Free Beguile her: Laws of Seduction Book 2 by Ava Hayworth Page A

open and my breath hitches when I realize that, instead of moving away and towards the door, he is coming closer. “Stand up,” he commands, coming to a stop next to me. Wordlessly, I do as he says. James sits down in my chair and pulls me back down onto his lap.
    I immediately try to wiggle off. “What if someone comes in?”
    “I locked the door. Besides, I doubt there is anyone still here at this hour,” he says, glancing down at his watch. “Why don’t you tell me what’s wrong?”
    “Is it that obvious?”
    James shrugs, “To me it is.”
    I look at his bright, blue tie. “I met with Mills today... about the Rothschild team.” Emotion clogs my throat, and I clench my lips together to keep from breaking down.
    James’s eyebrows arch in bewilderment. Then he guesses. “You’re upset that he wants me on the team?”
    “Yes… no… that’s not it.” I cover my face with both of my hands. After a slight pause, I feel James nuzzle my neck. Then he whispers in my ear. “Lainey, baby, you have to tell me what’s wrong.” His tenderness is my undoing, and despite pressing my hands hard against my eyes to hold back my tears, they trickle down my face anyway. I sniffle, “I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I’m just being silly.”
    James rubs his hand up and down my back, and after a few minutes I feel better. I lean over and pull a tissue out of my desk drawer and blow my nose. I think I just needed to get it out of my system. “I’m okay now, thanks.”
    The hand moving on my back stills. “Lainey, you still haven’t told me what has you so upset.”
    “It was nothing, really. It’s just been a long day.” I gesture to my computer. “I am not even close to finishing this presentation, and I will be presenting it tomorrow.”
    James gazes at me a few moments, trying to gauge the truth of what I said. Then he nods in the direction of my monitor. “Show me what you’ve got.”
    I shake my head. “You don’t have to help me. You must be tired and ready to go home.”
    He looks at me with exasperation. “Lainey, are you going to show me or not, because I am not going to go home and leave you here alone.”
    I can see that he means what he says. I lean over and move my mouse so that the computer screen returns to life. Over the next hour, I show James what I have done. He suggests a few ways that I should be taking shortcuts, which allows me to wrap up the presentation. In the morning I will have to review the slides, but with his help I will not be spending the night in the office after all.

CHAPTER 8
     
    James hustles me out to his waiting car. It smells like cheese, garlic and tomato sauce, and I realize that I am starving. James gives me a knowing smile. “I had Gary pick up some lasagna from Luigi’s. We can eat at your place.”
    I had never heard of Luigi’s, but from the aroma wafting from the front seat, I was sure it would be delicious. “You’re a prince,” I say kissing him on his cheek.
    “You can do better than that.” He pulls me across the seat so that once again I am sitting on his lap. This time I am not thinking about crying or presentations. When his lips meet mine, I feel like I have come home and kiss him with wild abandon. He draws back slightly and smiles, “Now, that’s what I’m talking about.” He swoops his mouth down on mine once again. I am lost to everything until the car stops in front of my apartment building.
    Realizing that I should have sent Sam a text that I am bringing home company, I ask James to wait in the hall before going in to warn her. She is excited to finally meet James and helps him set out the lasagna while I change into yoga pants and a t-shirt. When I return to the kitchen, James has taken off his jacket and tie and is looking relaxed chatting with Sam. Since Sam had only had a protein drink for dinner, she agrees to join us for some late night lasagna. James has ordered enough for an army. In addition to the lasagna, he has