I pace my office, anxious for Chloe to finally arrive at work. We spent the weekend wrapped up in each other at our house. I gave her a tour and we ended up breaking in quite a few of the rooms.
She left really early this morning to go back to her apartment, and I vowed to get her moved into our place by the end of the week. I don’t think that I can spend another night without her now that I know what it’s like.
It might be hard to get her out of her lease and convince her to move in, since she doesn’t want anyone to know about us, but I can be persuasive.
I had wanted her to ride in with me. I even offered to pick her up on my way, but she refused.
I make another lap around my office, my eyes locked on the elevator. When the doors finally open and I see her strawberry blonde hair in the crowd, my heart takes off.
She looks gorgeous. Her skin is tanned from our week in the sun and I grin as she looks up and our eyes lock.
Maybe that’s why I miss the strange looks that we’re both getting or the way that a few employees lean closer and start whispering to each other.
Instead, I’m too busy wishing that I could kiss her.
I want to feel her sweet curves pressed up against me. I want to hear her moans in my ear and that breathy way that she says my name when she’s close to coming.
I knew that we shouldn’t have come into the office today.
My phone rings as Chloe gets situated at her desk, and I begrudgingly take it. It’s from one of my hotel managers, but I honestly couldn’t tell you what was said. All of my attention is on my girl.
“Sounds good,” I mumble as I end the call and as I drop the phone back in the holder, my office door bursts open and a furious Chloe bursts in.
She looks close to tears, her hands balled into fists, and I’m on high alert right away.
“What’s wrong?” I ask, leaping to my feet.
“You swore that no one would know.”
“Who knows?” I ask, looking out my office windows behind her to see that most of the employees on this floor are looking at us. “Oh.”
“Yeah. Oh. I can’t do this, Knox. I quit.”
“No,” I say as the first tears start to fall from her eyes.
“You can’t stop me,” she says.
“Chloe, wait. I’ll fix this. Tell me what to do and I’ll fix this.”
“You can’t,” she hiccups and my hands flex.
“Yes, I can. What I can’t do is lose you.”
She just shakes her head, her hands wrapping around her waist as she turns to the door. She opens it and I panic.
“I’ll close the business.”
“What?” she asks, spinning around and I can see that I have everyone’s attention with that.
“I love you, Chloe. I want to marry you. I want a life with you. If I have to close up shop to have you, then I will gladly do it.”
People start to shoot panicked looks around the office behind her, but Chloe just stares at me.
“I’ll lay everyone off. We can go back to Bora Bora or wherever you want to live. We’ll be happy.”
“No,” she says, her eyes still wide, and I wonder which part she is saying no to. “You can’t lay everyone off.”
“You are all that I need, beautiful. I just need you to be happy, so yes, I can. I’ll make sure that they get interviews elsewhere and I’ll give them all good reviews.”
Her eyes well with a new wave of tears and I take a step closer to her.
“I love you too, but I can’t let you fire all of these people. I can find a new job.”
“No, I need to be close to you.”
“I’ll get over the looks and whispers then. You can’t fire everyone.”
The relief from outside the door is palpable and I pull Chloe against me.
“Say that you love me again,” I whisper against her lips and she smiles.
“I love you, Knox. So much. I’m sorry that I got scared.”
“It’s okay. I’ll be there every time you get worried in the future.”
She nods, happy tears spilling from her eyes, and I kiss her.
“Love you, Chloe.”
A few cheers break out behind us, and I roll my eyes. I kick the door closed, my mouth sealing over hers once again.