One Reckless Night (3 page)

out of her shell and said yes when she should have said no. But this wasn’t what she had been

referring to when she brought the idea up to her friends.

Bayleigh exhaled softly. She was a rational person. This was something she could handle.

Just treat this like a deadline at work,” she whispered.

“What?”

She looked at Dane when she realized she said the words aloud. “Nothing. Dinner tonight at

Sotto Voce’s sounds fine.”

A look of satisfaction crossed his face. “Good. Is seven okay?”

“It’s fine. I’ll be going now.”

Dane leaned closer, his masculine scent overwhelming, making her fight the instinct to step

back.

“Are you okay to drive?”

“I didn’t have that much to drink.”

She stiffened as soon as the words left her mouth. There went her potential excuse.

Dane nodded. “Come on, I’ll walk you to your car.”

“That isn’t necessary.”

He gave her look that told her he had no plans to argue.

“Bayleigh, it’s two in the morning. I’m not letting you walk to the car by yourself.”

“But—”

“Either I walk to you the car, or you get back in my bed and leave at a more reasonable

hour.”

Her gaze automatically went to the bed. The sight of her underwear at the edge of it was the

jolt of reality she needed. She looked at Dane and nodded. “Just let me grab the rest of my stuff and

I’ll be ready.”

“Okay.”

Stepping around him, she snatched her bra and panties off the bed and stuffed them into her

pockets. Dane stood in the doorway waiting for her.

“Aren’t you going to put a shirt on?”

“It’s warm out. Besides I won’t be outside long.”

There was no use debating with him. It would just be another delay. Right now all she

wanted was her own bed and a little time and privacy to gather herself. Bayleigh followed Dane out

of his room.

He led her down the hallway. Embarrassment rushed through her when she spotted the

bottle of wine and empty wineglasses next to it. After tonight, she would never drink wine again and

not think about this night. Bayleigh moved to gather up her work. Dane’s eyes burned a hole into

her back the entire time.

She slipped her feet into her shoes. After Dane opened the front door, she slid by, careful

not to brush him as she did so. His bare chest was enough to look at, if she touched him she’d be in

trouble. She made her way to her car with Dane on her heels. He opened the door after she hit the

power lock. When she turned around to look at him, she wished she hadn’t. His expression was one

she didn’t want to see.

“I don’t want you to leave like this, Bayleigh.”

“Dane,
please
. Sotto Voce’s, tonight at seven.”

“I’ll be there.”

Bayleigh slid into her car. Dane closed her door and stepped back. His eyes were on her the

whole time she backed out of his driveway. The entire drive home, she beat herself up over her

carelessness. If only she had said no instead of yes.

She was still beating herself up when her alarm went off a few hours later. Today was going

to be difficult. There was a meeting first thing and Dane was going to be there. He had to be. It was

the reason she had gone over to his house last night. If only she left once they finished their portion

of the presentation. Instead she stayed and because of it had the best sex in her life. Sex she would

never be able to experience ever again.

Bayleigh sighed as she sat up. She had to get a move on if she was going to be on time.

When she walked into the bathroom she avoided the mirror and undressed quickly before stepping

into the shower.

Bayleigh didn’t want to lose her friendship with Dane. He was a good guy and had been

from day one. Dane made her laugh and relax in a way she couldn’t around most other people. He

knew her quirks like she knew his. Dane could be domineering at times but last night it had come in

handy. He told her to lay back and relax.

Once she had, he rewarded her, several times. She giggled. Dane had given her more

orgasms in one night than she had in her entire life.

Her giggle ended on a sigh of regret. She hoped their friendship would survive. Bayleigh

finished her shower and dressed quickly. It took her longer to do her hair than she would have liked

because of lack of care last night. But at least it was presentable.

Gathering up her briefcase, Bayleigh made sure it held everything she needed. Giving

presentations was the only part of her job she hated. What she loved about her job was that it was

only a few miles from her home. She’d worked hard to earn her job with the Research and

Development department at Cal-Com Communications.

A competitor was always developing new technology, which meant she was always busy in

her department trying to stay ahead. Or at least stay even. They were in the process of trying to

develop a new wireless technology, which was why she often had to work with Dane. He was a

senior Network Engineer who provided her with the technology know-how of the products being

researched and developed. Their working relationship was a close one. Dane understood her.

Bayleigh sighed. Why did she have to go and mess up everything by having sex with Dane?

She frowned. Had she started it? The last thing she could remember after the wine was talking to

him. The next she was kissing him. Had she kissed him or had he kissed her? It didn’t matter

because it had been an error in judgment either way. Bayleigh pulled into a parking spot, then closed

her eyes. This day would be so much better if she didn’t have to face Dane. The reality was she had

less than twenty minutes to prepare herself.

She released a quivering sigh before grabbing her briefcase and climbing out of her car.

Bayleigh went straight to her office, greeting her co-workers along the way. She reached her office

and closed the door behind her, locking it for good measure. A few minutes later her computer was

up. Her focus went to scanning her emails until the calendar alert popped up informing her she had

five minutes until the meeting started.

A knock sounded on her door as she picked up her briefcase. When she opened the door,

the man she had hoped to avoid until the meeting started, stood there. She forced the muscles of her

mouth into a smile. “Good morning, Dane. Ready for the meeting?”

Bayleigh was proud when her voice didn’t quiver like her insides. He gave her a puzzled

look.

“Are you okay?”

“Of course I am. Why wouldn’t I be?”

