He forgot to breathe. The rest of the room faded away. His chest expanded and burned. Why did she have to be Tom’s daughter?
“Is that what happened to you?” Her lips were moving, but he couldn’t seem to hear a thing she said.
Forcing himself back to reality, he said, “Hmm?”
He told himself to snap out of it. Quit thinking what he was thinking. She was forbidden. But his mind just kept heading south.
“Is that what happened to you?” she repeated and then clarified, “With your first job. Did you leap into it, even though it wasn’t what you really wanted?”
His first job. What had been his first job? He couldn’t seem to get past how pretty her green eyes were. God, he was such a sucker for green eyes.
Oh, right. First job. ProTech.
“No,” he said. “Oh, no way. I loved my first job. I don’t know if you’ve heard of it. ProTech. Actually, that’s short for Protection Technologies. My best friend started it and asked me to help him out.”
Lenna sent him a confused frown.
Wanting to explain, he waved his hand. “ProTech is a security company, basically, for the Internet. We create virus protections and firewalls. Or different websites will contract us to work out any bugs they may have.” He paused when he noticed Lenna giving him a funny, perplexed look. “What?”
“You really liked it there,” she murmured.
His smile was genuine. “Yeah. I did.” ProTech had been his life.
Lenna tipped her head to the side and studied him a moment. “Then why’d you leave?”
Braxton froze, wishing he had a sledgehammer handy to jar himself over the head.
He’d neatly set himself up for that question, hadn’t he? Damn. “I...uh...”
He was saved from having to answer when, for the first time since he’d become president of Farris Industries, he actually welcomed the sight of Thomas Davenport approaching.
“Lenna!” Tom called, hurrying toward the bar.
She jumped and whirled toward her father. “Daddy!” she said in high voice.
“Sweetheart, I’ve been looking everywhere for you.” Tom glanced accusingly at Braxton.
“I was just, uh, ordering a drink.” Lenna lifted her wine to prove it.
Then she chugged. She swallowed twice before coming up for air, telling Braxton everything he wanted to know.
Thinking she wouldn’t be so nervous if he hadn’t affected her, Braxton hid a smile. Oh, yeah, he liked the idea of affecting Lenna Davenport.
Tom eyed her drink. “How many of those have you had?”
Lenna scowled and set the glass on the bar beside Braxton’s. “Dad,” she scolded. “I thought you said you weren’t going to act all fatherly tonight. You said I could enjoy this party to my heart’s content.”
Tom glowered. “I’ll worry about my daughter if I want to.”
“Well, stop it and just come dance with me.”
She grabbed his arm and tugged him toward the floor.
Her eyes strayed to Braxton as she led Tom away. In their depths, he saw guilt, shame, and excitement. As he watched her go, he took a moment to admire her while her father twirled her around.
Then he turned away and drained his glass. He stayed at the bar for a while, hoping she’d return to retrieve her drink. But she never did. Braxton finally surrendered to the inevitable—it wasn’t meant to be—and went home, disappointed.
Yep, he’d done it now. Depression settled over him as he let himself into his quiet brownstone apartment. After one innocent—ninety percent innocent, anyway—conversation, he’d become infatuated with Tom Davenport’s daughter.
Wasn’t that just lovely?
Though Lenna told him she didn’t need an escort, her dad walked her to her door after driving her home from the party. It was nearly one in the morning, and the neighborhood outside her building was dead. When headlights actually turned onto her street as they were crossing the road, her dad stepped protectively closer and took her elbow.
She rolled her eyes. It was on the tip of her tongue to tell him she could jaywalk on her own. But he let go of his grip as soon as they hit the curb and stepped forward to open the main entrance of her building for her. The move was sweet enough to make her bite back the nasty comment.
They ascended two flights to her apartment in comfortable silence. He waited quietly behind her as she unlocked her door. After pushing it open and reaching around a corner to flip on a light, she turned back.
She gave him a smile and murmured, “Thanks,” for his consideration.
When he merely stood there and studied her thoughtfully, she squirmed. Okay, way weird. Why was he staring like that?
Her dad wasn’t the kissy, smoochy type. But Lenna lifted onto her toes anyway and pressed a peck to his cheek, tickling her lips on his bristly jaw. “I had fun tonight. Thanks for inviting me,” she said and started to pull away. But he grasped her elbow. Hard.
