Denying Bjorn Read Free

engaging men in intelligent conversation. Now, for the first time in her life, she struggled to think of something to say. This man possessed the ability to make her melt. Oh, the pressure.
    “Is that all for the expense reports?” Bjorn asked quickly, almost cruelly. “If you don’t mind, I really have a lot of work to do before meeting with a new client this afternoon.”
    Lydia felt her face flush—not in anger, but sheer embarrassment with underlying tones of disappointment. This outcome was not what she’d intended, but she couldn’t give up so easily.
    “If Dawn is too busy, I can help you out with your scheduling. I’ve done so for you before in the past. Why is it so different now?” She clenched her teeth together, determined not to let him toss her out on her ass and possibly lose him to her demon-of-a-bitch cousin. “Why are you acting this way toward me?”
    “Listen, I’m not having such a great day. Please—I really need to be alone right now.”
    “Okay.” She shrugged when she rose. “If there are any other problems with your expenses, I’ll let you know.” With that, she put the chair back into place and hurried out of his office with her pride still intact.
    Yeah, pride intact, but the stinging sensation in her heart was relentless. How was it possible to feel as if she were losing something she never really had?

Chapter Three
     
    Bjorn quickly jumped to his feet, locked the door behind Lydia, and returned to his desk. He gave a sigh of relief that she was gone—not that he wanted her to leave, but because of the raging hard-on he’d been trying to conceal.
    It was far worse than last night. He wasn’t normally a horndog, but at this moment, the urge to seal Lydia in his office alone was overwhelming. Last night he’d changed his mind about asking her out due to the simple fact that he was immortal.
    He hadn’t meant to be so cold toward her, but his feelings for her were far too gone, and he needed to control them now. She was kind . . . almost too kind. Her shyness seemed to dissolve the moment she thought something was wrong with him.
    Bjorn shuddered. She knew he wasn’t himself the moment he walked through those doors. He smiled at that. She was so kind, caring, and sensitive. Despite his best efforts of pushing her away, she refused to give in. He liked that. She was the kind of woman who would always have her man’s back.
    He groaned and silently chastised himself for using her cousin, Dawn, against her. He didn’t want, nor did he require, anything from that woman. He just wanted Lydia to return to the front desk until he could control his physical lust. He wanted her, but wanted to develop their relationship further. He felt he owed her an explanation, but would reveal it to her at another time, if she’d give him the time of day now.
    Bjorn appreciated her concern, he really did. She’d thrown him for a loop, and he didn’t know how to deal with it. Perhaps now was as great a time as any to ask her out on a date. Just one date. Maybe dinner and a movie? Hell, even a night stroll on the beach. Anything to be closer to Lydia! Hopefully tonight?
    He groaned. Another night alone would kill him. What he wouldn’t do to be by her side tonight. They could stay up all night talking about anything. If something else occurred between them, that would be okay too.
    “No, you bastard,” he muttered to himself. “She’s not a one-night stand. She’ll never be just a one-night stand.”
    As much as he wanted her sexually, there was no denying she had control of his heart. Maybe on their second date—if he made it that far—he’d cook dinner at his house, for her.
    Glancing at his watch, he now realized he needed to hurry. He had a long drive ahead of him and had come into the office only to pick up a few things necessary for his meeting.
    Early in the morning, even after several cups of coffee, he had succumbed to the wine and fallen asleep on the sofa. The plan was to