THE CAMELLIA TAVERN

CHAPTER 14: BROKEN RULES

Warrick pulls out onto the road and we ride in silence for a minute or so. I study his profile.  He looks pensive, almost bothered by his own thoughts, and I worry what he's about to say.  I don't know that we need the ten minute drive for him to tell me he's simply not interested.  I sort of got that already.

The song playing low on the radio is one I know, but from now on, it'll probably remind me of him.  Another reminder I don't need.

"Milly, there's something you should know," he says keeping his eyes on the road ahead of us.

    Is he about to tell me that he has a girlfriend?  Because he could've said so that night in his office.  Given, I didn't give him a lot of time to explain anything since I bolted out of there as fast as my legs would carry me.

"I don't get involved with anyone on my staff," he says, sounding colder and more aloof than his expression indicates.

Oh.  So he has some sort of professional code to uphold? 

"But I'd be lying if I said I didn't have to fight the urge with you, Milly.  That day in my office?  It took everything I had not to lean over and kiss you."

    I stare at him disbelievingly, and he glances over at me for one quick second before turning his attention back to the road.

"You wanted to kiss me?" I say, my voice sounding soft and almost timid.

He nods and slows the car down to make a left turn and I realize we're getting close to the hotel.  It must be less than ten minutes drive from the restaurant, and the idea makes me feel anxious.  I don't want our conversation to be over. 

When he pulls into the parking lot of our hotel, I suddenly feel desperate to buy just a few more minutes with him.  Especially now that I know he did want to kiss me that night in his office--that he held himself back for professional reasons. 

    He pulls into a parking spot but keeps the car running. 

    "I wanted to kiss you and do so much more than that, Milly," he says, finally turning to face me and I can't help but feel overcome by his words and the idea of doing so much more than kissing him.

"But I have that rule for a reason.  My businesses are priority number one for me, and I try not to do anything that can jeopardize their success."

Well, that certainly deflated my excited mood.

    "It's admirable that you have that much self control," I say, meaning for it to sound like a compliment and not frustration with his ability to control himself so well.

    "It might be admirable but it's not easy.  I mean, it used to be, but with you..." I watch as he runs his fingers through his hair in frustration, just like he did that night Eric came into The Tavern. 

    I want to tell him that I don't want it to be easy.  I want him to want me as much as I have been wanting him.

He looks over at me with that same intense stare that gets me every time.  I sigh because it's all I can do to release a little bit of the energy built up inside me. 

    "So just work colleagues?" I say letting the less emotional side of me win out and extending my hand to him. 

    He extends his own hand.  "Work colleagues."

We start to shake hands but stare at one another like there's so much more to be said.

I open my mouth to speak but am cut off by him.

"I just realized something else, Milly," he says, looking slightly less composed than he usually does. "Self-control is overrated."

Before I can respond, he's leaning over and pressing his lips to mine, and it's a rush of adrenaline and lust and satisfaction.  I don't want to stop.  I want to keep kissing him and do much more than that.