Tempted

Drew: What hiccup?

Cal: It was more of a personal hiccup. It’s all good.

Hopefully, Harper got smart and tossed his ass out.

Drew: You better hope it’s only personal. Did everyone at the holding company agree to the sale?

Cal: . . .

I see the dots, signaling he’s typing. They start and then they stop. Not good. What I want to fucking see is that everyone’s on board. The length of time it’s taking to say something so damn simple is alarming.

Drew: Make this happen, Cal. If not, you’ll be making room in that swanky apartment of yours for your future sister-in-law.

I threaten Bailey’s job, but I’d never follow through with it. The job might’ve been offered to her because of Cal, but not anymore. Regardless of this acquisition, Bailey’s position is safe. I’d never doom her to that fate.

Cal: I told you. It’s fine. I’ll be in touch.

With that settled, I put my phone down and pull out the stack of proposals from all the architects competing for the job. It feels like hours go by as I sort through the overpriced bids, finally settling on one. It’s not the cheapest, but I believe it’s the best option.

I ring the winner, checking one thing off my list.

Thirty minutes later, the alarm chimes, signaling someone’s here. I make my way downstairs to see who’s in my club and stop short when I see Bailey, leaning over the bar, laughing at something on the floor on the other side.

This might be the first time I’ve seen her so carefree and laid-back. It’s a sight to behold. At this moment, no ghosts from the past linger in the shadows. It’s simply Bailey. Beautiful, relaxed Bailey. I’m fucked.

“Hurry up. I’m running late,” she calls to who I can only assume is Carter on the other side.

“I can’t find it,” his voice calls back, confirming it’s, in fact, Carter.

His head pops up with a goofy grin plastered across his face, and I want to smack it off. Why does he make her like this? What’s so damn special about Carter Cass that every fucking woman in New York caves at his smile? More importantly, why do I fucking care?

“I’m going to check in the back. I probably left it in the stockroom. Be back.”

“Hurry your ass up,” she calls, laughing all the while.

I could sit here in the shadows and watch the woman driving me crazy.

Without a second thought, I step up behind her. I must startle her because she steps back and squeaks when her body becomes flush against my chest. “What are you doing here, Bailey?”

She slowly turns so that we’re face-to-face. Her cheeks are stained pink, and her lips are parted. Her tongue darts out, tracing a line across her bottom lip. It’s nothing like the way Monica would do such things to elicit a reaction from men. This is innocent. All Bailey.

Our gaze is locked. We’re so close I can practically feel her breath.

There is an electric energy coursing between us. A current I can’t comprehend. I want to cross the distance, but I know I shouldn’t.

I can’t go there with her.

“Drew . . . I—” She shakes her head as if to pull herself together. “I’m here with Carter. He left his tip bag here, and we’re heading out to shop. I still need to get my dress.” She lowers her head as if embarrassed.

Before I know what I’m doing, my hand goes to her chin, and I tilt her head so she’s looking into my eyes. She inhales, biting her lip.

I take a step closer so that our mouths are mere inches apart. It would be so easy to touch her, to kiss her right now, but I know I can’t, so I take a step back, putting much-needed distance between us.

Bailey’s eyes remain wide, and she doesn’t stop staring at me. She’s flustered and worked up.

So am I.

But I’m doing the right thing for both of us.

“Ready, Bae?” Carter says, coming around the corner, stopping when he sees us in our stare off. “Um . . . everything okay?”

Never taking my eyes off Bailey, I say, “Have fun shopping.”

With that, I turn and walk back to my office, adjusting myself the entire way.

Whatever the fuck that was, I’ll need a cold-ass shower if I want to get anything accomplished the rest of the day. Bailey is doing things to me that nobody has in a very long time, simply by being in the same room as me. I’m not sure this arrangement is a good idea, but fuck if I’m going to change anything.

19

Bailey

My body is still quaking from Drew’s proximity earlier. The intense stare, the way he looked at me . . . I’ve never in my life wanted to kiss someone so badly. And that scares the hell out of me for so many reasons. I’m lost in thought, fingering the money Drew had given me earlier, when Carter’s voice breaks through my wayward thoughts.