“I feel like I’ve screwed everything up,” she breathed.
“You haven’t,” he said. “I’m your boss. The buck stops with me. I’ve made a mess of things, but maybe I can start making things right.”
She bit her lip. It was clear that he still blamed himself. All she had wanted to do was explain why she had thrown caution to the wind. Why she had been so willing to jeopardize everything.
For years she had been married to a man who didn’t give a damn about her or her feelings. Yet here was Simon. He appreciated her. Noticed her. Seemed to want to do the right thing, even if it was probably difficult for him. Of course she would want to connect with a man like him.
But now he seemed to believe she was still in love with her ex. Which might be for the best. If Simon believed that she had feelings for another man, he’d realize what a mistake all of this had been and would be eager to put it all behind them. They might still have a chance at a fresh start.
“How can we make things right?” she finally asked.
“You’re looking a little flushed and I think you’ve had enough to drink for one night.” He got to his feet and held out his hand. “How about we start by getting you upstairs?”
Her lips quirked up. “Trying to keep me out of trouble?”
“Someone has to.”
Slowly, she got to her feet, swaying unsteadily. She was really going to regret drinking so much in the morning.
Heather placed her hand in his and followed him as he guided her out of the bar and back to the room that they had been forced to share.
HE FLICKED ON THE LIGHT switch, bathing their hotel room in a warm orange glow. He tried not to imagine what Heather would look like lying on the bed naked in the soft light.
She sagged against him and he wrapped his arm around her waist. She started to slide down and he quickly hooked his arms around her knees and hoisted her up into his arms.
She mumbled something as he carried her across the room and set her gently down on the bed. The sheets were still rumpled, but there was no time to dwell on his memories of having sex with his assistant. He didn’t know how much she had been drinking, but he had to make sure she was all right.
He set her bag down on the night table and turned his attention back to her.
With a groan she rolled onto her side and then started muttering something incoherent. She had seemed to sober up while they had talked in the bar, but after she had stood up she seemed to have been hit by another wave of intoxication.
“Heather, can you hear me?” Simon placed a hand on her clammy forehead.
“I’m tired, Simon,” she slurred.
It was probably best to just let her sleep off her drunkenness. He was worried about her throwing up and choking in her sleep, but she didn’t seem to be showing any signs of nausea.
Her eyes fluttered opened and she smiled at him. “You’re so handsome.”
“You’re not so bad-looking yourself.” He chuckled as he reached for her shoes and slipped them off.
She giggled, and then suddenly clamped her hand down over her mouth like she was trying to suppress it.
Simon had never seen Heather cut loose like this. Usually she was a stickler for rules. Very proper. Even unyielding. They were similar in that way. Heather might have been so much better at making connections with other people, and forming long-lasting bonds, but one thing they had in common was that they played by the book. He might have been a risk-taker in business, but he had always made sure he stayed in control. Kept his mind focused. Which meant no drinking. No partying. No coloring outside the lines.
Until Heather had come back into his life and completely upended it.
That thought unnerved him. Made him wonder if he was wrong about her. Maybe she wasn’t the stickler for rules that she used to be. He might have known her while they were growing up but, the truth was, he didn’t know who she was now. In many ways they were strangers to each other.
The unnerving feeling gave way to excitement. His staid life had been thrown completely upside down by the neighborhood wallflower. Simon could hardly believe it, but Heather thrilled him more than any woman ever had. Which made working with her more than dangerous. It was perilous. Especially for both their careers.