Dare to Forgive (The Dare 3)

She attempted to pull free slightly, but he held firm.

“Talk to me. I can help you if you confide in me.”

She shook her head.

“I can’t.”

“You can’t, or you won’t?” he pushed.

“I can’t.”

“Why not?”

“Because you’re a man. Because you’re not even a friend. You’re my boss.”

He shook his head and pulled her close.

“I don’t just want to be your boss or your friend. I want more than that.”

Her eyes widened and she went to pull back but he drew her in closer.

“What are you talking about? Stop fooling around, Will.” She chuckled softly but it was lame. His comment affected her and had her wondering why he said that.

“Adel, look at me. You can’t be so oblivious to the way I feel about you. Come on, even Leo was making certain that Steve wouldn’t get a chance to be alone with you.”

He reached out and cupped her cheek, then ran his thumb along her chin.

“I made certain it would be me here today changing this fan and being the only man in your bedroom.”

“But you’re my boss. Why would you and Leo do that? What kind of game are you playing, Will? I don’t play games.”

He wrapped his arm around her waist and cupped her hair and neck with his other hand and held her gaze. His eyes roamed over her lips and the cleavage of the tank top she wore. “You sure aren’t. You’re special. You’re everything my brothers and I need in our lives and have searched for.”

“Don’t say such things. Quit it, Will.” She tried to push him away but his expression firmed as his eyebrows burrowed.

“You don’t think I’m serious? You haven’t noticed the way Leo looks at you or how jealous Hank gets when Steve or any other male employee talks to you?”

“Your brothers aren’t interested in me, and certainly not Hank. He hardly even

speaks to me.”

He chuckled low. “Hank is so into you he doesn’t even want to admit it out loud. He’ll come around. He has trust issues.” He leaned down as if he might kiss her.

“Don’t, Will. This will make matters worse for me right now.”

“Worse for you how? Is someone bothering you? Threatening you? An ex? Who is he?”

“Please, Will, don’t ask me questions. I’m not going to tell you anything. It’s none of your business. You’re my boss.”

“But I want to be more than that.”

“Why are you doing this? Why me? You can have your choice of any woman you want and so can your brothers. Hell, Will, I’ve cancelled dates for you. I’ve made excuses over the phone for you and your brothers so you could avoid seeing a woman you slept with ever again. How can you expect me to take you serious?”

“That was months ago, besides, we all have different ways of trying to get you out of our heads. Maybe mine was stupid, and I realize that now because no woman, no other person compares to you. What will it take to prove that we’re serious about getting to know you and taking this to the next level?”

She held his gaze. Stared into his hazel eyes and tried to see if he was telling the truth or just being Will, the bachelor, the out-for-a-good-time kind of guy.

He brushed his thumb along her lower lip.