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“Well, hello there, Mr. Blake,” she rasped, pressing for the forty-second floor. An alluring smile ran across her lips as she leaned into Gavin’s ear. “I’m hoping we can pick up where we left off the last time I saw you.”

Gavin took an easy step back, his face smoothing into an unreadable impassivity. He simply nodded.

The woman smiled and turned to face the elevator doors.

Gavin glanced at Emily again, embarrassed that an unexpected one-night stand was in the elevator with him. “So have you worked at Bella Lucina for a while?”

Emily bit her lip and smiled. “No, today was my first day.”

“A new job. That can be stressful.” Gavin returned the smile, shifting on his feet. “I hope it went well for you.”

“It did actually, thanks.”

When the elevator doors opened, the unnamed woman stepped out and turned to Gavin. “Call me.”

He gave a curt nod, and with that, she walked away. The doors closed, leaving him and Emily alone once again. “She’s not my girlfriend if that’s what you’re wondering.”

Emily shot him a look, bemused by his remark. “And who’s to say I was?”

Her unexpected sexy feistiness prickled across his skin. He shrugged noncommittally, trying to get a feel for her. “And who’s to say you weren’t?”

“You don’t know me to assume much of anything I’d be thinking,” she scoffed, a laugh escaping her lips.

“That you are correct on,” he smirked, sidestepping himself to be closer to her. “But, I must admit, I’d like to get to know you.”

Great. He wasn’t just hot in his urbane, outrageously expensive suit. He was conceited, too. Emily blinked out of her semi-daze, trying to ignore how enticing he smelled being that close. “Well, I can’t. I’m sorry,” she replied, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear.

Before he could respond, the elevator doors opened on the sixty-second floor.

“This is where I get off.” Emily turned to grab the box from him. “I appreciate your help carrying it up for me.”

“Not a problem. This is also where I get off.”

“You work on this floor?” Emily asked, noticeably confused.

Not wanting to tell her that he owned the company located on the floor, he decided on a partial-truth answer. A boyish grin slid across his mouth. “Yes. I’m the one guilty of placing the order.”

Emily’s eyes flicked to his luscious lips and then back to his face. “So you knew when I walked in that I was on my way up here?”

“I had a few minutes to spare. I was waiting downstairs in the lobby for you.” He flashed a smile. “Well, I was waiting downstairs in the lobby for
Armando
, but instead I was graced with the beautiful woman who stands before me. I decided to be a gentleman and help you with the box.” He stepped out of the elevator, his stride strong and graceful. “Care to join me for dinner? There’s more than enough here for you.”

“I…I can’t. I’m sorry,” Emily replied, hitting the button to close the door.

“Wait!” Gavin swiftly leaned in and held it open. Knowing his approach was too strong and feeling like an asshole at that point, he tried to recover the situation as best as he could. “That was rude of me, and I apologize; my mother seriously raised me better than that.” He tossed a nervous hand through his hair. “I’d love to take you out to dinner sometime. I know an office setting like this isn’t romantic by any means. I just work a lot. But, like I said, I’d love to take you out one night.”

Before Emily could reply, a svelte dark-haired woman called out to him from behind a desk. “Mr. Blake, you have a call on line two.”

Smiling, he turned to face the woman. “Please take a message for me, Natalie.”

Quickly, with trembling fingers, Emily hit the button to close the door. It shut completely before Gavin could turn around. Leaning herself against the wall, she grabbed onto the brass railing, trying to compose herself. The effect the stranger had on her was unnerving. She shook her head at the breakneck pace of events, regretting that she’d agreed to drop off the food. Nonetheless, she made her way out of the building and went home.

“He was that good looking?” Olivia asked, taking a seat at the kitchen table.

Emily placed a finger over her mouth. “Jesus, Olivia, Dillon’s inside. Keep your voice down.” Her eyes darted to her room and then back to Olivia. “Yes, he was that good looking. Take-your-breath-away good looking. Want-to-strip-your-body-naked-and-let-him-devour-you-alive good looking. Certified-eye-candy good looking.”

Olivia let out a gut-belly laugh and then quickly covered her mouth. “Sounds very fuckable,” she whispered. Nodding in agreement, Emily giggled. “I think you need to take the delivery boy’s position instead.”

“I don’t know; it was just the strangest reaction I’ve ever had with someone. And talk about embarrassed at the way I handled myself. A preschooler would’ve done better.”

Smirking, Olivia took a sip from her glass of wine, her brown eyes sparkling. “It may make for some great sex tonight with Douche if you keep Mr. Tall, Dark, and Fuckable Handsome in mind.”

Emily walked over to her and lightly slapped her on the arm. “Stop. No more Mr. Tall, Dark, and Fuckable Handsome thoughts for me.” Emily took her hair out of her ponytail. “Besides, I love Dillon. Mr. Tall, Dark, and Fuckable Handsome will be the gift for some other woman, believe me.”

“Okay, okay,” Olivia laughed quietly. “But at least you know you have a backup in case.”

Before Emily could discuss her newfound fuckable eye candy any further, Dillon strolled into the room dressed in his finest suit and tie. Walking over to him, Emily instantly forgot about the sexy stranger as her eyes feasted upon his dampened dirty-blonde hair and handsome face. To her, he was all the fuckable eye candy she needed.

“I thought we were hanging here tonight?” Emily asked, circling her arms around his waist. “I rented a movie.”

