Entangled Love by Jessica Gray

would have plenty of time to make the appropriate number of copies in the morning. Scribbling a note on a sticky pad, she attached the number of copies needed to the top page of the portfolio and placed it on Mandy’s desk.
     
    Stretching one more time, she started turning off lights as she headed to retrieve her jacket and purse. When she got to the conference room, she saw Michael still working on his computer. “I’m finished and heading home for the night. Shall I tell security what time you’ll be leaving?”
     
    Michael glanced up and immediately saw the effect the long day had taken on Evelyn. She looked dead on her feet and more beautiful than ever. A desire to hold her and ease the tiredness from her took hold of him, and his voice was gentle and caring when he asked her, “Are you going to be okay to drive home tonight?”
     
    It was the first time Michael had spoken to her without the distant coldness in his voice, and it immediately brought back memories of other times, before he had left, when he had spoken to her. She had loved hearing his voice and had often closed her eyes when Victor and he were discussing things, just to hear him speak. The tenor of his voice did something to her insides, and hearing it again, after being starved for the sound for so long, brought tears to her eyes.
     
    Blinking rapidly, she turned and headed down the hallway, “I’ll be fine. It’s only a fifteen minute drive.” Retrieving her things, she was surprised to see him waiting for her in the hallway, the remaining lights in the office already turned off, or down. Gesturing for her to precede him to the elevator, she walked in front of him, ready for this day to end.
     
    Michael allowed her to enter the elevator first, and was silent, watching her from beneath his lashes as the lift began it’s descent. Inside the confines of the small space, the scent of her shampoo and perfume was impossible to escape and brought back memories of before. Before he could stop himself, he found his hand reaching for her hair and smoothing it back behind her ear.
     
    At Michael’s touch, Evelyn froze. His touch was so familiar, yet so foreign. The urge to rub her head into his hand was strong. Too tired to fight her body’s responses, she gave into the impulse and leaned her head into his touch.
     
    At Evelyn’s compliance, Michael reached for her, turning her around and into his arms. Running his eyes over her face, he smoothed the hair back from the other side of her head and lowered his head. The moment their lips touched, it was like adding a spark to dry kindling.
     
    Evelyn wrapped her arms around his neck and held on. She was immediately transported back to the night of her graduation party and their one and only kiss. This was way better than she remembered. He tasted of coffee and butterscotch and his lips were driving her crazy.
     
    Michael kissed her lips, her cheeks, her eyelids, ending up with his mouth roving the curve of her jaw, headed towards the sensitive spot where her head and neck met. Not wanting to break the mood, but realizing that the elevator ride was about to end, he whispered in her ear, “Come back to the hotel with me?”
     
    Evelyn was so caught up in the feelings he was arousing in her, she didn’t even try to think, she just moaned her agreement and brought his lips back to her own. When the elevator door opened, Michael released her and wrapped an arm around her, keeping her close in case she changed her mind.
     
    The security officer had seen the elevator begin its descent and called a cab. As Michael and Evelyn exited the building, they found a taxi waiting for them. Michael quickly ushered her into the cab and then turned her towards him and hugged her close. Giving the driver the name of the hotel, he then proceeded to find the sweet spot behind her ear that drew another moan from her.
     
    Whether it was the late hour, or just the weeks of being near her and yet not being able to touch