Sleeping With My Boss: A Standalone Novel (An Alpha Billionaire Romance Love Story) (A Dirty Office Romance) by Claire Adams Page B

pints, I was starting to feel a little
buzzed, so I decided to call it quits for the evening. Conversation had been
flowing smoothly all night, especially between Asher and myself—a little too
smoothly. Add in the heated eye contact that lasted a little longer than it should
have each time, and I was determined not to allow a repeat of the poor decision
I’d made with him the last time we’d been together in a public setting outside
of work.
    As attractive as I found him, I didn't want a repeat
of the last experience—especially not with my boss. I was on top of my game at
work, and I didn't want to be put in a position where that could be
compromised. I couldn't afford to let emotions get in the way of my career
success—not at this stage of the game.
    “All right, guys, I think it's about time that I call
it a night,” I announced.
    “Are you sure?” Eddie asked with a grin. “Hell, I was
just getting started!”
    “I'm sure you were, Edward,” I replied with a smile.
“Some of us have normal jobs that start at eight in the morning as opposed to
two in the afternoon.”
    “You squares and your routines,” he chuckled with a
wink. “All right, all right.”
    “Can I give you a ride home?” Asher asked.
    “No, it's fine,” I replied. “Eddie's already said he's
giving me a ride, right, Ed?”
    I kicked Eddie's leg subtly under the table.
    “Oh, yeah, yeah. Don't worry, man, I've got it. I’m
just gonna finish up this beer and I’ll give her a ride home.”
    “All right,” Asher conceded with a smile that came
across as a little disappointed. “Well, it has been fun. Again, well done on
the presentation earlier, Lilah, you totally killed it. I'm really looking
forward to seeing how your ideas perform in practice. I'm dead sure they're
going to be a runaway success. And, Eddie, it was awesome to meet you. I think
I'm going to listen to a bit of Razor's Edge on the drive home, actually.”
    “Right on, man!” Eddie said with a smile as he reached
over to shake Asher’s hand.
    “Thanks, Ash,” I offered as he stood.
    He gave both of us a wave.
    “Enjoy the rest of your evening, you two,” he said.
“And, Lilah, I'll see you at the office tomorrow.”
    With that, he left—and left me thinking about all
sorts of possibilities.

 
 
 
 
 

CHAPTER 9
    Asher

 
    Rejected.
    Not exactly an occurrence I was accustomed to. But
that’s exactly what had happened.
    Despite how well we'd gotten along, how easily we'd
conversed, not to mention the smoldering looks that had passed between us—at
the end of the night, she'd suddenly flipped the cold switch and that was that.
I admit, I had hoped to get a chance to drive her home, but she'd declined—politely,
but still, it had been a rejection. No point in sugarcoating it.
    And so, I drove home alone with my thoughts and my
music. Thoughts that couldn’t find their way to anything other than Lilah
Maxwell. What was it about her that had me so captivated?
    It wasn't that I'd wanted a repeat of our too much wine kiss to happen. All right,
maybe part of me did, but it wasn’t just a physical connection I was craving
with this woman. No. It was the conversation and energy between us that I
wanted to keep going.
    It had been ages since I’d last felt connected so
intensely with anyone, female or otherwise. The fact that she was a physically
stunning, intelligent, and sensual woman was merely icing on the cake. Sweet,
sultry icing.
    But the fact that I was physically attracted to her
wasn't the sole reason I wanted to spend more time with her. I just enjoyed
being around her.
    “I guess maybe it's a good thing,” I said aloud as I
watched the lights of the city fade in my rearview mirror and started the
ascent into the hills outside of the city limits. I tended to talk to myself
more often than I cared to admit. Hazard of being a bit on the private side—I
didn’t let too many people get close to me. That meant I didn’t have too many
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