All That She Wants (Connor's Point of View Part 1) (9 page)

I was about to suggest a possible strategy –
walk slowly and chat about something work-related – when the doors
opened and she took off like a rocket.

I almost had to run after her.

“Hi, Stanley,” she shouted when she was still
a hundred feet away from the guy. A deaf man would have been able
to pick out the nervousness in her voice.

Stanley looked up, obviously taken aback. He
lifted one hand hesitantly, as though unsure whether he wanted to
get in the middle of whatever weirdness was going on.

I caught up with her in a few quick strides.
“Very slick,” I whispered good-naturedly. “Very under the
radar.”

“Oh, shut up,” she whispered back – and I
wanted her more than ever.

But she suddenly turned away. I didn’t know
why; at first I thought I had really offended her, but then I saw
the second bank of elevators she was heading towards, and the
‘Parking’ sign over them.

“I’m this way,” I called out. When she turned
around, I pointed towards the front of the building.

She looked flustered. “You didn’t park in the
garage?”

“No.”

“But… there’s no street parking out front
after seven,” she said, and I could see the rising panic in her
face. “They might have towed your car!”

“I don’t think it’ll be a problem.”

“But – ”

“Lily,” I said, in as soothing a voice as I
could. “Calm down. Just walk out with me.”

She looked into my eyes, and I gave her as
warm a look as I could. She nodded once, then walked beside me
across the lobby. Once I was sure she wasn’t going to bolt, I
pulled out my phone and texted Johnny.

Come pick me up.

Then I put it back in my jacket.

“Night, Stan,” I said as we walked by the
guard station.

Stanley smiled and raised his hand again.

I wanted to tease Lily about how well people
react when you don’t weird them out – but I didn’t want to lose
her, so I just kept quiet as we exited the lobby and walked out
into the street.

Downtown was bustling with cars, though none
were parked along the side of the streets. Apparently that alarmed
Lily, because she cried out, “Oh no, your car!”

I thought that was funny, but it was a
reasonable assumption. After all, what kind of a person had a
chauffeured Bentley at their disposal?

I was kind of looking forward to her reaction
– but I wanted to know where she stood before it showed up.

“Quit worrying about it. I have a question to
ask you.”

“But – ”

“Lily. Focus,” I said, and raised her chin so
she was looking into my eyes. I felt her tense – but she didn’t
fight me, so I kept my fingers there as I asked, “Did you mean what
you said earlier about this being the best night of your life?”

I could see the struggle play out on her face
– but eventually, the truth won.

“Yes,” she whispered.

I kissed her. I had to; I wanted her so
badly, there simply was no other option.

She tensed again – harder this time – but
eventually I felt her melt into me and give back as good as I
gave.

I didn’t want to stop kissing her… but I
could hear the soft whisper of the Bentley in the background.

So I pulled away and looked into her eyes,
which she gradually opened as though waking from a dream.

“Come with me,” I whispered.

“…what?” she asked, stunned.

“You said this was the best night of your
life. So let’s keep it going. Maybe even make it the best weekend
of your life. Come with me.”

I could see the struggle in her face:
happiness and fear, both vying for control. “I… I can’t… what are
you talking about?!”

I took both her hands in mine. “Come with
me,” I said, more urgently this time.

“But – the reports – ”

“Are crap. A fake test Klaus didn’t pass
anyway. Forget them.
Come with me.
”

“The office – I left everything on – ”

“Who cares? Leave it and come with me.”

There is a moment in every negotiation, every
argument, every game, where there is a tipping point. The moment
where everything is either lost or won. Usually it’s a very small
moment – and usually won by one person gradually convincing
themselves, rather than by overwhelming logic or emotion. If the
reasons to do something are overwhelming, it was never a true
negotiation or argument or game in the first place.

But this was. It was a battle between
everything she wanted… and everything she feared.

I could see it in her eyes.

And it looked like I was losing.

“Take a chance,” I whispered. “Be that woman
I made love to just now. Come with me.”

I felt her shiver, and I wanted to grab her
and spirit her away and make love to her all night long.

But it had to be her choice.

I saw the two sides warring in her eyes – and
then suddenly, desire won out, and the fear subsided.

“Screw it,” she whispered. “Let’s go.”

I grinned so big that my face hurt.

By then the Bentley had pulled into place. I
turned around and opened the rear door, then glanced back at Lily
expectantly.

She looked at the car, then stared at me.

“What the hell is this?” she asked – not
angrily, but in shock.

“Just get in,” I said, and held out my hand
to her.

Again I saw desire and fear battle in her
expression – but this time, desire won with a little help from
something else:

Curiosity.

She accepted my hand and got into the car…
and I got in behind her.

At that moment, I felt an elation that came a
close second to everything that had happened in the boardroom.

You won’t regret this, Lily.

I promise.

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Books By Olivia Thorne

ALL THAT HE WANTS Part 1
The Billionaire’s Seduction Part 1

ALL THAT HE WANTS Volume 1
The Billionaire’s Seduction Parts
1-4

ALL THAT HE LOVES Volume 2
The Billionaire’s Seduction Parts
5-7
The Conclusion to the Billionaire's Seduction
Series!

ROCK ME HARD
The Rock Star’s Seduction Part 1

Kaitlyn gets her big break as a journalist,
but it’s the one job she doesn’t want: a
Rolling Stone
cover
article on rock star Derek Kane, the ultra-hot, bad-boy rocker who
spent one unforgettable night with her four years ago.

PASSION AND PRIDE

Master and servant, aristocrat and
commoner... Passion brings them together, but pride will tear them
apart. When Marian is in danger, will Evan risk everything - his
fortune, his title, his life - to save the woman he loves?

OliviaThorneBooks.com
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