Their gazes met and she caught her breath at the rigid expression on his face. His lips pressed thin and his eyes narrowed to slits.
“What were you and Farris talking about at the bar for so long tonight?”
Lenna blinked at the unexpected question. “What?”
“What were you and
my boss
talking about?”
Her mouth fell open. “We were picking out names for our firstborn,” she said, stiffening her back. “Why?”
“Don’t play smart ass,” he growled. “Not this time. I’m serious, Lenna. What’d you two discuss?”
She gave an adamant shake to her head and eyed him warily, wondering where the heck this inquisition was coming from. Had he looked inside her and seen how much Braxton Farris had affected her?
No. Impossible. She’d been careful to hide her attraction.
But the way Tom frowned, he knew every dirty, delicious thought she’d had about the new president of Farris Industries.
“We didn’t talk about anything important. Why? Did you think he was feeding me company secrets?”
Her dad’s face only tightened more. “You know he only paid attention to you to irritate me, don’t you?”
Her lips parted. “Of course,” she murmured before acerbically adding, “I’m mean, there’s no possible way he could’ve actually been attracted to me personally. It must’ve been all about you, Dad.” She ripped her arm out of his hold, glaring.
“Lenna,” he started as if to apologize.
“No,” she cut in, holding up a hand. “I’m not sure what you’re trying to say, but I don’t like it. I’ll probably never see your boss again, so whatever’s bothering you is moot. All right?”
He sighed in surrender. Gripping her arm again, he pulled her into a half hug. “I’m sorry, kiddo. The thought of him sniffing around you just sends me into a rage.” He kissed her forehead. “I still had fun tonight dancing with you, though. Thanks for coming along.” Then he turned away and left.
Lenna gaped after him, not sure what to think.
* * * *
Two weeks later, she was still confused by her father’s behavior that night.
His grip had been so strong and insistent; she could still feel his fingers biting into the skin above her elbow. She shifted the hefty gym bag on her shoulder and rubbed the spot where he’d left a faint bruise. Approaching Farris Industries for her monthly basketball workout with him, she had to admit basketball was the last thing on her mind.
It was crazy. She knew she shouldn’t be thinking about Braxton Farris or remember so clearly the small conversation they’d had at the Christmas party. But his face kept popping into her head at the oddest times. She’d enjoyed talking with him. She’d enjoyed him, period.
But the guy was totally forbidden. She couldn’t remember when her dad had last disliked someone so openly before.
She might as well thrust a knife into Tom Davenport’s back if she ever considered getting involved with the likes of his employer. In fact, in loyalty to her dad, she should probably even forget how animated she’d felt when he’d turned his baby blues her way and gazed at her as if she were something important.
It was a fruitless daydream, anyway. Braxton Farris came from a class scads above her own. He’d never honestly be interested in her.
But she wondered to herself, anyway. How would she go about resisting a man like him if he were ever to pursue her?
He was, like, perfect. A veritable Prince Charming. Lenna remembered how he’d looked in his tux and shivered. Prince Charming indeed. God, was it even feasible to resist Prince Charming? Why would a girl even want to—well, unless he was forbidden, as Braxton Farris was? But how would she ever begin to reject him?
Lost in thought, she opened the door. The strap of her bag dug into her shoulder again. She glanced down to reposition it, not paying a lick of attention to where she was going. But as she entered the building, she rammed her bag smack into a solid object that grunted out a sound of pain.
Her head flew up.
Oh shit.
Before her, Braxton Farris doubled over and clutched his groin.
Covering her mouth with both hands, Lenna gasped. “Oh, my God!” Sweet Lord, she’d just racked Prince Charming. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”
He was too busy cradling the offended area to glance her way. Lenna had a sudden frantic thought; if she ran now, she could escape, and he’d never know it’d been her who’d caught him right in the—
She paused when he blew out a breath and straightened. That’s when she realized he wasn’t holding the family jewels but rather a spot about four inches to the left.
Oh, thank God. She’d only nicked him in the thigh.
“It’s okay,” he assured before adding, “Lenna.”
Her eyes widened. She jerked her face up.