He placed his arms on her shoulders. It was easy enough for him since he was much taller than Emily’s tiny frame. “I’m having dinner with a potential client.” He sauntered over to the refrigerator and took out a bottle of water. “It was an unexpected call. We’ll watch it another night.”

Emily frowned at his nonchalant tone. “How many unexpected dinners can you have in one week, Dillon?”

After letting out an audible sigh, Olivia pushed to her feet and made her way out of the room.

Dillon leaned himself against the counter. “You know it goes with the territory, Emily. I’m a stockbroker; that’s what I do. I need to wine and dine a client a little in order to gain the account.”

“I get that, Dillon. I really do.” Emily walked into the kitchen and pressed her body against his. “But I’ve been here less than a month, and I’m constantly being left alone when you have these meetings.” She playfully pulled at his tie. “I saw you more when I was living in Colorado than I do now.”

Backing away, his brown eyes narrowed on her slightly. “You sound like a whiney sorority girl.” He twisted the cap off the bottle of water and took a sip. “Just relax. I shouldn’t be back too late.”

A frown marred the space between her brows. “A whiney sorority girl? What’s that supposed to mean? Why did you even come here to shower then?”

“I got the call
after
I got here, that’s why.”

“Maybe you need to go sleep at your place tonight.” She undid her apron and threw it on the table. “You’re out wining and dining these
so-called
clients at least five nights a week.”

Walking closer, his voice rose as he eyed her. “What are you trying to imply, Emily? Do you not think that I’m taking care of clients?”

“I have no idea. I just thought you’d be here a little more than you have been,” she answered, tossing her hand through her hair. “Maybe to help me adjust a bit with the whole move.”

After taking a sip of his water, he cocked his head to the side. “I moved you out here on my dime. What more do you want from me?”

“That was low, Dillon,” she breathed out, her green eyes wide. “I didn’t ask you to do any of that. I could’ve stayed in Colorado, and we could’ve continued a long-distance relationship.”

Dillon stepped closer, lifted his hand, and gently brushed her cheek. “No, you couldn’t. You love me, and you needed to be here with me after everything that happened.” He slid his thumb against her chin. “And I love and need you here, too. Now stop the bullshit, let me go take care of this client, and I’ll be back later, okay?”

Assessing and reevaluating the situation on the fly, Emily pushed up on her tiptoes and pressed her lips against his. He eagerly accepted her advance as he groaned into their kiss. Fisting his hands in her hair, he drew her closer, pulling her into his chest.

Emily spoke against his mouth. “Alright. Go do your thing, and I’ll see you later.”

“So I’m not being forced back to my apartment tonight then?” He smiled against her lips. “If you really insist, I guess I can sleep at my place instead of here.”

“Stop being a wiseass, Dillon. I’ll be waiting for you when you get back.”

“Okay, you’ll have my undivided attention then.”

Dillon laced his hand in hers and she followed him to the door. After giving her one last kiss, Emily watched him walk out of her apartment.

When the door snapped shut, Olivia re-emerged from her room. Sinking into the couch, she patted it for Emily to follow suit. “Alright, spill it. What’s the deal, woman?” Olivia asked.

“He just seems distant, you know?” she replied, sitting next to her.

“Look, you know I can’t stand Dillon.” Olivia paused for a second and tapped her chin. “Actually, I hate him.” Emily rolled her eyes, and Olivia laughed. “But, really, in his defense, and
only
because my brother works in the same office, they really have to take care of potential accounts.”

“Yeah, but is Trevor out five nights a week taking care of these people?”

“No, but I guess Dillweed’s more of an aggressive broker. Considering he’s an asshole, I’m pretty sure I’m right.”

“Okay, friend, enough cutting him down,” she said, shaking her head. Olivia laughed, and Emily contemplated her words. “Maybe I’m overreacting. I don’t know. I guess between trying to adjust to my mom’s death and the move, my brain’s short circuiting.”

Olivia placed her hand on Emily’s shoulder, her eyes softening with sympathy. “It’s a shitload to take in all at once. I couldn’t imagine going through it.” Olivia pulled her close, giving her a tight hug. “You’re a strong woman, and you’ll get through this. I know you will.”

“Thank you, Olivia, really. I don’t know what I would’ve done without you. I was blessed having you as a roommate in college and now living here with you. I’m forever indebted, honestly.”

Olivia let out a laugh. “Now you’re getting overdramatic on me, girl.” She stood up and walked over to grab the movie that Emily rented. She popped it into the DVD player and settled herself back onto the couch with Emily. “Tonight’s a certified ladies’ night.”

Chapter Two

Cream or Sugar

Emily awoke the next morning, her slumberous gaze mesmerized by Dillon’s sleeping body. She rested her head against his warm chest as her mind drifted over their relationship. As with anyone, there were quirks, and he was full of them. She knew she would get used to all of it, but in the meantime, his fast-paced lifestyle was the biggest challenge for her. At first, their differences didn’t seem so big to her because their relationship grew and blossomed in
her
world. Now that she was coexisting in
his
, there was a lot she needed to accept.

Trophy girlfriend wasn’t on her top-ten list, and since she’d moved to New York, this was a side of Dillon she was starting to see. From the couple of times she’d gone out with him, it seemed like he was parading her around to the few friends of his that she’d met. Over the last few weeks, she also noticed a possessive shift in his demeanor. Sometimes it was cute—in a boyfriend kind of way—but most times, it was overbearing and confusing. Nonetheless, in that moment, as her senses soaked in all of the good he had done for her, Emily accepted it for what it was.

She curled her body closer to his, moving a wayward strand of hair away from his forehead.