves.” She heaved a huge, shuddering sigh. “So many, many moves.”
She took a bite out of her sandwich and winked. “And then he fed me. It was the perfect night, Julia. I look forward to many more.”
My mouth opened and closed, no words coming out.
Those were my thoughts—about Byron.
She now had the same thing I did. A great guy…great sex…great food.
Knowing Gerard, he was the same as Byron. If they had already progressed to that step…he was all-in.
Byron was right. I’d never live it down. And now I was at his mercy for an entire week.
God only knew what he’d think up.
Deciding to get it over with, I picked up my phone and texted him.
Julia: You won.
My phone chirped a few seconds later.
Byron: I know. He was far too smug all day. I finally got it out of him.