Sugar

“Ah, right, buddy.” He released the lead and stood watching his dog race to join in.

It wasn’t so bad having a dog. Hell, it wasn’t so bad being social either. As he watched Boscoe, a fluffy Pomeranian rushed past him and Colton tensed up. Glancing behind him, he saw Sugar, but her focus wasn’t on him. It was clear she hadn’t even noticed him.

She was laughing at her dog, but he knew the exact moment she spotted Boscoe. Surprise covered her face as she turned her head, seeking him out. And then their gazes clashed.

God, he loved her eyes. They were this warm brown color.

Dropping his gaze down to her lips, he wanted to feel them pressed to his again. She’d been so soft, tasted so good.

“Colton,” she said.

“Sugar.”

She moved to stand beside him.

He wanted to touch her, to pull her against him and have her close.

He didn’t, though. Staring at their dogs, he watched them play together. They knew how to get along. Why couldn’t he say or do something that would help this situation?

“I didn’t expect you to be here,” she said.

“Boscoe needed a walk and this is the only place I know where to go.” Damn it. He didn’t have a fucking clue what to say and so he stood there by her side, wanting to say a whole lot but unable to come up with anything.

7

Several days later

Sugar’s heart was thundering. She felt her pulse beating rapidly beneath her ear, and her hands shook lightly from her nerves. Beads of sweat dotted the valley between her breasts. She was on edge, the day of the meeting finally here. The day she’d confront Colton and he’d find out who she really was.

Sitting behind her desk, she exhaled slowly, thinking back to the last time she’d seen him at the dog park. It had been tense and uncomfortable, where they stood side-by-side but not speaking. Even days later she still felt his kiss, a tingling on her lips that had her breathing increasing.

“It’s time,” Rebecca said, one of the assistants for today’s meeting.

Sugar nodded and stood, smoothing her hands down her pencil skirt, feeling so damn nervous she could’ve thrown up.

Grabbing the files and making her way down the hallway into the meeting room, with each step she took she felt even more lightheaded. She’d seen how this day went in her head a million different times, all ending with Colton being hurt and upset. But maybe things would be different? Maybe he wouldn’t see her as a liar, but as having been too afraid to say anything?

When she entered the meeting room there was already a handful of colleagues standing around. They were talking about the fine details that would be spoken about at today’s merger discussion.

Sugar set her files down and took a seat. As a communication director, everything went through her before it got to Colton‘s company. That’s why there was the massive hold-up: because she’d dragged her feet. Although they probably could’ve just gone ahead and went through without her. But her standing within the company, the fact she’d been there for long enough to have respect and input in most matters, made her an asset.

She’d worked hard to get to this position.

Sugar kept staring at the clock, watching as the seconds ticked by, waiting for Colton and his team to arrive. Finally, she had to stand up and walk over to the floor-to-ceiling windows, staring down at the city below.

She got lost in the cars moving by, the people walking on the sidewalks. She tried to focus on anything and everything that wasn’t Colton and how she felt, or how today would go.

But it was pointless. He consumed her thoughts.

Sugar didn’t know how long she stood there, but it was when she heard people entering the room that her entire body tensed. Slowly turning around, she stared at the entrance, not seeing Colton yet, but watching as his team stepped in one by one. It was only a matter of time before he walked through, before he spotted her and that shock no doubt would cover his face.

As the seconds moved by, the closer she got to seeing him, the queasier she felt.

And then he stepped in, his focus on the front of the meeting room, his body covered in an expensive suit. He had yet to spot her, but it was clear by his expression that he was ready for this. He was in his zone, every inch the CEO.

His over six foot height and muscular build looked powerful and male, and made every feminine part of her come alive.

And then it was like time stood still as he turned and faced her. Their gazes locked and the air thickened, heated. Although she had no doubt he was probably surprised to see her here, he showed no emotion. His expression was stoic, collected.