Boss I Love to Hate: An Office Romance(81)

“Brad?” She stopped mid-stride when she first saw me and then walked toward me until the door shut behind her.

I cleared my throat. I had words, tons of them. I had practiced a speech in the car, making note of every reason she should give us a chance, ticking off reasons we would be good together, but, as I watched her stand there with all the questions in her eyes, my words got lodged in my throat.

And so, I did what I wanted to. My hands threaded through her hair, and I tilted her head back as my mouth descended on hers. When I kissed Sonia, I never wanted to stop. I gave my all in that one kiss. Knowing what she had said earlier about not feeling a thing, this time, I wanted her to feel everything. I poured every single unsaid emotion into that one sweet kiss.

She stiffened at first and then melted into me, and I claimed victory. My free hand held her at the waist, bringing her closer. She tasted divine and smelled of sweet strawberries. I concentrated on her bottom lip at first and then the top, cherishing every bit of her. When her breathing hitched, I remembered we were in front of her house, and her dad had a gun.

Instantly, I pressed my foot on the brakes.

As I stared down at her, everything that I had been afraid of disappeared. I rested my head against hers, framing her face within both hands.

I didn’t use the rehearsed speech that I’d made up in the car, but pure honesty gushed out of me in waves. “I like you, Sonia. I don’t know when it happened or how it happened, but it just did. And I know you’re unsure about me, about a possibility of us. Maybe it’s because you have feelings for your ex, or maybe you’re so afraid to be hurt again. I don’t know, but what I do know is … I’m not giving up on you or us, and I’m going to fight to make you see that we could be great together.” My eyes locked with hers, as I needed her to listen and understand. “Because what I feel for you, I’ve never felt for anyone else.”

I tipped her chin with a gentle flick of my wrist, and then I kissed her again.

When she pulled away from me, there was no sarcastic comeback. She simply stared at me with wonder and confusion and another emotion I could place because I recognized it—fear. Fear of the unknown, fear of our relationship changing. But, for her, I could imagine she was afraid of getting hurt again.

Good thing I didn’t plan on hurting her.

A giggle had us both peering up at the window. Her aunts and sisters and mother were all blatantly hovering behind the curtains.

And the windows were open.

“Get inside!” Sonia yelled, making the crowd scatter like ants. “Good God, is nothing a secret in this family?”

Then, her mother opened the door and popped out her head. “Brad, are you staying for dinner?”

I loosened my grasp on Sonia. “I’m sorry. I really should get going.” I’d already embarrassed myself, and I wanted to give Sonia time to think over everything I’d said.

But then Sonia dropped her hand to mine and threaded our fingers together, smiling sweetly, and she uttered one word that made my evening, “Stay.”

The one word was a plea and my answer.

There was no way I could say no.





Sonia

“I can’t believe she’s been throwing darts at your face.” Rosa held her stomach, laughing.

We were seated at the dining room table, and Brad was ripping into me, reminding me of how much I’d hated him at one time. Fast-forward to today, and my whole face blushed as I recalled the way he’d kissed me on my parents’ front porch.

It was difficult not to be jealous of him as I watched him win everyone over. Brad could fit anywhere, compel an audience, successfully lead a meeting, and now, at my family dinner, he was the life of the party. Even my father’s lips tipped up in a small smile. If Brad hadn’t completely won him over yet, he was on his way.

“She could have at least gotten a better picture,” Brad chided, as if I’d been concerned about how handsome he was when I was releasing all my fury.

I scoffed, “Please, I made the picture better.” I picked at the last of the broccoli on my plate. Being so close to him and seeing him win over my family did weird things to me. It warmed my heart, but more than that, it turned me on.

Brad’s plate was spotless. He’d eaten like a pro, vegetables and rice and chicken. Judging by my mom’s beaming face, she was a Brad lover.

But she’d loved Jeff, too.

My heart seized, and I wrapped my arms around my stomach. I’d been here before. Right at this dining room table with all my family gathered. The only difference was the man next to me.

I dropped my gaze to the few broccoli florets on my plate, worried. Was I repeating history? I’d thought Jeff was a sure thing, and look how that had turned out. Brad was even less predictable and not long-term relationship material. If someone had asked me a year ago who would be marriage material, Jeff would’ve been my answer without hesitation. Guess I’d have been wrong there.

So, now, was I judging Brad without giving him a chance? Could we be good together? Could we possibly work?

I was confused as hell and still reeling over that kiss. I’d never met a man who had perfected the art of kissing as much as Brad had. I was sure he’d had lots of practice before me. Still, his kisses were unforgettable. I’d had to take a long, cold shower after he left my apartment the other night, and it had taken all my energy to pretend like that kiss hadn’t affected me when it affected every part of me, the hot parts that wanted more.