“I hope karma bites him in the ass,” Asha said venomously. “You’d tell me if you needed anything, right?”
Ally probably wouldn’t, because she rarely asked for anything from anyone, but to make Asha feel better, she answered, “Yes. I’m okay. I just need to clean up the mess and move on. Some of it’s my fault. I was so blinded by my plans and what I wanted for our future that I never saw the signs that he was a snake.”
“I’m so sorry you were hurt, Ally. But I’m glad you didn’t marry him. Since you’re on vacation next week, do you want to meet up with Maddie, Mia, Kara and me? We do lunch once a week. It’s a lot of fun. We all complain about what protective pain in the asses our husbands are, and then we sigh over the sweet things they do.” Asha laughed softly. “But we could focus more on the man-bashing for you.”
Ally laughed. “I’d like that. I haven’t had much time for friends in the last few years.” She hadn’t had any time, but she wanted to. Although she wasn’t as well acquainted with the other women, she liked them all. Sliding out of her seat, she grabbed up her purse to take out some money for her lunch. “I suppose I should get back to the office so Travis can give me his daily lecture and hire me back again.”
Asha got to her feet and grasped Ally’s wrist. “My treat. It’s your birthday.” Asha handed the waiter the small folder filled with cash.
“Thanks, Asha. And thank Kade for the flowers in case I don’t see him today. They’re beautiful.” She hugged the slender Indian woman, grateful that the two of them had become friends.
“I have no doubt you can handle Travis. You always do. I think you’re the only one who can,” Asha replied, squeezing Ally before letting her go.
Ally wanted to tell Asha that her skills at handling Travis were a little off lately, ever since he’d thrown her off-balance with his odd behavior and panty-melting kisses. But she simply bade her friend good-bye, agreeing to call her about lunch the following week, and drove back to the Harrison building.
She breathed a sigh of relief as she entered the office and found Travis gone, apparently out at meetings for the rest of the day according to the brief note he’d left for her. She was grateful for the reprieve, and tried to deny to herself that she was also slightly disappointed. How sick was that? She actually missed getting one of his lectures?
The afternoon flew by quickly. With Travis out of the office, she had to deal with whatever calls that she could handle, plus finish a mountain of paperwork that needed to get done. Before she knew it, she looked up at the clock and it was past time for her to leave.
I need to get to Sully’s!
Quickly shutting down her computer, she opened the large bottom drawer of her desk and pulled out some spare clothing she now left at the office just in case she forgot her casual clothes for bartending. Snatching a red tank top, jeans, and her sneakers, she hesitated a moment before dashing into Travis’s office and closing the door. She could be changed in a minute, and she didn’t want to go down the hall to the restroom because she was short on time. The blinds were open, but the office was so far up that nobody could see her unless they were in the next building, and even then, they’d probably need binoculars.
She toed her heels off and quickly stripped off her dress, pulling the tank top over her head. She was just reaching for her jeans when Travis’s office door opened, taking about ten years off her life as she let out a horrified screech.
And then…there was complete silence.
Ally froze, her gaze on Travis, his hand still on the door handle as he stared at her, his hungry eyes roaming over her body. She’d planned on covering up the sexy lingerie she was wearing with her jeans, and pulling her sneakers on over the stockings. Thinking about the image he was seeing right at that moment, she blushed, her whole face burning with embarrassment. The only thing she was wearing was a tight, red tank top, the sexy “barely there” black panties, and a matching garter belt and stockings. And with her full hips, she was fairly certain she didn’t exactly look like a sex kitten. “I’m sorry. I had to change and I didn’t think you were coming back.”
The tension was palpable, and Travis made no attempt to leave. He just stood there in his immaculate suit and tie, his face unreadable, nearly burning her with the heat in his eyes.
Uncomfortable, Ally reached for her jeans again.
“Don’t,” Travis barked, closing the door behind him. He stalked toward her, his dark eyes never leaving her, almost as if he were afraid she’d bolt.
Ally couldn’t move, couldn’t speak, couldn’t do anything except watch him as he moved slowly and deliberately across the room. Travis was stalking her, and it was the hottest thing she’d ever seen, but also a little more than terrifying. He was dangerous when he was like this, unpredictable. She could handle the Travis who was a jackass, the boss who argued with her daily. But this man, this darkly compelling and beautiful male who stopped in front of her, his eyes still roaming hungrily over her scantily clad body, was possibly more than she could handle.
He reached for the clip in her hair and released the curls as he growled, “Did he see you like this? Did you wear this for him?”
Ally swallowed before replying. She knew what Travis was asking. “No. It was an impulse buy, something he never saw and the only ones I have. I don’t usually wear these. I was out of panty hose,” she rambled nervously.
“Good. You’re beautiful, Alison,” he rumbled, thrusting a hand into her curls and fisting her hair. “I can’t stomach the thought of anyone seeing you this way except me.”
Ally shivered, but not with the cold. Travis’s eyes turned a dark chocolate color, nearly black, and his fierceness turned her on in a way she’d never experienced before. “I’m sorry I used your office. I have to go.” God, she was both weak with desire and mortified at the same time. She reached for her jeans again, but Travis caught her by the wrist, stopping her.
“Fuck! I can’t let you go. Not now.” Travis’s voice was tormented. He used his body to back her up against his massive desk, one hand on her ass and the other still clutching her hair. “Seeing you like this makes me crazy. The only thing I want when I look at you right now is to watch you come.”
Ally gulped as she stared into his eyes, as though they were having a private battle, and Travis was winning. Her treacherous body responded to his words, his nearness, and she wasn’t sure she could deny him this time. The air between them was vibrating with tension, and her body was screaming from the unbearable ache to have a piece of this man, even if it was only a fling. Just for a small stolen length of time, Ally wanted to…feel. Travis wanted her. He’d made that very clear. And God, how she wanted him.