“I do.” I say it too quickly, and it earns me another laugh. “I—never thought I’d admit it, but I do want....” Another brush of a kiss lands on the pulse in my neck. “I want this. Just not here.”

“Not in your office?”

“Not at your resort.” Is there enough oxygen going to my brain? I’m beginning to doubt it. “It’s too—” Tainted with my own attempts at sabotage. That’s what I should say. I should tell him right now, but when I’m breathing him in like this it’s impossible to think. It’s impossible to gather the courage. I can’t put aside my own desire. “I want to do this right.” It’s not totally accurate, and it’s a bit of a lie, but it’s the best I can do in this moment. “Whatever this is.”

“Jenny.” He says my name so quietly that I almost ask him to speak up. I want everyone to hear the way he says it.

“Yes?” My own voice trembles.

“Are you free on Friday night?”

Exhale. Remember to breathe. Breathe.... “Yes.”

Roman straightens up, and I feel the loss of him as keenly as my excitement. “I’ll pick you up at eight.”

16

Roman

By the time Friday night arrives, pure adrenaline has replaced all the blood in my veins. She’s been meticulous about keeping office hours free of flirtation. Well...nearly free. Sometimes she comes into my office with a sway in her hips that’s so inviting I almost order everyone else to take the rest of the day off. That same sway is in attendance as she walks up to my car. The employee bungalows are set back from the road leading into the resort, so I’m treated to almost a minute of the view.

Jenny wears red, and with her dark hair and green eyes, it’s a total power color. Her hair is swept back to the nape of her neck as usual, but as she gets closer to the passenger side, it’s her makeup that catches my eye. I’m not sure what exactly she’s added, but it looks stunning.

I straighten up from where I’ve been leaning against the hood and open the door for her. “Hi,” she says, pausing with her hands on the top of the frame. “It’s nice to see you outside of work.”

Being this close to her without touching her at all is a non-starter, so I indulge the both of us by leaning down to kiss her cheek. We are still on Bliss property, so this is skirting her new set of rules, but so be it.

“You look beautiful. Did you have Melanie stop by?”

Jenny wrinkles her forehead. “Who’s Melanie?”

I laugh, but only because I’ve made an ass of myself. “She’s the makeup artist at Lavish.” We have an in-house salon, like every good resort.