Free The Romance Challenge, Complete Series Box Set: BBW Hot Alpha Billionaire Romance by Arlanna Sterling Page B

everlasting
vacation, it was way too easy to want to fall in love.
    Love. Holy shit. How did that word pop
into my mind? Nathan and I were here for business only. This project was
important to him, so, important to me. That was my only agenda; help him with
work-related activities. Absolutely nothing romantic would happen. Like I told
Jen, guys like Nathan didn't fall for large girls like me.
    But jeez, that kiss! I'd never been kissed
that way before. It seemed as though he wanted to devour me, and my body
responded right back. Just remembering the feel of his lips on mine, his hands
roaming along my skin… I let out a deep breath. There had to be something
behind that kiss, besides just lust in the moment.
    So I'd take a little extra time with my appearance.
Nathan wasn't really serious about me, I knew that, but maybe we could have…
what did I want from him? Sex? My body sure voted for that. My nipples hardened
and an ache burned low in my belly thinking about those few moments when we
stood locked together.
    What was up with this crazy, deep arousal?
I liked sex as much as the next girl, but I'd never been this turned-on simply by
a kiss and a touch. Did I whimper last night, right into his mouth? Pretty sure
I did. OMG, he must think I was some kind of horny, needy chick. He started it
though. He kissed me first, grabbed me like he had to get close, like he needed
to feel our bodies touching.
    What in the world would I say to him
today? Should I act as though it never happened? No, that wasn't my style. I
faced situations head-on, no tiptoeing around. I'd see how he reacted
first when we met this morning. I'd take my cue from him, and go from there.
Probably, he'd act like it was no big deal. Which would be a relief. Sort of.
I'd do the same. Tell him the drinks made me silly. We'd both laugh, and move
on.
    I swiped a stroke of color over my
cheekbones. It wouldn't hurt to dial up the hotness a notch. Just because.
    As soon as I saw him in the conference
room, my already-racing pulse sped up. He looked damned fine, wearing a dress
shirt and tie. He sat staring at his laptop and when he glanced up at me,
didn't crack the smallest of smiles.
    "Good morning. Close the door and sit
down, please."
    A glass of water and a coffee cup had been
placed on the table. On the opposite side of him.
    He stood. "Last night I behaved inappropriately.
I'm sorry, it won't happen again."
    "But…"
    He held up his hand. "It won't happen
again. I emailed you a list of the employees working today. I'd like you to
shadow the housekeepers, talk to as many as you can and watch them work. If
you're able to observe anyone without them seeing you, all the better. I'll be
off the property the rest of day. You have my number if you need me."
    He flipped his laptop closed, shoved his
chair into the table, and strode out the door. 
    Well, hells bells. I stared after him, my
mouth hanging open. Not like I expected a declaration of love, but certainly a
little more than a total brush-off. If he would have let me say something, anything.
I realized I wanted him to know, I'd enjoyed our kiss. Maybe hear that he liked
it too, or that he had fun being out with me. At least a smile, to acknowledge
that moment of passion we'd shared.
    Anything other than… nothing.
    I took in a deep breath for five counts,
held it for eight, then let it out nice and slow for five. A technique that Thea,
the Therapist I'd seen, suggested using when I got angry. Supposed to distract
the brain from whatever pissed it off and slow down the heart rate. Deep breath
in, hold, out. Again.
    Calm down. Not a big deal. Nathan didn't want to discuss last night. So what? I opened my laptop to get
his email. I suppose this was for the best. Now I knew exactly where he stood.
Not anywhere near me.
    Fine. I'd play by his rules. He was the
boss. I misjudged the situation, clearly. He wanted nothing to do with me. My first
thought was right. That last part of our evening had been the result