Falling for the Boss (15 page)

Thomas was looking down at her with an odd expression in his eyes.  He nodded in response to her question. 

“It must have been a busy house
while you were growing up
,” she said, unable to hold his gaze. 

“It got a little crazy at times.”

“They seem very nice
.
”

“They are, at times,” he replied, pulling her imperceptibly closer
.  “Tonight, they are on their best behavior.”
  The music was quick and he had a hard time concentrating on the steps when she looked up at him.  And boy did he love her dress.  He thought about how angry he was when he’d first seen her with that obnoxious man’s hands on her.  Thomas had wanted to smash her boyfriend’s face in right in the middle of the party. 
He didn’t think that would be a very good role model, him being a senior vice president and all. 

But now
Victoria
was in his arms, if only for a few more minutes.  And she felt wonderful, he thought as he slid his hand slightly against the satin of her gown.  It was almost as if he were touching her in a satin nightgown, he thought. 
He
had to tamp down
on that
idea
and the images it conjured up
when his body reacted instantly to the image. 

He needed to get hold of himself.  She was a committed woman with a very jealous boyfriend, if the man getting drunk
on the opposite side of the ballroom
was any indication.

But he couldn’t get his arms to obey his mind and step back from the beauty in his arms.  He’d imagined her like this so many times. Hell, he took every opportunity to touch her even if it was only a casual touch
in the office
. 
He felt like a letch at times, touching her as he leaned over a file folder or in the elevators, on the plane.  Any excuse to get near her and touch her satiny smooth skin was good enough for him.  If that was all he was able to get, he was going to touch her as often as possible. 

Victoria
controlled a shiver when she felt his hand move on her back.  She loved being in his arms but she knew it was a forbidden pleasure.  She was definitely playing with fire. 

She almost groaned when the music slowed and Thomas pulled her closer.  As they moved, she could feel his legs against hers, his hand firmly against the small of her back and she looked up, wondering if he was feeling the same things. 

The heat in his eyes made her breath catch in her throat.  She missed a step but he caught her, bringing her closer to his tall frame. 
Victoria
felt cherished and very beautiful, just because of his look. 

They swayed to the music, feeling the beat pulse all around them.  She looked to the side, afraid that he would realize how much she wanted him if she didn’t.  But when she turned her head, she closed her eyes, letting him guide her while her mind flew off to a fantasy all her own, where he felt the same way she did
.  T
here were no girlfriends or boyfriends to consider and their professional relationship was not a reality that would hinder anything. 

Thomas looked down at the top of
Victoria
’s head and wondered about the look she’d just given him.  Could she possibly be feeling the same way he was?  He felt her shiver and pulled her closer, feeling her breasts brush slightly over his chest.  He decided to test
his theory and moved her to on
e side slightly, allowing him to see her face better. 

He was right!  Her cheeks were slightly more pink and her eyes were closed.  When he moved his arm more securely around her, he watched her mouth open slightly.  Interesting.  The more they danced, the more confident he was that she could feel every electric pulse going between them.  Again, his body reacted to the knowledge and he had to remind himself of his mother’s instructions on being a gentleman. 

If it were up to him, he’d grab her hand
right now
and drag her from the dance floor, pull her behind the stage where the musicians were playing and kiss her senseless.  But that wouldn’t be the wisest thing to do, he thought.  Especially since he was still her boss and she was still practically engaged to someone else, regardless of the fact that the man was a drunken ass. 

T
he music ended and Thomas took her hand and place
d
it over his arm as he walked her back to their table.  After holding her chair, he quickly stepped away.  “Can I get you anything to drink?” he asked. 

“I’ll have…”
she started, then noticed Barry’s
furious
expression.  “I think I’ll pass,” she said.  As soon as he walked away to get the other’s requests, she stood up and moved over to Barry. 

“Would you like to leave?’ she whispered into his ear. 

“Hell, yes,” he said and immediately took her hand and dragged her towards the doorway. 

Victoria
hadn’t realized how drunk he was until he breathed in her face.  He was completely inebriated. 
N
ow he was going to try and drive her home
and the thought terrified her
. 

“Barry, wait.  I don’t think that’s a very good idea.  Have you eaten anything tonight?”
Victoria
said, skipping to keep up with his angry strides.

She tried to pull her hand out of his but he grabbed her again and pulled her to the door.  “Come on, we’re getting the hell out of here.
  This whole evening was a complete waste of my time.
”

“Barry, please,” she whispered, “you’re drunk.  Let’s get a cab home.”  She didn’t want to make a scene, but Barry was really scaring her now. 

He managed to drag her all the way to the lobby before five tall, strong men surrounded them.  “I don’t think that would be a very good idea,” Sal said and took the lead in front of the doorway.

