But Callie was different—a fact he’d known from the first day of working with her. She was like a breath of fresh air. He never knew what to expect from her, but he knew it would be something great.
After she chose her prizes—a hideous monkey with tie-dyed fur and a flower-shaped eraser—he escorted her to the car and drove back to his office. Even though she was fairly silent during the ride, she was beaming from ear to ear.
“You had a good time.”
It wasn’t a question, more like an observation.
“A blast,” she told him. “I’d always wanted to go to a place like that as a kid.”
He threw her a glance as he pulled up beside her car. “Why didn’t you?”
Callie’s smile faltered, and she toyed with the ear on the monkey. “I didn’t have a very pleasant childhood. And that’s the best way I can put it.”
Noah put the car in Park and turned to face her. “I’m sorry, Callie. I didn’t mean to pry. You’ve worked for me for a while now and I don’t know much about your life before you came here.”
She attempted a smile, but her sad gaze met his. “I’d rather focus on my life here than back home.”
Wherever she came from, whatever she experienced must be painful because the L.A. Callie was a bright, bubbly woman who didn’t care to let everyone see how positive she was about life.
“I can’t thank you enough for everything, Noah.” She reached out, placed a hand on his forearm. “You don’t know how much I value our friendship. At least, I like to think we’re friends.”
“We are,” he said, cursing his voice when it cracked like some damn adolescent.
Her dainty, warm hand on his arm really shouldn’t turn him on, but he’d been intrigued by her for a while now.
“Good,” she said, smiling wider. “It’s nice to know I have people I can count on.”
She leaned over and gave him an innocent, simple peck on his cheek, but as she pulled back, her face remained within a breath of his and she locked eyes with him again. He froze and was surprised when she placed a softer kiss on his lips, hesitating as if waiting for approval.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “Was that unprofessional
?”
“Not as much as this.”
He cupped the side of her face and claimed her lips.
Three
Callie knew on some level this was wrong—that would be the professional level.
But on a personal, feminine level, kissing Noah Foster was so, so perfectly right. There was no way she could not respond to such a blatant advance.
His thumbs trailed along her jawline as he shifted and changed the angle. Mercy, this man could kiss her lips and she felt it all the way down to her toes…not to mention all the important spots in between.
Callie grabbed hold of his biceps as the glorious assault on her mouth continued. This attraction wasn’t new on his side or he wouldn’t be devouring her mouth in such a way that had her limbs trembling and her thighs clenching.
But before she could bask in the fact this was the best kiss she’d ever experienced, Noah pulled back.
“God, Callie,” he all but growled. “I’m—”
“No.” She shook her head, putting a bit of distance between them so she could look in his eyes. “Don’t say you’re sorry.”
His eyes searched hers, that warm gaze dropping to her lips before coming back up. “I wasn’t. I was going to say I don’t know what came over me, but that would be a lie. I’ve wanted to do that for some time.”
The revelation wasn’t surprising, but she was a little taken aback that he admitted it. Which brought to mind the all-important question: Why hadn’t they locked lips before now? Had she known he had such…talents, she would’ve taken charge months ago.
Okay, well, maybe she would’ve held back since he was her boss, but she definitely would’ve fantasized about it more.