A Clandestine Corporate Affair(35)
“So, you go out to bars often?” he asked.
She set his cup, as well as the sugar bowl and a spoon, on the counter for him. “Not lately, but I’m thinking it’s about time I get back into the game.”
“Which game is that?”
“Dating.”
Was she telling him this to piss him off, or make him jealous? Or was she really that clueless to the feelings he had for her? Was she taking this friendship thing a step too far? Confiding things he really didn’t want to hear?
“You think going to bars is a good place to meet men?” he asked. If she heard the snip in his tone, she chose to ignore it.
She shrugged and said, “I suppose not. I met you at a place like that, and look where it got me.”
She sure knew how to hit below the belt. Way below the belt.
“Not that I would go back and change things even if I could,” she added. “Max is the best thing that ever happened to me.”
“It’s just me you wish you could remove from the equation,” he said.
“That’s not what I meant. My point is, men don’t go to bars looking for long-lasting monogamous relationships. All I have to do is mention I have a son and they practically run screaming in the opposite direction.” She palmed her cup. “Then of course there are the men who would pretend to be Max’s best buddy if it meant getting their hands on my trust fund. For a woman in my position, it’s hard to know who to trust.”
“Maybe until Max gets a little older, it would be better if you just concentrated on taking care of him.”
She laughed, but it came out cold and bitter. “That’s really easy for you to say.”
“How do you figure? Why would you assume it’s any easier for me?”
Clearly he’d hit a nerve. She glared up at him. “You can do whatever you want, when you want, and be with whomever you please. With a baby to care for 24/7, I don’t have that luxury.”
He took a step closer. “For the record, there’s only one woman I want to be with. But she thinks it would be too complicated.”
Her eyes widened slightly and she turned toward the window, gazing out into the darkness. “Please don’t say things like that.”
He stepped up behind her, could feel her shoulders tense as he laid his hands on them. “Why not?”
“Because you know I can’t.”
And he couldn’t stand the idea of her being with anyone but him. He slid his hands down her arms, then back up again. “You don’t want me anymore?”
He knew she did, and maybe it was selfish of him, but he wanted to hear her say it. And maybe…maybe this time things could be different. He couldn’t even recall the last time he’d let his temper get the best of him. Maybe he’d really changed.
“I do want you,” she said softly. “Too much. But I know you’ll just hurt me again.”
“So, you’re finally willing to admit that I actually did hurt you. That’s a start.”
“I think you should leave.”
“I don’t want to.” He eased her hair aside, pressed his lips to the side of her neck. She moaned softly and leaned back, her body molding against his.
“I can’t sleep with you, Nathan.”
He eased her sweater aside and kissed her shoulder. He could feel her melting, giving in. “Who said anything about sleeping?”
“Please don’t do this,” she said, but he could tell she was losing her will to fight him.
“What if things could be different this time? What if I’m different?”
She went very still in his arms, and he knew he’d gotten her attention. “What are you saying, Nathan?”
He turned her so that she was facing him. “I want to be with you, Ana. With you and Max.”
She looked confused, and terrified. And hopeful. “You’re not just saying that to get me into bed, are you?”
“Does that really sound like something I would do?”
She shook her head. “No. But what about work? Your career.”
Good question. “We would have to keep our relationship secret for a while. At least until I’m offered the CEO position. Once I’m under contract, they’ll have a tough time getting rid of me. Besides, it won’t take them long to realize that when it comes to work, my loyalty is to them.”
“How long?”