“Okay Hun see ya on Monday,” he winked at her.
“Have a great weekend Mr. Anderson.” Tom breezed out quickly and once again Amy was alone with Lucas. She stared after Tom for a few minutes with longing. She would love to just sit down and have a drink. Her nerves had been on edge all afternoon.
Lucas’s mood seemed to deteriorate once again after Tom left the room. “Why didn’t you take your own car into work today?” He finally asked, ending twenty minutes of awkward silence.
“I don’t have a car. I usually just ride the bus into work but Tom doesn’t live too far from me so the last couple of days we’ve been carpooling together. I have no problem riding the bus though.” She resented having to explain things to him.
“I’ll give you a ride home tonight since I’m keeping you late,” he said as if the matter was instantly settled. He didn’t expect anything but her compliance.
She sat there for a moment before replying. “I don’t need a ride home tonight. I told you I’m used to riding the bus. I’ll be fine,” she said between clinched teeth. She could tell that wouldn’t be the end of the discussion but she wouldn’t let the man walk all over her, boss or not.
Her reply infuriated him. How dare she tell him no when he was offering her a ride! He wasn’t used to anyone defying him and it really pissed him off she would rather ride the bus than accept a ride home from him. Was his company so repulsive to her she couldn’t stand to be in his presence for even a moment longer than she had too?
He was already confused enough about how he felt and really didn’t want to say something he would regret so he decided to say nothing else but if she really believed he was going to allow her to ride the bus then she wasn’t as smart as he believed her to be.
She may be stubborn but he could certainly outlast her. He was used to people bending over backwards for him. It was a bit of a shock but not all that unpleasant of one to find someone who was willing to argue with him. He found that he liked Amy a bit more each time she challenged him but there was no way the tiny little vixen was going to get her own way that night, not when it was an issue of her safety at hand.
He could see she was getting tired but he kept piling work upon her. For one thing he was still angry she refused to ride with him and secondly he just wanted to be in her company. He was used to working late and before he knew it time completely got away from him.
“Mr. Anderson, I don’t want to complain but it’s eleven at night. Can I just come in tomorrow if this really needs to get done?” she asked him with fatigue showing. He felt a little guilty he’d let his temper override his good judgment. He would’ve never normally made her stay so late.
“We can finish this all up on Monday,” he told her. “Let’s get out of here.” He placed his weekend work in his briefcase and walked with her into her office. He stood by the door while Amy placed her work down and gathered her purse and coat. She glanced up and he could tell she was surprised to see him still standing there.
“Okay, Mr. Anderson, I‘ll see you Monday.” She tried to make a quick exit and headed straight towards the elevators, hoping he would forget all about the ride issue. He grinned to himself enjoying the edge to her voice. He found it comical she thought he could so easily be dismissed.
Usually women were chasing him all over the place. He liked the cat and mouse game with his new assistant.
Amy pressed the elevator button and they both stepped on for the long ride down. Neither of them spoke. He was smiling to himself while she was fighting her irritation.
They stepped out of the elevator and walked towards the doors. “Hi Amy, you’re working late tonight. There are no more busses running this late. Would you like for me to call you a cab?” the night guard asked.
“That would be great Paul,” she gave him her best smile. “How’s that beautiful little girl of yours doing? Did she make the basketball team?”
“Yes she made varsity and has been prancing around the house for two days now. I’ll show you the pictures just as soon as my wife gets them developed,” he continued on. “Good night Mr.
Anderson. Have a safe ride home,” he said to Lucas as if just realizing he was there with the two of them.
“Paul, Ms. Harper won’t need that cab called. I’ll give her a ride home tonight,” Lucas stated with the confidence of knowing his word would be taken with no questions asked. Paul looked from her rigid face to his boss’s unyielding expression and decided he wasn’t getting in the middle of whatever was going on.
“Okay then, enjoy your weekend.” He turned and walked back over to his desk.
Lucas pulled Amy through the front doors while gripping her arm. She didn’t want to cause a scene in front of Paul so she went without a struggle but she was going to give Lucas a piece of her mind once they were outside. Of all the obnoxious, arrogant things the man could do. If he felt he could manhandle her and just expect her to go along with it he had another thing coming.
As soon as they were outside she turned towards him ready to unleash all her anger that had been building the past few hours. “Look...” she didn’t get to finish. He suddenly pulled her into his arms and crushed his lips to hers.
She was so stunned she stood there rigid for about three seconds while his lips stroked hers.
Then, she forgot who she was, let alone who he was and melted into his arms. All of the anger and frustration, added to her building attraction for the man, spilled over and she melted in his arms.
There were no thoughts of protest or anger anymore. She’d never been knocked off her feet before but there was a first time for everything. Her body was on fire and she never wanted the feeling to stop.
Her arms reached around his neck and her lips opened in invitation, allowing him full access to her mouth. His lips softened, caressing instead of bruising. His arms moved up and down her back, molding her body to his. She felt like she couldn’t get close enough.
She couldn’t breathe, but she had no need for oxygen. She only needed his body pressed into hers. She only needed his lips to keep working their magic. Her stomach had a million butterflies fluttering around and sparks of electricity shot through her body.
Lucas was ready to take her there on the sidewalk. His body and mind were on fire for her. He couldn’t have remembered his own name if someone had asked it right then. He had to have her.