She winced at the high pitch in her voice.

Dane frowned. “Bayleigh—”

“I’m
fine,
Dane. Just ready to get this meeting over with.”

“Which one?”

He stalked off and her mouth gaped open. What did he mean by that? She didn’t have time

to worry about it. There was an important meeting to focus on. Fortunately, it was quick and

painless, unlike last night. Once everyone was dismissed, she made her way back to her office and

buried her face into her computer. The end of the workday came a lot sooner than she would like

for a change. Bayleigh was grateful Dane had stayed away from her the rest of the day. Her mind

was already preoccupied enough. After shutting down her computer, she picked up her briefcase,

and headed for the parking lot.

Bayleigh pulled into her assigned parking spot and rushed inside. Unfortunately she didn’t

have long to get ready before meeting Dane for dinner. She didn’t have any idea what to wear.

Bayleigh paused at the thought. Why was she worried about getting dressed up for dinner? It was

just Dane. However, it was dinner at Sotto Voce’s with Dane.

Sotto Voce’s didn’t have a strict dress code but it wasn’t a place where one could get away

with wearing casual pants and a shirt. Her normal outfit was khaki’s and a button down oxford. It

was why she hated meeting days. She had to dress up for them.

Bayleigh slipped off her shoes as soon as she entered her apartment. A sense of panic came

over her. Why did Dane want to talk? Why couldn’t he just ignore the entire situation the way she

was trying to? Because he was different and always had been. Dane was also kind to a fault. He

would try to make the situation right, no matter what it took.

Bayleigh groaned as she walked toward the bedroom, unbuttoning her suit jacket as she

went. This was way harder than it should be. It was unfamiliar territory and she was nervous.

Calm down Bayleigh. You are overreacting. The situation is only
difficult if you make it so.

She smiled to herself as her mother’s advice resonated in her mind then opened her closet

door and stepped inside. Her gaze went to the back of the closet. The outfit she would need was

there. Bayleigh took the dress down and looked at it. The silk lilac dress with the draped scoop

neckline, fitted waist, and flare skirt would be perfect for the night. Her sister, Tasha, would be

happy to know she was wearing the dress after it had hung in her closet for six months.

When she walked into Sotto Voce’s a few minutes before seven, Dane’s expression told her

she picked out the right dress. He stood to greet her and the stunned look on his face made her

smile.

She’d taken extra care with her appearance tonight, leaving her hair down with the end

curled upward into a flyaway style. Her make-up was also more extensive than she tended to wear it.

The accessories she finished her look off with included the teardrop earrings and matching necklace

her mother had given her for her birthday last year. From the look on Dane’s face her extra effort

was worth it.

He held out her chair and she thanked him while she sat. When he returned to his chair their

server approached. She hardly paid attention to what was said. How had she missed how attractive

Dane was before now? When she first met him she thought he was cute, but now she realized he

was gorgeous.

Bayleigh liked his strong, somewhat sharp nose, sculpted mouth, and masculine jaw line. His

twinkling, dark green eyes that always held an air of amusement were another feature of his she

favored. His eyes always made her smile.

“Bayleigh?”

She blinked and realized her was staring at her. So was the waiter. He must be waiting on her

drink order.

“I’ll just have water,” she responded with smile.

The waiter nodded before walking off. Picking up the menu, she studied it before she

embarrassed herself any further. She decided to go with the Salmon Cannelloni with lemon cream

sauce. Her decision made, she looked over at Dane. He was watching her, intently. Bayleigh tried

not to squirm, but his gaze made her nervous.

The waiter returned with their drinks, offering her a brief reprieve. She gave her food order

hoping it would be rushed. No one could talk with a full mouth. The waiter walked away. Bayleigh

looked over at Dane with a nervous smile. It would be better to get this over with, the sooner the

better.

“So what did you want to talk about?”

“I want to talk to you about last night and how this will affect our friendship going

forward.”

Bayleigh nodded, unable to speak, fearful of what he was going to say. She was prepared to

fight though. Their friendship was too valuable to her.

He leaned closer to her. “Our friendship as we know it is over.”

A sharp, stabbing pain went through her heart. This was exactly what she didn’t want.

“Tonight is about you and me, as a man and a woman.”

It took her moment to grasp his words but when she did, her eyes widened. “What do you

mean?”

He gave her a wicked smile. Was this a joke of some sort? She laughed, figuring Dane was

trying to put her at ease.

“What’s funny?”

Bayleigh stopped laughing at the serious tone in his voice. Her mouth dropped open when

she realized he was serious. This was insane. She shook her head.

“No, Dane. I’m not willing to sacrifice our friendship for a sexual relationship.”

A stunned look fell over his face. “You think I would give up our friendship for sex?”

She remained silent, not sure what to think, what to do. For the first time in her life she

didn’t know what to say. Nothing could have prepared her for this. Dane had never showed an

inkling of sexual attraction to her. Sure he complimented her when she wore her hair different or on

her cooking when she brought him food, but that was what friends did. Right?

“What are you saying Dane?”

For the first time since she met him the smile Dane gave her lacked its normal confidence.

“I’m saying that I’m attracted to you, Bayleigh. I have been for a while now, I just didn’t want to say

anything because I was afraid to mess up the chemistry we have as friends.” He sighed. “After what

we shared last night, I can no longer put my deeper feelings for you aside.”

Dane stopped speaking as the waiter delivered their food.

After the waiter left, Bayleigh was still speechless. What was she supposed to say? The last