Free The KISS Principle (Erotic Romance) by Karen Booth

sales didn’t hold his
attention and his mind wandered, always somehow ending up back at Allie.
    Phil had been rambling about fourth quarter sales
projections for nearly ten minutes when his eyes suddenly narrowed. “Damn.
Looks like God answered my prayers for a brunette with come-fuck-me legs.” He
nodded in the direction of the office door.
    Cooper swiftly turned and glimpsed Allie in a black
dress with a neckline just low enough to torture him. It showed off every inch
of her curves, eclipsed only by her inner radiance. She scanned the crowd, her
smile illuminating her face the instant their eyes connected. The chatter in the
room faded as every guy within sight of Allie seemed to stop talking. Music
played and although Cooper had spent hours making the playlist, he couldn’t for
the life of him remember what the song was.
    He hurried over to her and had to stop himself from putting
his arm around her waist and kissing her. He patted her on the back, which felt
entirely wrong. Dammit. I hope that was okay. “Hey. You look amazing,”
he muttered. Her sweet scent was overwhelming, plunging him into the depths of
a desire to be alone with her. “I’m so glad you’re here.”
    “Thanks. Sorry I’m a little late. Things got crazy at
the office.” Her forehead crinkled with worry.
    “Everything okay?” He touched her arm lightly and she
seemed to relax with his touch.
    She looked up at him, her brown hair falling back behind
her shoulders. “Yeah. It’s just normal insanity. I’ll figure it out.”
    “Are you sure? You seem stressed. Did you get that new
account?”
    “We did.” Her lips pressed together in a thin line, as
if she were holding back. “It’s just that something came up with Ian. It’s kind
of a mess, but I can handle it.”
    “Ian? What the hell does he want?”
    “Nothing. It’s not important.” The expression on her
face softened and she forced a smile. “Come on. It’s your big night and I
should have a drink in my hand.”
    Cooper turned and ran flat into Brian and Phil.
    “Hi, I’m Brian,” his brother said, thrusting his hand
at Allie. “This is Phil.”
    “I’m Allie. Nice to meet you both.”
    Brian none too subtly eyed Allie. “So, Coop tells me
you’re in advertising. Very interesting. Must be fascinating work. Tell me all
about it.”
    Cooper would have killed his brother with his eyes if
he could have. Does he have to ask her a fucking essay question? Again,
he wanted to put his arm around Allie, but thought better of it, worried he was
going to start sending her mixed messages. He watched as she talked to Brian
and Phil, her face animated, both guys’ eyes all over her. What am I doing?
Is she my girlfriend? It feels like it, but I’d come off like a total idiot if
I asked her.
    “I’m sure it’s no different than what you do,” Allie
said. “I just try to keep the clients happy. I’m only as good as my last idea.”
    “How long have you been in the ad game?” Phil asked.
    She cleared her throat. “A while. Fifteen years or so
between the other places I’ve worked before I started my own company.”
    “Impressive,” Phil answered, winking at Allie through
his geeky glasses.
    What an ass. “Yeah. Brian, Phil,
we’ll catch you guys later. I’m going to show Allie around the office.”
    After stopping by the kitchen to get her a beer, he led
her to the conference room walled with frosted glass.
    “This is incredible,” Allie said. “Your designer did
an amazing job.” She absentmindedly ran her fingers along her collarbone as she
circled the table, sipping her drink.
    Cooper trailed her, watching her hand skimming along
her own skin, which had a subtle shimmer. His gaze was drawn to her perfectly
feminine silhouette. Electricity coursed through his belly and down his thighs.
    He’d spent the last year obsessing over the remodel.
Moving the company had consumed him for the past six weeks. Still, at that
moment, computers and new desks seemed like