A Moment Like You (The Baker’s Creek Billionaire Brothers #2) - Claudia Burgoa Page 0,38
strong arms and just let myself feel because damn if I didn’t miss this asshole. We’ve never been far from each other for so long, but that doesn’t mean that I should take his shit or let him kiss me senseless.
“Our relationship is purely professional, and I detest you too much to…to—”
“Let me fuck you?” he asks amused.
“We’ll keep our relationship strictly professional,” I demand.
He nods. “I’d lie if I say that I wasn’t anticipating this reaction. You’re going to make me work for it, and it’s understandable after my behavior.”
“What are you talking about?”
He walks toward the coffee table where his laptop is, shuts it, and grins. “I wouldn’t expect anything less from you. I won’t try to kiss you again because as I said before, I won’t force you to accept me. But the next time you’ll be begging me for it.”
“Keep waiting,” I say as he walks out of the house.
He turns around and says, “It won’t take long. You missed me just as much as I did you. By the way, we’re having dinner at your parents’.”
I stare at him, shocked.
Fifteen
Sophia
After a delayed reaction, I march outside the house to confront him. Those damn kisses shut my brain down. I should’ve said more. He is crazy if he thinks I’m going to fall into this game, but I spot my friends walking toward me. Leyla is carrying Arden, Mills’ son, in her arms.
“So-so,” Arden says when he sees me and extends his arms toward me.
“Hey, handsome,” I greet him, giving him a big hug. “Were you visiting the chickens?”
He nods and rests his head on my shoulder.
“He’s tired,” Leyla announces. “We’ve been chasing chickens, feeding the animals, and walking around town. Not in that order.”
“Where is Mills?”
“Working at The Lodge,” Blaire informs me.
“Let’s go inside,” Leyla suggests. “This little one needs a snack and a long nap.”
She takes him away from me and marches toward the house.
“Welcome home!” Blaire hugs me. “I shouldn’t be happy, but… I mean you get a house, and we can spend time there without these men who drive me crazy.”
“This isn’t home to me,” I complain.
“At least for the next year or so,” she reminds me. “It’s not ideal, but look at the bright side. We’re together, and you won’t be missing anything. Now, you’re part of this crazy show.”
“I had a plan, and he destroyed it,” I say sadly, but I’m not sure if it’s because once again he’s setting me back in my career, or because I wish I was in his arms.
God, the way he just kissed me. I won’t be begging for more, but…what if I trick him into giving me one last kiss?
Instead of entering the house, we sit on the porch swing. It’s nice enough outside, and I can’t speak freely in front of Arden.
“You’re not working today, doc?”
“I took the afternoon off,” she says. “I want to make sure you are okay. This can’t be easy for you.”
“Five new executive positions are still open, and I can’t take any of them,” I complain. “What do I need to do to show him that I’m capable of a lot more?”
“You do a lot more, Soph, and I think he knows it,” she assures me. “If you’re unhappy, you should just quit. You are like family to us. We will help you.”
“Do you know I can’t work in hospitality for five years after I quit?”
She stares at me. “Is that even legal?”
“Yeah, a non-compete clause is pretty standard when you handle sensitive information like I do.”
“Well, then get started on that factory. With the experience from that place you can then get a job in something else.”
“That’s what I’ve been planning on doing. I already registered for some culinary classes down in Portland. Dad might teach me a trick or two, too.”
“Why would you need that?”
“So we can create new ice cream flavors, truffles, and other treats. I figure that I need to train my palate and learn about desserts before we start experimenting.”
Blaire was going to help me with that but with her pregnancy, she can’t tolerate many sugary treats which is ironic because she loves her sweets and usually eats dessert before dinner.
“You can pay people to do that for you or wait until the baby is born,” she suggests.
“That’s a long time from now, and what if you never recover your sweet tooth?” I ask and she growls in despair. “Listen, Mom always says that if you want something done right, you need