Bargaining with the Bride (Honeybrook Love, Inc. 1)

It would have been such a help if he would only freaking sit down. If he'd just, she didn't know, act normal for once. He'd been so normal at dinner and when they'd gone shopping, but whenever they were alone, it was like something flipped in him. Like he was all steely business.

Or, at least, that how it had been every time except last night.

Then he'd been hard and soft all at once. Compassionate and passionate. And so strong...

"I think there's a matter that we need to discuss." As if he'd read her mind, he finally took a seat across from her.

Okay, that was something. Common ground.

She cleared her throat, "I assume you're referring to our copulation." She'd said it in her best scientific voice, but he broke out into laughter.

"Exactly." He nodded.

"Look, uh, I understand if you'd rather not. I could see where it might mess up your statistics and stuff and I know there's a lot going on with me and—"

"That's not at all what I was going to say," he was so sincere when he spoke that it made her heart beat a little faster.

"You...weren't?"

"No. I was going to say that last night was the best night of my life. Of course, I'm your boss and I want you to know that if you'd rather not continue, I would understand."

She couldn't be hearing him right. This was straight-laced cut-to-the-chase Garret telling her that he wanted to fuck her five ways from Sunday? And, okay, it might have been a little more shocking if he'd phrased it that way, but she knew what he meant.

"What does this mean for your experiment?"

"I see no reason why we can't continue."

"And what about work?"

"What about it? I wanted to have sex with you before, I see no reason for my action to change now that I have."

She nearly choked on her coffee, "You what?"

"Come on, don't tell me you didn't know."

"That's exactly what I'm telling you."

"And Natalie never said anything about it?"

"Who listens to Natalie?" She spluttered, trying to find that last part of her mind that might be able to think straight. "So, had you been planning this for a long time? Like, did you do this whole thing to get close to me?"

"No, that would be insane."

"Says the man who moved into my house without telling me. And just left in the middle of a make-out session. And—"

"I get the point. But no, that's not why I did this. I did this because you're my friend and valued employee. The fact that I did nothing about how much I wanted to pull your tight skirts up to your waist had to do with your relationship status, not anything else."

Her thighs ached at the thought of his touched her. Bending her over her desk in the office. Or over his and fucking her while they both stared out his huge, glass wall, panting and trying their hardest not to scream.

Suddenly, she was all too aware of the heat spreading through her cheeks. She swallowed hard.

"Okay." God, it sounded dumb. So dumb that she wanted to run somewhere and hide.

"I should mention that now that you're single, I don't feel inclined to remain so restrained."

"No?" Was it her or was the air getting thinner in the room? Harder to breathe?

"And I should also mention that I know you're attracted to me."