Accepting His Terms Read Free Page B

a chuckle.
    “Well, yes, for one thing. I was attempting to do just that when the door opened.”
    “Remind me never to get on your bad side,” he said with a low laugh. “Seriously, though, just make sure if you are ever alone in an enclosed place again, you’re able to defend yourself. I don’t want anything to happen to you or to any of my employees. You need to feel safe in the office.”
    “I’ll be careful, but you make me sound like a defenseless woman, or a child,” she replied.
    “That wasn’t my intent at all. I don’t think of you as defenseless. I think of you as…” He took a drink and didn’t finish the sentence.
    “What were you going to say?” she asked. “I’d like to know how you think of me, Mr. Baine.”
    “Jarrod…” he reminded her.  He reached across the table and took her hand. “I think of you as a beautiful, smart, intriguing woman. I think it’s time for me to admit, I’m very attracted to you.”
    “Are you serious?” she asked as she nearly choked.
    “This surprises you?” he asked in a low, sexy voice.
    “Yes, it does, but what I don’t understand is, if you were attracted to me, why didn’t you say something before now? Was it because you’re my boss?”
    “That was part of it.”
    “Did what happened today have anything to do with this sudden admission?”
    “In part. It probably prompted me to say something sooner than I would have otherwise. If that boy had hurt you, I don’t know what I would have done.”
     “What exactly does this all mean, Jarrod?”
    “Isn’t it obvious? I want you in my life, outside the office as well as inside. I want to see where this leads. But we still work together, and there will be talk. You have to be able to handle that. Or would you rather I back off? Are you not interested?”
    “Well, let me think about it…” she said with a grin. “You’re not the easiest person to be around, you know.”
    “I should really turn you over my knee for that remark, not to mention for almost getting yourself into a compromising position this afternoon. There is a panic button in the elevator, you know.” he said with a twinkle in his eye.
    She laughed. “You’re right about one thing, it all happened so fast I never thought about the panic button. But as far as the other thing you said, you wouldn’t dare.”
    “You don’t think so?” he teased.
     “Eat your dinner and behave, Mr. Baine,” she teased back as she took a sip of wine.
    “You’re telling me to behave,” he said with a grin.
     “Does anyone else at the office know what happened today?” she asked suddenly.
     “No one else knows, nor do they need to. I was the only one who saw and Ronnie is no longer working there.”
    “I think I’m enjoying this dinner very much,” she said with a smile.
    “Does that mean you’re not opposed to the two of us seeing each other outside the office?” he responded. “This isn’t going to be easy, you know. There will be talk among the other employees and maybe some jealousy. I’m sure some of the other men have considered asking you out. Some of the women may give you problems, as well. You need to let me know if they do. I won’t tolerate you trying to handle it on your own. We’re in this together. Is that understood?”
    “I’m getting that feeling,” she said. “It’s going to be hard to mix work with pleasure. Are we going to have any rules about that?”
    “We might need to set some or I might find myself calling you into my office just to kiss you… or punish you for something you’ve done to frustrate me. But I’m serious about anyone giving you grief about us.”
     “You might call me in your office for a private discussion. And that would be a problem?” she teased.
    He laughed. “Maybe not…”
    When dinner was finished, he took her back to her car. “I’ll see you in the morning. Try to get some rest.”
    “Yeah… sure, in the morning,” she said.
    “I hope you were able to