She smirked. “On the way to the gym? I make an excellent workout partner. I have a lot of energy.” Her eyes drunk him in like they’d just walked through the desert. Is she always this creepy?
Dex hated being in this position. He didn’t want her and tried every subtle way to get rid of her, but she either didn’t understand or purposely ignored his objections. If she wasn’t an employee, he would have shut her down quick and caustic, but he didn’t know how to navigate the fragile line at work.
“Good to know. You should use that extra energy towards your job.” He lowered his voice so only she could hear. “Especially, since you are on a final warning.”
Daniella blinked undeterred. “You smell good. What do you call that scent?”
“He doesn’t want you,” Janice declared without looking up from her crossword puzzle. Her pink hair shone under the fluorescent light. Her all-black Converse bounced against the floor with the tapping of her feet. Janice was his definition of a busybody – it was almost impossible for her to be still. Her light brown eyes leveled Daniella. “Dex has been shooting you down gently for months, yet you keep coming back like a lost puppy. You’re either very slow or extremely persistent.”
Daniella frowned. “Shut up. I was just making conversation.”
Janice shrugged. “Just in case. You are not his type of woman. Move on.” Dex fought back a smile. She was by far his most prized employee.
“Okay. I’m heading out…” Dex supplied to try to break the tension. Janice and Daniella were in the middle of an intense stare down while a few others watched. He started to push the door open but paused when Daniella spoke.
“I’m everyone’s type of woman,” Daniella spat like a spoiled child. “Besides, what would you know? He’s never had a woman here.”
Janice rolled her eyes before moving back to her crossword puzzle.
“He’s taken, piss off.”
Dex suppressed a laugh and pushed the employee area door open and collided with another soft body. This time he didn’t mind the collision. Cayla’s body was worth crashing into repeatedly until they were both weak. An idea formed in that split second and he silently prayed, she would go with it. Dex wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her back into the break room.
“Hi, Darling.” Her amused eyes searched his face, but she didn’t respond. Her soft, lavender scent and warm body nestled against his ensured him that he wasn’t imagining her presence. His kiss was gentle enough to be appropriate for his audience; his mouth lingered over Cayla’s long enough for Daniella to get the hint. He laced his fingers with hers. “Let’s get out of here.”
Dex smiled when heard Janice rub it in Daniella’s face before the employee door closed. “I knew it! And I told you.”
Chapter 9
It was a quick kiss, but it was enough to get Cayla’s libido going. When she decided to leave work shortly after receiving the bouquet, she didn’t expect to be kissed when she stopped by to thank him. Now that she had a teaser, part of her hoped the Nike clad Dex was escorting her out of the restaurant to have his way with her. Sanity kicked back in, and she shook the idea out of her head.
“Where are we going, Dex?” It was difficult to keep up with his long, powerful strides while in a dress and heels. He stopped next to his Bentley Bentayga. Dex turned to her, his smile sweet and sexy. His shirt pulled taut against his muscles, and his gray eyes glowed in the sun.
“I was getting way from the man molester.”
“Daniella? She’s very into you. That’s why you kissed me, to be your female shield?” Cayla joked. Trying to ignore the heat of his hand wrapped around hers.
He eyed her car parked next to his. His restaurant was one of the few in The Woodlands that had a few private parking spots behind the restaurant. Kalilah told her that since there were only four, he’d marked them all reserved to discourage patrons from trying to park in the back. Dex laced his fingers between hers, his attention fully focused on her again. His look warmed her.
“I can’t stand her. I’ve been turning her down since the restaurant opened.” He moved closer, invading her space. Her cheek tingled where his free hand caressed. “I would have kissed you anyway. But, Yes. That was the reason for purposely kissing you in front of my employees.” He leaned within kissing distance. “Don’t worry; I have plans to kiss you privately.”
Cayla had to suppress a shudder. This is not good. She was trapped in his energy. She’d just wanted to say a simple thank you. Liar.
His hand moved from her cheek and entwined with her flowing hair. His eyes slid down her body.
“You shouldn’t wear dresses around me, Cayla.”
“Why?” she asked breathlessly against his now very close lips.
“Easy access.”
Her belly fluttered. She wasn’t sure if one of them initiated the kiss or if it was both, but it didn’t matter. His kiss was just as hot as it was in his office. The flutters turned into need. His hard body pressed her against his driver-side door. Cayla moaned into his mouth. Dex’s erection was hot and hard against her stomach. Cayla’s hands found her way into his hair; his growl made her throb. A soft thud worked its way into her psyche.
“My purse…my Louis…on ground,” she said between pants.
“I’ll buy more,” he rasped before deepening the kiss.
His tongue played with her mouth, giving her dirty fantasies about what it could do to other parts of her body. Dex picked her up; she instinctually wrapped her legs around him. Bad idea. Dex ground his erection against the spot that craved him the most. One of his hands snaked under her dress and grabbed her nearly naked ass. Fuck. He had her so hot, her toes were aroused.