“To make another mistake,” I told her before melting into the crowd.
Chapter 17
Emery
Okay, so I’d made my grand appearance.
I’d felt like Drew Barrymore in Ever After, whispering to myself, “Just breathe,” when I entered the room. I’d caught Jensen’s eye. He’d stared at me, momentarily in shock. I’d basked in the glow of that attention. And then I’d promptly and completely lost my nerve, disappearing into the crowd by the bar with Heidi.
What am I even doing here?
He’d pushed me away. Twice.
It was no matter that he’d been texting me all week. His text messages had been nonsensical. Half-trying to convince me that leaving me was for the best and half-trying to convince me to give him another chance. I didn’t know which half he wanted me to believe. So, I just hadn’t responded. I was still hurt from the conversation we’d had at Death by Chocolate. I should have just stayed home. Actually, I should have probably already left.
What am I trying to prove by being here? That I can get his attention? Check.
I knew that I couldn’t ignore him if he approached me. That was why I had moved out of the spotlight as soon as I had. I might have had the strength to push him away that day after our date, but after a week of his messages, I was too curious to step back now. I wanted to know why he had been acting like this and whether or not the guy I’d had that first date with still existed somewhere in there.
A hand on my elbow made me jump. I whirled around and came face-to-face with Jensen Wright himself.
“Oh,” I said, feeling like an idiot.
“Oh?” he asked.
And then I stared at him because seeing him across the room had not done him justice. I never thought I would be the kind of girl who swooned at a guy in a tuxedo, but hot damn. Jensen Wright wore a tux like a second skin. It molded to him, and all the long, straight lines did things to his body that just weren’t possible in other clothing. Or maybe I was biased.
“It’s you,” I finally managed to get out.
“You do realize that this is an office party, right?” he asked. He arched an eyebrow, as if asking, What the hell are you doing here?
“I might have heard that somewhere.” I sank into my hip and let him get a good look at the black dress I’d gotten earlier this week.
“Last I checked, you didn’t work for me, Miss Robinson.”
“True,” I agreed, fluttering my eyelashes. “Are you going to kick me out?”
“I might let you stay…if you tell me what you’re doing here.”
I swallowed. I had no answer to that one. I’d come at Heidi’s request, but I knew that wasn’t the answer he was looking for, and it wasn’t even half of the real reason.
“I came to listen to your inspirational speech. More booze, Mr. Wright. Very motivational.”
He laughed unabashedly. It was deep and masculine and sincere.
“Thank you. Probably not my best speech, but I got a little distracted.”
“Oh, yeah?” I asked innocently. “What distracted you?”
“A beautiful woman walked in the door.”
“Oh,” I said with a shrug. “You must get distracted a lot then.”
Jensen ran his hand down my bare arm and firmly shook his head once. “Never.”
Where he touched me on my arm seemed to be radiating with heat. In fact, my entire body was aching to get closer to him. To let him run his hands all over my body again. Being with him was supposed to be something light and fun. I wasn’t supposed to want more. I’d thought I could get him out of my system. Yet here I was, at his office Christmas party. It was now crystal clear that I was not going to get Jensen Wright out of my system with a one-night stand. But I was sure that I wouldn’t mind trying it again and again until it worked out.
“I think I should escort you out, Emery,” Jensen said, drawing me nearer to himself.
“Right now?” I asked, confused.
“Yes. Would you like to see my office on the way out?”
My mouth opened slightly, and I watched the way his gaze drift to my lips.
Was he thinking about how I’d sucked him? Was he thinking about much more?
It was all there in his eyes, and I was sure it was reflected in mine.
“I’d love to.”
Jensen and I walked out of the party without a backward glance. I thought for sure that someone would stop us as we exited the top-floor restaurant. But it seemed that everyone was too engrossed in the end of Morgan’s speech, the open bar, and the buffet. No one paid us any mind as we disappeared into the elevator and to the darkened floor below.
The elevator doors opened, and Jensen took my hand to guide me down to his office. We reached the end of the hall, and Jensen flicked the switch to turn on the lights. It was a massive corner office with a giant mahogany desk taking up the center of the room and an all-glass wall facing campus. It was modern and sleek and undeniably powerful. I could feel the energy from the room. It was the same power and control that I felt from Jensen.