Giving My All to You

Forty-five minutes later, they returned with meals from an Italian restaurant. He unloaded their pasta dishes at her small table while she got glasses from the cabinet for the lemonade. During the meal, Brandon tried his best not to think about kissing her, but watching her lips close around the fork and her tongue dart out to catch the sauce in the corner of her mouth had him so aroused he could barely eat. To distract himself, he said, “Tell me about your business.”

Faith took a sip of her lemonade before speaking. “It actually started as a favor for a friend of mine who had a newly launched catering business. She wasn’t happy with the person she had hired, didn’t like the color scheme and the site wasn’t user-friendly. This person stopped returning her calls and never made the requested changes, so she asked me to help her. I had so much fun. It just sort of snowballed from there. At the time, I worked as an assistant manager in a small software company.”

“So you just quit?”

“Oh, no. I worked there another two years and did the website design program before striking out on my own. It’s been just over a year and I’ve enjoyed every minute.”

Brandon was impressed. She had done a lot in a short amount of time. “Do you plan to have a team of designers eventually?”

“I don’t know. What I’d really like to do is offer classes to teens so they can gain entrepreneurship skills early on.”

“That sounds like a great idea.” He also thought it might be something to start at his company. If it ever became his.

“You told me you worked at a home safety company, but not exactly what you do. Although, with how bossy you are, I’d guess you’re in some management position,” Faith added with a smile.

He chuckled. “You’re right, but I started at the bottom and worked my way up. We design and manufacture accessible equipment like shower rails and custom ramps.”

“That’s fantastic. How long have you been a manager?”

“Three years.” Not wanting to talk about himself anymore, Brandon quickly shifted the conversation back to Faith. “Tell me more about this entrepreneurship idea you have.”

She continued to share her plans, even after they had finished dinner. She spoke with such passion and enthusiasm he couldn’t help but get caught up in her excitement. He watched the way her lips moved, fantasizing.

“I’m sorry. I’ve been going on and on. I didn’t mean to bore you. I get a little excited when talking about my sites.”

“You’re not boring me.”

“Are you sure? It looked like you were a million miles away. What were you thinking about?”

“Do you really want to know?” Brandon stood, rounded the table and gently pulled her to her feet. “This.” He bent and covered her mouth in a heated kiss. The contact sent a sharp jolt to his groin. He slid an arm around her waist and pulled her closer, deepening the kiss. On the edge of losing control, he eased back.

“We need to slow down,” Faith said, her breathing uneven. “I didn’t come here for this. Only to meet my father.”

“I know.”

“It doesn’t make sense to start something we know won’t last.”

“I agree, but it seems this something is beyond our control. How about a compromise?” he asked when she nodded. He placed kisses along her jaw and the curve of her neck.

“What kind?” she murmured.

“We see each other for the duration of your visit. Whatever we have ends when you leave.” He wasn’t looking for a commitment and he assumed she didn’t want one, either.

“So, another couple of weeks or so.”

“Yes.”

She paused briefly, seemingly thinking over his offer. Then she nodded. “Okay.”

He smiled and slanted his mouth over hers again. Two weeks wouldn’t be nearly enough time to get her out of his system, but he’d take it.

CHAPTER 6

Tuesday, Brandon sat in his office making notes for the staff meeting later that morning. He thought more about having internships and learning modules for students and liked it. He jotted down all the areas of potential training and smiled. Faith had a brilliant idea. Faith. He leaned back in his chair and pondered their agreement. He had hoped for more than just two weeks with her and wanted her to stay awhile longer. Maybe if things worked out with her father, she’d reconsider.