'Paige. Hey.'
I'd tried to time my 'entrance' just right, grateful nobody else was coming in or out of the building so they couldn't
see me lurking by the front door trying to catch a glimpse
of the elevators. I'd managed to linger long enough I was
the only person in the lobby just as Eric came out of the
elevator. He looked around and lit up when he saw me.
Relief, maybe. Gratitude.
I wanted it to be desire.
'Eric. Hi.' I'm no actress, so I didn't bother pretending I wasn't happy to see him. 'What's up?'
'Oh, just…' He didn't quite stammer, but he did trail off
with a shrug and a smile. 'I have the night off. Couldn't
sleep.'
I looked at the big clock on the wal opposite the fireplace.
'It's only eleven-thirty. It's stil early.'
'Yeah. Wel, I have to work early, so I was trying to be
good.'
I'd never been afraid to go after what I wanted, and I'd
decided I wanted him. 'Were you?'
I watched his throat convulse as he swalowed, and I
drank in the sudden gleam from his gaze. I knew what he'd
been told to do, but now I was watching it happen and my
body reacted. My nipples went tight and I sighed silently at
the friction of my panties against me.
'I was trying,' he said.
Flirting is a dance, even when you're standing stil.
'But not succeeding?'
His smal smile caled my attention to his perfectly ful
lower lip. 'I guess not.'
'Bad boy.' I didn't coo or purr the words. I didn't have to.
Eric's dark eyes flashed. 'I guess I am.'
The difference in how he looked at me was subtle, but I'd
been watching for it. I knew what he was supposed to do
and wondered how he meant to do it. But just then I also
and wondered how he meant to do it. But just then I also
wished I hadn't pushed him toward it. Me.
'Wel, it's late,' I said to tease. 'I'd better go upstairs. I'm starving.'
Eric dogged my steps toward the elevator. 'What are you
hungry for?'
I let his question turn me. 'Ice-cream sundaes.'
'I have ice cream. And hot fudge. And I even have those
disgusting cherries.'
I smiled at the good luck. 'Yeah?'
'Yeah.' Eric nodded slowly, his glance going over my
shoulder when the elevator doors opened. 'Want to come
up to my place? I'l make you one.'
I back-stepped toward the elevator and he folowed as
though I puled him on a string. Or a leash. 'Now, why
would I do that?'
'Because ice cream's more fun when eaten in pairs?'
