Inspired by Night: - a sexy new age romance Read Online Free PDF Page B

with the moment and sink into his arms. I took a deep breath and using all the resistance I could muster, I stepped away from him and refilled my glass with water. I searched his face as I drank it down slowly, deliberately stalling before I had to speak. His face betrayed no feeling of disappointment or rejection. He was smiling, the confidence of youth, I suppose. Perhaps in his mind it was a foregone conclusion that something would happen, but what? What was he expecting, a one night stand with his boss? A relationship?
    I wiped the back of my hand across my mouth and took a slow deep breath.
    ‘It’s not just your age. I’m your boss, I hardly know you yet – how do I know you’re not angling for a sexual harassment suit, to put me out of business and skip off with all my clients?’
    He stared at me, his confident air visibly shaken. I don’t think I’d hit a nerve; he was genuinely shocked at my suspicion. I felt guilty.
    ‘I’m just saying, we haven’t known each other long enough to be more than just work colleagues yet,’ I explained.
    ‘If I didn’t work for you, if you had just met me tonight and everything that followed still happened, would you be kissing me right now?’
    Yes! My shoulder sagged and I sighed. I closed my eyes and covered my mouth with my hand before nodding my head. I heard him exhale and opened my eyes, regarding him sadly. I felt bad, had I offended him? Was he upset? Was Monday morning going to be the most awkward day in the history of office experiences? He looked like he wanted to say something but changed his mind, shrugging instead.
    ‘Thanks for tonight, I owe you one. Can you call me a cab?’
    I nodded and picked up the phone, relieved he was leaving. I wanted to think over all his comments and everything I’d learned about him. I was feeling confused about Steven; one minute he was annoying me, the next he was making me laugh. He was too young and yet he always behaved older. I fought an urge to reach over and run my fingers through his hair.
    ‘Ten minutes,’ I told him as I settled down next to him again on the sofa, the moment long past when I feared he might kiss me. Did I want him to kiss me? Maybe . No, my explanation was valid, not that I’d thought about it before I said it, it just came to mind in the moment, but it was a worry all the same. I wanted to get back to the easy conversation we were enjoying before all this. I didn’t want him leaving in a bad mood, worrying about facing each other at work on Monday.
    ‘So why don’t you take Melissa to your place and let her see your true nerd? Maybe that will put her off once and for all,’ I suggested.
    He contemplated my suggestion but dismissed it.
    ‘I don’t think she cares about talking. I think she wants the arm candy.’ He grimaced and shook his head. ‘I can’t believe I’d even qualify as arm candy. It’s bad enough that The Doctor became a poster pin-up, but since when did nerds become sexy?’
    ‘Nerds have always been sexy. Just because the non-nerds have only just realised it doesn’t mean we weren’t all aware of it already.’
    He clinked his bottle against mine.
    ‘You are so right!’ He grinned. ‘So I assume you’re partial to a nerd yourself then? Come on, Ols, what’s your story, what do you go for?’ I felt my cheeks flush and he laughed. ‘Come on, I won’t tease you. I promise.’ I shook my head and he was distracted by a car horn beeping outside.
    ‘Ah your taxi awaits. Do you want me to go sweep the perimeter, make sure she didn’t track us here?’ I offered.
    Steven laughed and shook his head, following me to the door. We descended the stairs and I held open the door to the street, waving at the taxi to let him know we were there. Steven threw his arms round me and squeezed me.
    ‘Thanks for tonight, Olly, and thanks for hiring me.’ He walked backwards down the path, pointing at me. ‘Best. Boss. Ever!’ He grinned, ‘Oh and I will find out who your