I could listen to her talk all day and never grow bored. She's so damn cute when she gets fired up about something. Her baby blues light up and she flings her hands around like she's painting a picture for you. It's fascinating to watch.
But something is up with her and I didn't want to ask her to deal with the coffee pot issue on top of everything else she already does around here. Liberty Connor, one of my developers, was hugging her when I got here. Summer's been acting different all morning. Actually, she's been acting different for a while now. She seems…sad. When she speaks to me, she barely looks at me and then she scurries away like she's afraid I'm going to hurt her or something.
I would never hurt her though.
I'd tear my own heart out of my chest first.
Summer Daniels is the most incredible woman I've ever met. She's a ray of sunshine, spreading her light everywhere she goes. She's petite and curvy with big blue eyes and curly red hair that smells like flowers. She has a dimple in her right cheek, and a scar from a biking accident on her left knee. She loves the beach but hates sand. She also loves to buy cute shoes but kicks them off at her desk by ten every morning and slides on a pair of flats instead. She carries books everywhere she goes and gets riled up over Harry Potter. She also sneaks in cakes for every staff member's birthday, but never claims credit for doing it.
I'm so in love with her it's honestly a little pathetic. I spend half my time thinking about her, and the other half trying to find reasons to walk by her office just so I can see her. I want to put my grandmother's ring on her finger and give her as many babies as she wants. But I'm terrified I'll scare her off if I make a move. I need her around here. She's the best thing that ever happened to my company…the best thing that's ever happened to me.
I almost kissed her two months ago. I managed to get myself under control at the last moment, but it was close. I've thought of nothing else since then.
As soon as I catch sight of her in her little dresses or catch a whiff of her scent, my dick gets hard and I find my willpower tested in ways it's never been tested before. I don't sleep around or pay much attention to most women. It's been two or three years since I've been with anyone. I've spent my life focused on other things—like trying to leave this world a little better than I found it. I've always been happy with that.
But Summer makes me want something else, something more. She's too tempting, too beautiful…too everything. I feel drawn to her in ways I can't even explain to myself, let alone to anyone else. When she turns those blue eyes on me, some primal, animalistic part of myself roars to life, screaming with desperation to claim her.
I'm in Dante's second circle of hell, perpetually torn between that base, lustful urge and my duty as her boss. I don't want her to see me as some creepy old son of a bitch trying to get into her pants. She's a dozen years younger than I am. Doing the right thing by keeping my distance is slowly driving me mad.
So is the way she's been so jumpy around me lately.
Does she know I'm in love with her? Is she upset that I almost kissed her? Has she figured out that I walk by her office a thousand times a day just so I can sneak a peek at her?
I don't know and I don't like it. Wanting her and not being able to have her is pissing me off. My temper is shit these days. I dream about her every damn night. My dick is raw because I jerk off so much. And if I don't get coffee soon, I may actually murder Tomas.
"Come in!" I yell when someone taps on the door to my office. My heart pounds against my ribcage when Summer peeks into my office. God, she looks gorgeous today. Her little dress is pure white, making her look like an angel. The hint of cleavage it gives her has my mouth watering. The dress ends at midthigh, leaving the rest of those long legs on display. Her skin is porcelain, so pale I can see the blue veins running beneath it.
"Um, hey," she mumbles, stepping inside the office and pulling the door closed. She avoids my gaze, instead keeping her eyes downcast. She fidgets with the paper in her hands like she's nervous. Her teeth sink into her bottom lip.
My cock throbs.
I want to feel those ruby red lips wrapped around my dick while I have my tongue buried inside her. I want to know if she'll feel as soft and sweet in my arms as I imagine she will. I want her, dammit all.
"Do you have a minute?" she asks, her sweet voice soft.
"Always for you."
She blushes and then steps closer to my desk.
"Um, so I don't really know how to say this," she says, still fidgeting with the paper in her hand. Her eyes are watery, and her bottom lip is dangerously close to quivering. She looks like she's ready to cry. "So, I guess the best way is to just say it?"
I lean forward in my chair, concerned. She's so pale. If someone hurt her, I'm killing them. I'll bury their bodies beside Tomas, who is definitely going to die if he doesn't get back here with a functioning coffee pot soon. Whoever upset my sunshine will never make this beautiful girl cry ever again. I won't let them. "What is it, Summer? Is somet
hing wrong? Did something happen?"
She nibbles on her bottom lip and then sighs but doesn't say anything.
I push myself to my feet to go to her.
"I'm quitting," she blurts out.
I grasp the desk to keep my knees from buckling as my world goes spinning out of orbit. She's leaving me? No, no way. I can't let that happen. I won't allow it.
"I'm so sorry," she whispers, "but I need to move on."
"Move on? From what? Why? I thought you were happy here, sunshine."
"I love it here."