“Oh.” That seemed to throw her off, as though she never would have considered it. “But you are rich. And I’m not.”
“How is that any kind of reason not to take you out?”
“I don’t know. But it’s not going to happen. Ever. You’re my boss and that’s completely out of line. It would be totally cliché. A boss. His admin assistant.”
“But that kiss-”
“Was ridiculous. It never should have happened. I’m sorry. I really overstepped.”
She really didn’t remember what happened. He did. He’d taken the lead. Probably because he also had far too many drinks, but also because he realized, at that moment, that he really wanted to kiss her and if he didn’t he’d spend a significant amount of time regretting it. I might as well take advantage of it.
“You did overstep. So, I’m going to demand you go out on a date with me or I’m going to file a complaint with HR.”
“Are you kidding me?”
“Not at all.” He barely managed to keep a straight face.
“In that case, I’ll file a counter-complaint. For blackmail. For forcing me on a date. I’ll say you’ve been harassing me and that the kiss was you.”
“Oh really?” He raised a brow and shot her what he hoped was an intimidating look. She didn’t back down, and damn, it was sexy to see her eyes blazing like they were. Her lips were set in a determined line. One he very much wanted to kiss again. They’d soften under his mouth. He knew they would.
“Really.”
They remained like that, locked in a silent impasse, for the next few minutes. He knew he’d lost, but he had other tricks up his sleeve.
“Fine,” he said casually. He could tell she was surprised at his easy capitulation. “Fine. You win. You called my bluff. I really wasn’t going to write you up. But I’ll admit that you have my attention now. I’m not going to harass you or act unprofessionally. That’s not who I am. I would never bother you if I thought the attention was unwanted. Just tell me to leave you alone and I will. Tell me honestly that you don’t want to go on a date with me and I’ll leave it at that. The kiss that happened but was never supposed to happen.”
Callie stared at him, lips drawn into an even harder line. Her sweet jawline was clenched so hard he saw a muscle jump below, in the delicate column of her neck.
“So that’s how this is going to be.”
“No. I just want to know. Have you stopped thinking about it? Do you wish it didn’t happen? Now that you know it was me…”
“It doesn’t matter if it was you or someone else. The result is the same. It was a mistake.”
“It might have been but tell me honestly you don’t want to go out with me.” He could be charming when he wanted to be, and he flashed her a smile. He waited. And waited. And he knew the exact second she was going to give in.
“I don’t want to go out with you,” she snapped. “You’re my boss. It’s wrong.”
“Why?”
“I’ve already given you a list of reasons.”
“But the company doesn’t have a no dating policy. No one would have to know anyway. And as for the reasons about money- those aren’t reasons. At least not valid ones, in my books.”
“It wouldn’t be an equal distribution of power. You’re my boss.”
“I don’t care about that. I’m not your boss outside of work. And I’ve never once viewed people who work with me as being below me on any kind of level.”
It was true. People always said he was a good manager and a good boss because he was fair and treated people with respect. He was charming and had a magnetic quality that got him far in business. Unfortunately, it hadn’t got him quite so far in his personal life. Friends and family yes, romance, not so much.
“Still. It’s not right.”
“Says who?”
“Says me.”
He crossed his arms slowly. “So, you’ve forgotten all about that kiss. It meant nothing.”
“It meant-” She was too honest to lie, and he could tell, from the faint blush that crept back into her face, that he’d won.
He shot her a triumphant smile and she scowled back. “So, you did like it.”
“I’m- my god, this is so beyond inappropriate right now.”
“It might be but let me take you out. Just once.”
“Why? What’s the point if it’s just once. I know it’s not going to be just once.”
Because I want to kiss you again. I want to see if I feel the same way, if it- whatever it was, happens again. He could hardly say that, so he shrugged. “Alright. I just thought it would make things less awkward.”
“That would make everything worse.”
He leveled her with a direct look, and he could have sworn she squirmed a little. “What’s so wrong with just going out for one night?” He suddenly had the feeling that Callie never went out. Not with him. Not with anyone. He took a chance. “What’s wrong with just living a little?”