“Is Chase still here?” Her voice was low and husky. Her perfume wafted in waves of floral scent to Natalie.
“I don’t-”
“I’m here, Alexis.” His voice was directly behind Natalie.
Her heart slammed against her chest. She’d almost made it. Alexis swept through the door, brushed past Natalie and wrapped her arms around Chase.
“Darling.” She kissed the air next to his cheeks. “I was so glad you called.”
Natalie tried to fade into the wall and slowly slide toward the open door.
“Natalie.” His voice was stern as if she’d done something wrong. Sure she’d tried to sneak out before he had a chance to walk her out, but he obviously had his hands full now.
“Yes?” Natalie didn’t dare turn around and watch the blonde pressing her over-endowed body into his.
“Wait here for a minute.” His words were directed at Natalie and he meant business.
She sighed and gazed longingly at her car a mere half block away in the parking lot.
“Natalie?”
She glanced back. Alexis had moved behind Chase, feigning interest in a picture on the wall. Chase’s eyes warned Natalie not to disobey him.
“Yeah, I’ll wait.” She let the door slide closed and leaned against the wall as Chase led Alexis down the hall to his office.
He was her boss. She shouldn’t be acting this way, but every time he came near her, her instincts said run. Every time he accidentally brushed against her or held the door open, she couldn’t help thinking he was interested in her, which couldn’t happen in a million years. But it confused her and she didn’t like anything confusing in her life. She stared at the second hand on her watch.
He’d only said to wait a minute. She glanced to make sure he wasn’t coming yet. When a minute was up, she was out of here. Thirty seconds. She’d have all weekend to try to get over her crush on him. Twenty seconds. Almost there, come on. Fifteen. Ten.
Chapter Three
Chase smiled as Natalie leaned against the wall staring at her watch. Probably counting down the seconds. His little accountant had tried to leave without him. He justified walking her out every night because she left so late.
But in reality, he just wanted to be close to her. Even if he couldn’t think about being anything more than her boss, he couldn’t resist the calmness and sweetness she exuded in spite of her nervousness. Not to mention the gentle swaying of her hips, the curve of her calves. And he could feel like just a normal guy walking a girl to her car.
She was so focused on the watch she didn’t hear him slip up next to her.
“Ha.” She smiled and looked up. The smile disappeared and a look of chagrin crossed her face. “Oh.”
“You do know this neighborhood isn’t safe at night.”
She dropped her eyes and her fingers fiddled with her purse. “I guess.”
He leaned across her to push open the door. Awareness singed him where her body brushed against his. The clean scent of her floated in the air with just a touch of sweet, fruity scent, maybe strawberry, from her hair. Her gaze jerked to his. Had she felt the sizzle, too?
Her tongue darted out to wet her lips. His body tightened. He fought against the urge to drag her into his arms and find out if her lips tasted as sweet as she smelled. She was his employee, and he was her boss.
Clearing his throat, he said, “How was your day?”
She took his offer of escape and slipped out the door. “It was fine.”
Every night, it was “fine.” He wondered if she would ever just tell him about her day. He’d seen her working hard all day long. Strands of hair had escaped her usual ponytail and fell softly around her face. His fingers itched to push it behind her ears or release it all from the ponytail and sink into the rich strands.
He followed her out to her car. Her blue business suit and low heels were a refreshing change from the plunging necklines and stilettos Alexis wore. During the day every time he saw her, his imagination ran rampant wondering what Natalie wore under those clothes. The cut of her suit left a lot to the imagination, and he had a great one.
“Thank you,” she said, not turning. Her keys jingled.
“Natalie.” He wanted to see her wide brown eyes one more time to get him through his weekend spent with the privileged and the jaded.
The keys fell to the ground as she looked at him over her shoulder. Her eyes widened. He stooped down to pick up the keys, using the distraction to keep himself from kissing her until her eyes melted like chocolate.
He stood and handed her the keys.
“Thanks.” Her cheeks and neck were red. How far did the blush go?
He stuffed his hands in his pockets. “Have a good weekend.”
“You, too.” She stared up at him.
Her lips were barely parted. Mentally, he shook himself. She worked for him and he was mooning over her like a teenager. Move, you fool. He backed up a step, giving her room to open her door and slide into her car. He walked back to the building, pausing to watch as she sped off into the night.
When he entered his office, Alexis pounced from the chair. “There’s this new part that I’d be perfect for. The Golden Globes are Sunday. If we’re seen together there, it could help my chances. We can say we’re still friends. We are still friends, aren’t we?” She pouted her famous pout.
He sighed, thinking of the woman he’d just left who didn’t want anything from him. Not even for him to walk her out to her car.
Alexis continued to chatter about going and being seen, but he couldn’t concentrate on her prattle. What would Natalie do if he asked her out? What if like other stars he had a relationship that wasn’t broadcast over every available airwave?
Alexis would serve his purpose of getting the paparazzi to stop guessing who he was going after next. He could see if this spark between him and Natalie could be coaxed into a flame, which was a ridiculous thought. Maybe he just needed a break from dating. Alexis would keep the other women at bay without putting the pressure of a relationship on him.
“Are you even listening to me, Chase?”
He brought his attention back to the woman seated across from him. Every hot-blooded male wanted Alexis and would do anything to go out with her, but Chase wanted more than stunning good looks. Innocence and intelligence wrapped up in a small frame lingered in his mind.
“Sure, Alexis. We can go and be seen.”
“I have the perfect thing for this weekend.”
Natalie rolled her eyes to the ceiling. “I’m not going out. I just finished working an eleven-hour day.”
Rachel tended to be the life of the party and tried to drag Natalie with her. A habit that started when they’d roomed together in college and continued when they’d both decided to stay in L.A. after graduation. Rachel would just have to go without her this time.
Rachel came out of the kitchen holding a stack of DVDs and a bowl of popcorn. “Nope, we’re staying in. I’ve got ice cream in the freezer, too.”
“Chocolate?”
“Of course. Pick the first movie.” Rachel tossed the DVDs on the couch next to Natalie.
Picking up the first one, she groaned. She didn’t. Natalie spread out the three DVDs. Emerald eyes stared at her from the cover of every DVD. She did. Natalie sighed in resignation-so much for getting Chase Booker out of her mind this weekend. She picked up Into the Hereafter.
Rachel plopped down next to her. Her blue eyes sparkled with mischief. “I couldn’t let you be the only one staring at that hot bod all day.” She reached across Natalie and snatched Riddle Beach. She turned over the DVD. “This one has nudity. I vote for this one first.”