Conflict of Interest (Employee Relations Book 1) (75 page)

Sunshine pours through the open blinds, welcoming a new day. Birds chirp outside and horns honk in the distance. Small things that have gone unnoticed for the better part of my life suddenly stand out and I’m fairly certain it has to do with the snoring beauty sprawled out before me.

“Come on, you need to get up.”

I set down her coffee and stand at the side of her bed.

“Up,” I repeat, pulling the blanket up enough to smack her luscious backside. “Caffeine and carbs are waiting.”

Gabriella groans and covers her head with a pillow that I swiftly pull away.

“Lucas,” she protests. “We've looked at condos every day this week. Let me sleep.”

“Can't. Leo told me this is
the one
and it's not even on the market yet. I need to act quickly.”

“You act quickly. I’ll be here when you get back.”

She grips the comforter in her hands and tugs it over her head. Just as quickly I yank it off the bed, completely exposing her naked body.

Christ, I’m a lucky man.

“Lucas,” she exclaims, glaring at me.

My tongue darts out to wet my lips and my pants become unbearably tight against my erection, something Gabriella doesn’t miss. She pushes up on her elbows and as she bends her knees she grins. As obvious as my physical reaction to her is, the way the wheels are now spinning in her mind of how to take advantage of it is even more apparent.

“If you come back to bed I’ll make it worth your while,” Gabriella says in a sultry voice and slightly parts her knees.

I groan, fisting my hands at my side.

Well played.

She bites her lower lip and lifts her gaze to mine.

“I know what you’re doing, love. It’s not going to work.”

“It’s not?” she pouts.

Smirking, I grab her ankles and drag her down the bed.

“Hey!” she shrieks.

In quick succession I drop my boxer briefs and climb between her legs.

“You can make it worth my while but you’re still coming with me.”

“I’ll
come
with you now, as in here in my bed.”

“This isn’t up for discussion.”

“Why do I need to go?” she protests.

She runs her hands up my abs, to my chest, and links them behind my head.

Swallowing thickly, I focus on her slightly parted lips before meeting her gaze head on. It’s a fair question. One I hadn’t given much thought to, yet has a simple answer all the same.

“Because you’ll be spending a lot of time there. I want to make sure it’s a place you can see yourself in.”

She bites her lip, attempting to hide her excitement and casually replies, “Oh.”

Weeks ago an admission like that would have caused me to double over with panic. She hadn’t been in my plans yet here I am mentally factoring her into every detail of my life whether I consciously realize it or not.

I press up onto my forearms and look her in the eyes wanting her to know the extent of my sincerity.

“I like waking up to you,” I continue. “In fact, once I find a place of my own and get you in
my
bed there’s a good chance I won’t let you leave. Ever.”

It’s not a proposal or an invitation to move in but it might as well be given my history.

Excitement flares in her eyes despite her continued attempt to mask it.

“Oh,” she says again.

I chuckle. “Yeah,
oh
. So what do you say?”

Pulling me closer she murmurs against my lips, “You win. I’ll come with you and then we’ll go house hunting.”

An hour later we arrive to the condo, faced with a pissed off Leo. Gabriella gives him some excuse about traffic and he immediately backs down. For such a tough guy he’s certainly wrapped around his sister’s finger and if I weren’t in the same boat I’d give him shit for it.

“Take your time looking around,” Leo says as he opens the door. “It’s completely empty. The owners relocated a couple of days ago.”

Beyond the front door a two-story entryway greets us, leading to the living room on the right, an office to the left and down the center a hallway that hugs a large, curved staircase.

“Wow,” Gabriella exclaims. “The living room is amazing.”