"Oh. Yes. Sorry." I start the car rolling, which at least gives me a reason not to glance at her. "Thank you again for going with me to that meeting. I failed miserably at charming Mr. Jenkins, but at least I'll have an answer sometime next week."
"You didn't fail miserably. We both agreed yesterday that trying to charm Jenkins wouldn't work. You needed to be yourself, and you excelled at that."
"Excelled? I barely said two complete sentences."
"You said more than that. Being too hard on yourself is a bad habit."
"It's my fault Sommerleigh Sweets is in trouble, so I'm not being too hard on myself."
Avery sighs with what sounds like disappointment, then she turns her attention to the view outside her window. We both remain silent for the rest of our drive back to my building, and we've still said nothing when I unlock the door to my flat. I gesture for her to enter first, and she gives me a kind smile. Perfect. The woman I desperately need to shag is gazing at me with kindness, not desire, which probably means she feels sorry for me.
I've barely flirted with her over the past week. Am I losing my touch? Maybe I'm just losing my mind. Not sure which option is worse.
The second I shut the door, Avery flings her arms around me.
I gingerly rest my palms on her back. "Ah, what are you doing?"
"Hugging you." She raises her head to aim those beautiful, deep-blue eyes at me. "You needed it."
Wonderful. Now I'm so pathetic that she feels compelled to comfort me. "You don't need to do that. I won't collapse on the floor and start sobbing about what a useless whingeing arse I've become."
"You aren't useless, and you don't complain." Avery steps back and clasps my hand. "Let's go sit on the sofa together so you can spill your guts to me in comfort."
"Oh yes, you make it sound so like so bloody much fun."
"Sarcasm is a good sign. It means you haven't completely given up." She splays her palms on my chest and fingers my tie. "Maybe you need an incentive."
"Yes, I do. Grab a bottle of Scotch from the kitchen, and I'll drink the whole ruddy thing. Then I'll tell you anything you want to know."
"Uh-uh-uh. No cheating." She begins to undo my tie, her gaze riveted to the task. "Getting drunk won't make you feel any better."
"Have I told you how much I love the skirt suits you wear? They're sexy as hell."
"Your flirting won't distract me from my goal." She has my tie undone now, and she unhooks the top button on my shirt. Then she grasps one end of my tie in each hand. When she lifts her head, a sensual smile curves her lips. "Wanna have sex?"
"What? I—Well, of course I want to. But I doubt I can manage it right now."
"Hmm." She starts walking backward while still holding my tie in both hands, which pulls me forward with her as if she's leashed me. "Let's find out what you can manage."
I let her lead me to the sofa, but I can't watch where we're going, not with her hips swaying and that hungry look on her face. When she catches her bottom lip between her teeth and releases it slowly, my cock jerks. Avery tosses my tie away and shoves me backward with one hand on my chest.
And I drop onto the sofa.
She shimmies her hips, hiking her skirt up to her waist, and sits on my lap.
I finger the edge of her lace knickers. "Your plan might work. Don't stop now."
She slides backward just enough to rest her arse on my knees. Then she unzips my trousers and slips her hand inside to wrap her fingers around my cock. Just as I start to get firm, the worst thing happens. I start thinking about my problems, the shame I've brought on my family, the way I've avoided my best mate, and the terrible things that might happen if I can't save my company.
And my blossoming erection wilts.
I let my head fall back against the sofa, shut my eyes, and groan like the miserable sod I am. "Bugger me. I can't even get a leg over anymore."
The woman sitting on my lap pecks a kiss on my lips. "It's okay. I'm not upset. Actually, I kind of expected this reaction, but it was worth a shot."
"Nothing like this has ever happened to me before." I raise my head, but I can't meet her gaze. "Well, maybe once or twice when I was a randy teenager. But never in my adult life."
She slides off my lap, tugs her skirt down, and settles onto the cushion beside me. "It's time."