My New Boss

Chapter Three | His Place

His shadow cloaked me as I trailed behind him. I kept my eyes cast down on the gravel parking lot. Could he hear how loud my heartbeat was? I bit my lip.

He stopped abruptly and flipped around to face me. I ran into his side. His hand gripped my elbow. Why did he stop?

I stole a glance at his expression. He returned my stare intently. I had to look away. I jerked my head too quickly, causing it to spin. Instinctively, I braced one hand against his chest to steady myself. The fabric of his dress shirt bunched under my palm. What would it feel like to rub my bare chest across the stiff material?

My eyes rose to meet his stare again. I don't know what made me do it. Maybe the intoxicating scent of spiced pine or how his gaze lingered briefly on my lips that drove me. But I lifted myself onto my tippy-toes and I kissed him. His lips were both firm and soft to the touch. Like a peach. His grip on my elbow tightened. Merely a graze but my height could afford me no more.

"Catherine," he murmured against my lips, then pulled away.

His eyes were darker than before. He cleared his throat. "You don't know what you're doing." I began to recoil but he cupped my face in his hands. "Your skin is really flushed and you aren't acting like yourself. I think someone spiked your drink."

His weird rejection sobered me. "What?" I pulled away from him and shook my head; ready to disagree. After all, we hadn't gone to a frat party. I was just drunk. So drunk -I had humiliated myself and let him know how I felt about him in one fell swoop. But without Alexander as an anchor, I realized how light-headed I was and recalled how dry my throat had felt during the course of the evening.

Oh my god, was he right? No. There's no way. He probably wasn't being serious. I'm sure he was just giving me a rug to sweep my mistake under.

"I'm so embarrassed right now." I shoved my face into my hands.

He gently rubbed my back. "It's the person who did it who should feel embarrassed. You have nothing to be ashamed of." He shuffled his feet back and forth. "Look, I don't feel right about leaving you alone in your condition. If it is alright with you, then I would like you to sleepover at my place tonight. I can take the couch." He must really believe I was drugged. If I continued to deny it, then I would have to admit to him that I dreamed of kissing him all week.

"I couldn't put you out like that."

"I promise to be a perfect gentleman. I just want you to have plenty of water to drink and make sure you're okay in the morning." I opened my mouth to reject his offer again but he added, "The thing is...I don't want to frighten you but I am worried whoever did this might follow you back to your place."

When he put it like that, I couldn't say no because now I was freaked out. I nodded mutely. My energy waned. The reality of my predicament emptied me. He helped me to his car and buckled me in. I didn't know what to believe. 

Tears threatened to spill from my eyes. Half from humiliation and half from the thought of Alec being right. I wanted to ask him why he thought it wasn't just the shots I had drank. Every question seemed like an admission of my guilt so I said nothing.

We drove in silence until he finally broke it, "Do you know who it was? We can file a police report or take you to the hospital so they can run a test to prove it?"

I shook my head and continued to stare out the window. There were so many people in the bar. I had left my drink alone twice without batting an eye. I thought it was safe amongst the people I knew. I didn't think any of my coworkers present would be willing to do something so evil. Who knows? Maybe a stranger put it in a random drink that I just happened to get. My heart hurt just thinking about the possibilities.