“Get out of my way,” Barry said be
lligere
ntly but realized that he was definitely outnumbered. 

Victoria
looked around and found Thomas
, relieved to have him step in.  This was a scary situation and she didn’t know how to handle Barry when he was this drunk
.  She tried to hide her concern over Barry’s inebriated state when she saw the look of fury on
Thomas’s
face. 

“Barry,
please, let’s
catch a cab?” she said.

Barry turned to her and she could tell that she had only made things worse.  “Shut up,” he said and tried to yank her between two tall bodies. 

“I don’t think I can let
Victoria
leave with you.  She’s an
ATI
employee and we have a strict policy
against
drinking and driving,” Thomas said, his face
hard
and determined. 

‘
Victoria
, tell them to leave
us alone
,” Barry slurred. 

“
No.  I won’t do that.  They are right.  You are completely drunk and making a scene.  Please let one of the hotel staff call us a cab
.”

Barry turned to her and rolled his eyes.  “Fine.  But you’re coming back here to get my car tomorrow.”

“Fine,” she said, letting the air out of her lungs. 

“No need to call a cab.  We have a limousine waiting outside that will bring you home.” Sal offered. 

Victoria
’s relief was swift.  She smiled her thanks to the man standing between them and the door.  “That’s very generous, but we’ll be fine in a cab.  I appreciate the offer though.”  She cringed only slightly when Barry crushed her fingers in his grip.  He was trying to hurt her.

“Actually, there’s every need,” Thomas interrupted.  “In fact, I’ll see you home in my car,” he said and put a hand in the small of her back to guide her out of the way. 

Barry instantly released her hand, knowing he was no match against the five of them. 
Victoria
was relieved and surprised that he’d given in so quickly, but wasn’t going to question
good
fate.  She immediately moved closer to Thomas. 

She looked back, about to
offer to pay for the cab ride for Barry
, but he was already being put into the back of a shining limousine. 

“Thanks,” Thomas said, waiving to his brothers who were forming a line of smiling, tall men. 

They were out in the parking lot a moment later and
Victoria
pulled her shawl closer around her.  Thomas noticed and immediately took off his tuxedo jacket and draped it over her shoulders. 

“Thank you,”
Victoria
whispered.  She stepped into a black BMW and Thomas closed the door for her after placing the rest of her dress carefully inside the car. 

“I’m sorry for that nasty scene back there,”
Victoria
said as soon as he got into the driver’s seat. 

“Why were you leaving with him in the first place?  Didn’t you realize he was drunk?”

Victoria
sighed.  “Yes.  And I would have gotten the keys away from him somehow,” she said.

Thomas looked at her with one raised brow.  “How would you have accomplished that?” he asked, turning out of the parking lot and heading in the direction of her apartment. 

“I don’t know.   Barry’s not usually like that.  In fact, I’ve never seen him so drunk before.”

Thomas didn’t respond but
smoothly changed lanes to enter the highway.
. 

“Well, he drinks a lot,” she relented.  “But really, he doesn’t drink to excess like that.  I’ve seen him obnoxious, but not to the point of doing something illegal like driving under the influence.  Barry would never willingly do anything to jeopardize his career.  He’s a lawyer, you know,” she said lamely. 

“Is he any good?” Thomas asked.

Victoria
shrugged her shoulders slightly.  “I don’t know.  I’ve never had a need for a lawyer.”

After a moment, Thomas said, “That’s an interesting answer.”   He was thinking back to their dance and her response to his touch. 

He dropped her off at her apartment building, walking her all the way to her door and unlocking the door for her. 

Victoria
stood in her open doorway, unsure what to say.  “Thank you for your help tonight.  And I’m sorry you had to leave your company party.”

“It’s your company too.”

Victoria
laughed self-conciously.  “Not like it is your company.  I mean, you really own it, don’t you?”

Thomas’s expression was blank.  “I own stock in it,” he replied.

“Yes, well, I’m sorry.  But grateful.  I’ll talk to Barry tomorrow and hopefully he’ll call and apologize.  He really is a nice guy, once you get to know him.”

“I don’t think I’ll have that pleasure,” Thomas said.  “Get some sleep and enjoy the rest of the weekend.  We leave early Monday morning,” he said.

Victoria
nodded.  “I will.  I’ll see you Monday, then,” she said and walked into her apartment, quietly closing the door behind her. 

She took off her dress and carefully hung it in her closet.  While she prepared for bed, she thought back to what it felt like to be in Thomas’s arms and her body heated at just the idea. 

Laying in bed that night, she stared up at the ceiling, wondering what it would be like to attend that kind of function as Thomas’s date.  And to leave with him, knowing that they would fall into bed together at the end of the evening.