Page 12 of Room Thirty: Perfect Little Doll
“What do you…” I pointed to the setup I had put together on the small coffee table next to the couch. “What is this?”
“Lunch.” I walked right up to her with confidence I sure as fuck didn’t feel but hoped I was faking well enough so she didn’t catch on. I took the tablet from her hands and cupped her elbow.
“Carey.” The way she whispered my name had my dick feeling like I was sixteen. It jerked behind my dress slacks, throbbed, if I was honest. “You didn’t have to—”
“Yes. Yes, I did.” I cleared my throat again. “Please sit.” I waved at the couch, and she looked at me for a moment. Her big brown eyes so damn dark and endless I would happily drown in them lifetime after lifetime.
“Carey, I should go work.” Her eyes were pinned on me and not on the spread I had set out.
“You should sit and eat,” I clipped a little too brusquely and winced. I was making more of a mess than I needed to. I sighed, running a hand through my hair. “Please, Serena?” My voice softened, and that seemed to do the trick.
Her dark eyes stayed steady on mine for a moment before she nodded and did as I’d asked. I stood next to her as she took a seat and smiled at everything on the coffee table, and I could see the way she relaxed. “These are all my favorites,” she noticed. I felt heat hit the back of my neck.
My Adam’s apple bobbed heavily, and I cleared my throat. “I shouldn’t have pulled you away from your lunch. I apologize.”
“You didn’t,” she rushed to say. “I offered to leave. Then my stomach in the elevator—" she rambled. The tips of her ears caught my eye as they started to turn the prettiest shade of pink with embarrassment. “I just shouldn’t have wasted time, you know?” I blinked. I had spaced out, deep in my own head.
“No.” I shook my head and frowned. “You were on your break, and I had no right to intrude on your time.” I moved forward and kneeled next to where she was sitting, carefully and boldly resting my hand on her knee. “I’m sorry.”
“There is nothing to be sorry about.” She smiled. “Is that walnut baklava?”
“It is.” I nodded and watched as her hand covered mine and she squeezed.
“You never have dessert.” That was true. The only sweet thing I enjoyed was the one in front of me, and I hadn’t really had a taste.Yet.
“You love it, though.” Our eyes met, and I couldn’t help myself. I leaned in closer.
My free hand rose and cupped the side of her face. Jesus, her skin was unbelievably soft. Flawless and smooth. My eyes dropped to the small beauty mark above her upper lip on the left side, and my jaw clenched. I wanted to touch it. Lick it. Nibble that tiny spot and then explore the rest of her body to find any others like it.
“I was serious in the elevator,” I found myself saying, gazing up into her eyes as the pad of my thumb stroked the apple of her cheek.
“About?” Her brows bunched up adorably.
“About how fucking beautiful you are.” Her eyes never wavered from mine as she leaned into my touch. “A face like this”—my jaw clenched—“ruins men.”
“You’re sweet.” I blinked at her compliment.
“I don’t think I’ve ever been called that,” I muttered, earning a soft giggle.
“You are,” she reassured me. “This looks great, but there is no way I could eat it all.” I opened my mouth to argue when my own stomach chose that very moment to growl loudly. “See! You’re hungry, too. Will you eat with me? Please?” Her softpleaseand the way her eyes dipped to my mouth had me agreeing way too quickly.
It reminded me so much of that first day when she came to work for us.
Fox had met her first since he was the one to interview her. I’d been out of the office, putting out a fire for my first client and biggest pain in the ass while Ronan had been out of town visiting a possible first draft pick. When I saw her walk in through one of the security cameras, something inside of me had lit up. But the moment Fox introduced us and her hand took mine for a shake, I was a goner.
I hadn’t been able to say no to anything.
She’d merely mention the need for a new coffee maker, and I made sure to order the best one money could buy. Then another, easier to use when she couldn’t seem to get the hang of how to use the first one I had purchased.
“Let me serve you,” I offered, reaching for a plate and scooping generous portions of everything.
“Thank you,” she sighed happily. “This is way too much food, though.”
“Eat.” I pointed at her as I started to serve myself. “How’s your week been?” I asked, trying to make small talk. It was harder than I expected. Usually, one or the other two guys were around. They were a hell of a lot more charming than I ever could dream to be.
“It’s good,” she answered easily. I glanced at her. Every time my eyes took their fill, so did my damn stupid heart. “I’m about to start going through the contract for the new Dirt Devil,” she shared, glancing up at me, her fork midway to her perfect lips.
“Good.” I nodded. I still couldn’t believe we had snagged up the up and coming first baseman. “Thanks for looking through that.” My voice sounded hoarse in my ears as I watched her take a bite and start to chew.