Off Limits Read Online Free PDF Page A

biceps visible even through the shirt, and when he’d turned away to leave my room earlier I hadn’t been able to stop myself from looking at his muscled ass and big thighs.
    There was a physical type I was attracted to and he was it. And I felt terribly guilty thinking that, becauseJon had a great body too, naturally lean and well proportioned. And anyway, physical attraction was overrated. There had to be more than that for a relationship to work.
    Says the girl who’s never really had a relationship.
    All the silent words swirled between us.
    “I’ll probably stay working there awhile longer,” I continued. “To get some experience. I don’t have to decide anything right away.”
    “You’ve been with them, what…a year and a half?”
    “About that.”
    “Does Jon know you’re not happy?”
    “Yeah, I talk to him about it. He doesn’t really get it, though. He just thinks I’m new to the business world and I need to learn how things work. Which could be true.”
    “I guess. But what you were saying sounds like pretty fundamental differences.”
    I eyed him. He got it. “True. But maybe I’m allbright-eyed newbie with crazy unrealistic expectations.” I smiled. “They’ll beat all that out of me soon enough.”
    He frowned. “I don’t know much about the business world, but I don’t think that should have to happen. They should be taking advantage of your enthusiasm and creativity.”
    I tilted my head. “Aw, thank you, Andrew.”
    “Here I thought you were working at your dream job in the big city,ready to move up the corporate ladder and take over.”
    I laughed. “That might not happen for a while. And it’s not as if I’m totally miserable. I work with some good people. I probably just do have unrealistic expectations.”
    His support meant so much to me.
    I sighed and looked down at the ornament I still held. “Are you going to come to the Fat Badger tonight?”
    “Yeah, sure. It’ll be good tosee people. Though I do see some folks when I’m back in the summer.” He stuffed another string of dead lights into the trash bag, then tied it closed.
    I nodded. “Oh hey, while Mom’s away I need to get my iPad hooked up to her speakers. We can’t listen to Boney M. all day.”
    Andrew laughed as I rushed to find my purse. He had the greatest laugh, a delicious, low rumble.
    I returned a moment laterand frowned at the speakers. “I don’t know if this is gonna work.”
    “Here, let’s see.” He took my iPad. “I don’t know if this stereo has the right input.”
    “Well darn.”
    “No worries. I’ll get my docking station. I leave it here in my room. Hang on.”
    He disappeared and thudded down the stairs to the basement. When he’d moved in, he’d taken the extra bedroom down there as his and I guess he stillstayed there when he came home to visit. He came back with the docking station and a minute later the strains of Ariana Grande singing “Santa Tell Me” filled the room.
    “Thank you!” I clapped my hands together and bounced on my toes. I resisted the urge to hug him.
    “No problem.”
    Our eyes met again and it was so hard to look away. His eyes darkened and his mouth softened and I saw the affectionon his face.
    Affection was all I’d ever get from him.
    I swallowed and turned. “Let’s organize these things so we can start when they arrive with the lights.”
    I hummed and bopped a little to the pop music Christmas playlist I’d put together. I loved music and dancing, and skating, which had led me to combine them all in figure skating as a kid. Then I spotted a small shopping bag with a boxin it. I squealed as I tore it open. “Candy canes!”
    Andrew shook his head but smiled. “You’re like a little kid.”
    “You only get these once a year and I love ’em.” I peeled the cellophane off one and popped the end in my mouth. “Mmm.”
    Andrew’s gaze dropped to my mouth, puckered around the candy stick and sucking. A wave of heat washed down through me