Great. He was looking at her and—double great—he’d caught her staring at his junk. Her face turned twenty-three shades of red.
She bit her lip and shrank a step back. “I am so sorry, Mr. Farris. I didn’t—”
“Whoa.” He lifted his hand. “Please don’t ever call me mister again. It’s just Braxton. And I’m fine. Really.”
Horrified, Lenna wanted to keep groveling. But he’d already forgiven her. It would be tacky to apologize again. So, she opened her mouth to say something, except she had no idea what. It seemed prudent to make some kind of comment.
Finding it suddenly hard to breathe, her gaze latched onto his, and she found herself looking at an interested man. He truly and honestly looked mesmerized by her. The mere way he stared caused a hundred butterflies to set up house in her stomach. It made her blush. She tucked a stray piece of honey blonde hair escaping her ponytail behind her ear.
Guess she hadn’t totally imagined his attraction after all. The realization was flattering. She started to think maybe—
But wait. Her father couldn’t stand this man.
And from listening to Braxton at the party, she knew he returned the sentiment wholeheartedly.
Lenna didn’t think she could ever date anyone who couldn’t even try to get along with her dad. So, she decided right then and there. The first step to resisting Prince Charming was to avoid eye contact at all cost.
Demurely lowering her gaze, she quietly said, “Excuse me,” and started around him to enter the building.
But Braxton Farris turned as she passed, openly following her with his gaze. He scanned her body and took in the outfit she wore. It was obvious she was set for the gym. She had her hair pulled up, her tight sport shirt sponsored a famous shoe brand, and her yoga pants were perfect for a nice, hard game of basketball.
Braxton cocked his head quizzically to the side as he studied her. “I don’t recall ever seeing a gym here before.”
Since he owned the entire building of the Farris Industries Executive Offices, he would know.
The corner of Lenna’s mouth hitched at his joke.
She glanced down at her gym bag. “I’m just here to pick up my dad. We play a game of basketball at lunch every second Tuesday of the month.” She patted the bag and added, “This is his change of clothes.”
“Really?” Braxton rubbed his thigh. “What does he wear to the gym? Chain mail?”
Her eyes widened. “Oh!” She unzipped her bag. “I think there might be a basketball in here.”
Looking inside, she dug around. God, she must’ve hit him hard. “Hmm. I guess it’s not...” Then she exclaimed, “Aha!” and yanked out a pair of men’s worn running shoes.
“Ah,” Braxton replied and motioned toward them. “Yep. It must’ve been the shoes.”
Lenna grinned. Her heart slammed against her ribcage when he returned the smile.
Step Two, she decided: Never,
ever
, smile at Prince Charming.
It really was too bad he was her father’s boss. Not only was he prime eye-candy, but some of his mannerisms were boyishly adorable. She just wanted to pull him into a big hug and cuddle. And laugh. She had a strange sense they’d laugh a lot together, among other much naughtier things.
She ducked her face from his love-struck stare and stepped into the building. Lenna shattered the first step of her whole “resist and evade” theory by meeting his gaze.
He didn’t look like he could take his attention off her, and she blushed all over again.
The door began to fall closed between them; Lenna continued to break her rule as she held his stare.
But at the last moment before they were separated, his eyes widened. “Wait!” He jumped toward the closing portal and stuck his hand out to stop it from shutting only to catch his fingers in the latch.
As he cursed, Lenna yanked the door open. “Are you okay?”
Clutching his smashed digits with his good hand, he nodded. “I forgot. Tom moved his office yesterday. I didn’t know if you were aware.”
Lenna frowned and pulled back. “He did?”
Braxton nodded again and took a moment to catch his breath. “He’s on the third floor, uh...” He paused and lifted his head as if to think. “In the southeast corner.”
Lenna’s eyebrows shot up. “Ooh, a corner office, huh?”
Braxton gave her a slight smile. “Do you want me to follow you up and show you where it is?”
Yikes! Step three. Never agree to anything Prince Charming suggests.
She shook her head. “I’m sure I’ll find it. But thanks for the heads up.”
Taking her answer as the dismissal it was, Braxton nodded and stepped back outside. “Good luck on your game,” he called just as the glass doors closed between them.