Her heart started to race at his words.
“I would gladly sleep in your tiny bed and stay in your small apartment if it meant we were able to spend time together.”
“Brody…”
He held up a hand to stop her. “I’m not good at relationships. My whole life–everything I’ve done–has been about my job, my position within the corporation, and being driven to be the best at all of it. But after spending time with you, I realized how much of my life was passing me by.” She saw him swallow hard. “And no one cared enough to try to make me slow down. I didn’t care enough about myself. But I do care enough about you.”
Leanna took a shuddery breath as tears stung her eyes.
“I can’t say that I’m in love, Leanna, because I’ve never been in love before. But I know what I feel for you is greater than anything I’ve ever felt toward anyone.” He stepped forward and reached for one of her hands and she was tempted to stand but couldn’t make herself move. “Be patient with me. I know I’m going to screw things up and I have no idea how to be the kind of man that you deserve, but I want to be that man. I want to learn. Just…give me time.”
He had no idea that although he didn’t say the three words she had said to him, he just described it far better than she ever could. And it was enough.
It was everything.
Slowly, she stood, reaching up to caress his cheek. “I think you’re better at this than you realize,” she whispered. “And for what it’s worth, I really love what we have right now. I love who you are, Brody King, so please don’t think you have to change. That’s not what love is or what it requires.”
His dark eyes scanned her face and she saw so many emotions there and felt incredibly blessed that she was the one person who was seeing this side of him. There seemed to be more that he wanted to say but couldn’t, so she took the decision out of his hands. Up on her tiptoes, she pressed her lips to his and kissed him. Softly at first, but then with more urgency.
She was pressed up against him, wrapping herself around him, when suddenly, Brody lifted his head. “Um…”
“Where are your partners?”
“Gone,” she said. “I’m not sure where but they weren’t here when I got back. Why?”
A slow grin crossed his face as he stepped away and walked over to the door and locked it. Then, with his eyes never leaving hers, he stalked back over to her.
It was the sexiest thing she’d ever seen.
“This is what I wanted to do back at my office,” he said, his voice low and gruff. “I wanted to lock the door and lay you down on my desk.”
Okay, and this was the most turned on she had ever been. Frantically, she looked around. Her desk wasn’t nearly as big as his, but…they could make it work. She hopped up on it and licked her lips. “And we will definitely go there one night, but for now, will this do?” She barely recognized her own voice–it was husky and breathless and all she could think about was how incredibly naughty they were being.
Brody stepped between her legs and cupped her face before fiercely kissing her. He lifted his head and frowned. “I shouldn’t want to take you like this. You deserve a soft bed, candles, and flowers, and…”
“I love all those things. But right now, I’d really love for us to do this. Here. Right now.”
She didn’t have to ask him twice.
“So how much trouble did you get in?”
He shrugged. “I got a bit of a lecture, but nothing I couldn’t handle.” It was a little after ten and he and Leanna were in bed, happily wrapped around each other. After a fast, frantic, and frenzied round of sex on her desk earlier, they had gotten dressed and left the building like two giggling children afraid of getting in trouble.
After kissing her senseless in the parking lot, she had gone home to pack her weekender bag while he went to pick up something for them to eat and they met back here at his place. It felt completely decadent to be home in the middle of the afternoon, and it was perfect.
They’d shared a pizza before soaking in the hot tub, making love in the hot tub, and then showering so they could go out for dinner. Brody would have been completely happy ordering in, but when he gave Leanna the option of staying in or going out, she asked if they could go to her favorite Mexican restaurant and he couldn’t tell her no.
And during it all, his phone was off. He knew there was going to be a bit of hell to pay for it, but it was worth it. An hour ago, he foolishly turned it on and was forced to deal with the dozen missed calls and texts from his father.
“How dare you leave the office without letting me know! And when we had an important meeting!” his father said as a greeting when Brody called him.
The thing was, it really wasn’t anyone’s business but his own where he went and why, and he resented being questioned like that–especially after all the years he gave everything of himself to the company. Granted, that was the exact reason he was being questioned but it didn’t make him resent it any less.
“There was something I had to deal with, Dad, and I did send Eric Hammel in my place. We both know he is more than capable of handling anything you need. The man lived in Paris for a year and actually knows several of the people involved in this project. If anything, he’s a better choice than I am.”
“That is irrelevant, Brody. What you did today was unprofessional and completely irresponsible! This is not the behavior of a man who is looking for a promotion. And I’ll have you know, I’m considering sending Eric to Paris to finalize this deal. How does that make you feel?”
“Honestly? I’m okay with it. Like I said, he’s more than capable of doing it and doing it well.”
Silence.
“It’s late, Dad. Why don’t we talk about this in the morning?”
“Oh, so you’re planning on coming to work then? How thoughtful of you.”
Pinching the bridge of his nose, Brody mentally counted to ten. “We both know I always come to work. There just happened to be a situation today that needed my attention more than the Paris contract.”
“Your job should be your number one priority,” his father reminded him.
“Did the meeting go well?” he asked.
“That’s not the point.”
“But it is,” he countered. “It sounds to me like nothing was hindered by my absence and Eric’s going to go to Paris to finalize everything so…there’s no problem there. Your problem seems to be with me not falling in line.”
“It’s not like you to be so defiant, Brody. I called your office and told you we had a meeting and you agreed to be there.”
“Actually, no. You spoke to Margaret and she said she’d pass on the message. I never agreed. And if we’re going to point fingers, I should remind you that we have always given each other–as well as anyone who works for King Hospitality–sufficient advanced notice when there’s a meeting unless it’s an emergency. Was this an emergency today?”
Silence.
“That’s what I thought. Now as I said, it’s getting late and we can talk in the morning, okay? Send Mom my love and have a good night.” He hung up before his father could argue with him some more.