attracted to her. Bayleigh never seemed interested, so he kept his thoughts private. After tonight, he
no longer had that option.
What he hadn’t known about was the body she had been hiding underneath her clothes.
Bayleigh was stacked and had curves that she somehow managed to keep well hidden. His body
reacted to just the thoughts of her body. His desire was quelled when it dawned on him that he just
took a step across a line he had no business even going near. He didn’t want to ruin his friendship
with Bayleigh, but the way she moved around in the darkness, he felt like he had.
There was another hard thump and Bayleigh stifled a cry of pain. He opened his eyes. It was
difficult to pretend he was asleep while she fumbled around in the dark. Besides, he needed to face
what they had done head on. Taking a deep breath, he reached over and turned the lamp on. The
bright glare made him regret the action, until he looked up. A bare and shapely rear end was in his
face.
* * * *
Bayleigh Williams let out a startled cry then straightened and turned around, clutching her
shirt and pants to her bare body. This was up there with the recurring dream she had where she
showed up to work naked. The biggest difference being she was awake and not dreaming. However,
with the expression on Dane’s face, she would rather be at work naked.
“You frightened me,” she whispered.
The irony of her low tone hit her when she finished speaking.
He was awake now, so there was no need to sneak.
Bayleigh groaned inwardly. So much for being gone by the time he woke up. She wasn’t
ready to deal with what they’d done. The agreement she made with her friends two weeks ago in
Zenkichi’s came to mind and she winced. Unfortunately, she’d just done an excellent job of fulfilling
her end of the agreement.
Embarrassment raced through her when she thought about how many times she and Dane
had done it. The thought of how vocal she’d been made her feel faint. Her throat still felt scratchy
from screaming with pleasure. His touch was phenomenal. No matter what position they were in, the
pleasure he brought her was out of this world. Her gaze traveled to the bed and she gasped at the
sight before her. The bed was in complete disarray. She blinked at the amount of condom wrappers
littering the nightstand. There were even more floor.
Had they done it that many times?
Regardless, it had been the best sex she ever had. Yes, her experience with men was limited
but she was certain Dane had caught her up. Too bad it would never happen again. It couldn’t.
“Are you leaving?” he asked.
She gave a jerky nod. “Yes.”
His expression was full of concern as he studied her. “But it’s late.”
“I know, that’s why I’m leaving.”
Closing her eyes briefly she struggled to collect herself. Staring at him wasn’t helping. How
had she not noticed how attractive he was before now? When she opened her eyes, he still lay there,
tempting her to crawl back into bed with him. But she couldn’t. She’d already acted in a way that she
normally wouldn’t and it might have caused her a wonderful friendship with the best male friend she
had. Her stomach clenched at the thought. Yet, as her eyes traveled over his muscular body, she
thought about giving that friendship up if it meant she could crawl back into bed with him.
Her eyes widened at the thought. It was time for her to go.
Bayleigh looked up and found his dark green eyes on her. Averting her gaze she focused on
his tousled dark brown hair. Hair she could vividly remember running her hands through. If she
didn’t leave soon, she was going to get herself into trouble again.
“I need to get dressed,” she murmured. She moved backward toward the bathroom, hoping
she didn’t bump into anything. There was no way she was turning around. His eyes never left hers,
and she wished she knew what he was thinking. After entering the bathroom, she shut the door and
locked it, then flipped on the light. A strangled sound tried to force its way up from her throat at her
reflection in the mirror.
Her hair looked like a bird’s nest. The prior day’s make-up smudged around her eyes. Her
Bayleigh checked the bathroom for a window, but was disappointed when she didn’t find
one. If there had been one, she would have done her best to squeeze through it.
She turned the water on and cleaned her face the best she could. There was no hope for her
hair. It needed a heavy-duty brush and comb. Instead, she took off the hairband holding onto a few
strands and pulled her hair back. She’d been unable to find her bra and panties, the culprits for her
getting caught red-handed trying to sneak out. At this moment she didn’t care. All she wanted to do
was go home.
After stepping into her pants she pulled her shirt over her head. In her haste to get
undressed her clothes were no longer in the best condition. Her reflection in the mirror made her
want to cry. Horrible didn’t begin to describe how she looked. Well, her wish was going to come
true. She would definitely be noticed walking around looking like a savage. Remain calm, Bayleigh.
Remain calm.
She jumped when she heard movement in the other room. Taking a deep breath she closed
her eyes. Maybe this was a dream. There’s no way she would sleep with Dane in real life. That’s it.
This was a horrible dream.
A shriek escaped her when a knock sounded on the door. Her eyes flew open and the
frightening reflection still stared back at her.
“Are you okay in there, Bayleigh?”
Shaking her head at the image in the mirror, she bit her lip to keep from crying.
“Bayleigh?”
As she took another deep breath, shame rushed through her.
What have I done?
She jumped again and looked in the direction of the door when Dane knocked with more
force.
“Bayleigh!”
“I’ll be right out Dane.”
She could no longer hide from the inevitable. He didn’t respond, but she knew he heard her.
Bayleigh opened the door and came face-to-face with his spectacular chest. A chest she recalled
gripping along with his broad shoulders as he glided in and out of her earlier. She shuddered. Those
were not the thoughts she should be having right now. What she needed to do was make her escape,
and quick. Her gaze dropped and she gasped. Dane hadn’t put on much at all. The pants he found
were so low on his hips, an inch lower, and he might as well not have them on. Then again, where
had his body come from? She’d known he used the weight room at work but, oh my.
Lord have mercy she was in trouble. Bayleigh raised her gaze and looked over his shoulder.
If she looked at him again, she may push him back on the bed. The way she had last night.
“Bayleigh, look at me,” he requested in a pleading tone.
She shook her head, feeling like a five-year-old. “I can’t.”
Dane took a step back. Bayleigh released a shaky breath.
“Have you seen my shoes?”
He was quiet for several moments before he sighed. “No, but I believe they’re in the living
room. However, I did find your bra and panties. They’re on the edge of the bed.”
She flinched. Dane reached out to touch her but she shook her head. His hand lowered.
“Thank you,” she whispered and attempted to step around him. Unfortunately, he blocked
her path.
“We need to talk about this, Bayleigh.”
Finally, she looked at him and regretted it the instant she did.
“No, we don’t. I just want to leave. Pretend like this never happened.”
A pained look appeared on his face at her confession. He ran a hand through his already
ruffled hair. The stubble on his cheeks made him look even more rugged.
“We have to talk about this, Bayleigh.”
“Can we talk later?” she pleaded.
He shook his head. “This can’t wait.”
Bayleigh tamped down her irritation. “Dane, now isn’t the time for you to become
dictatorial. We made a major mistake.”
Her voice cracked on the last word. A look of disappointment crossed his face.
“Was it?”
She stared at him with shock. “Of course it was. We’re friends, co-workers. We aren’t
supposed to sleep together.”
“But was it a mistake?”
Her mouth gaped open and the ability to respond escaped her. Had Dane lost his mind? He
didn’t seem to be upset about the fact that they had sex. They were friends. Friends didn’t sleep
together. Even with her lack of experience, she knew that.
“Dane, I need some time to think about this. We both do. I don’t want to say anything to
make this worse than it already is.”
Dane stared at her. For a moment she was nervous. Her experience with him told her he was
going to disagree. Yet, when he opened his mouth, the word that came out shocked her.
“Okay.”
She sighed, but her relief was short lived.
“We’ll have dinner tonight at Sotto Voce’s.” Closing her eyes, she prayed for serenity.
“Bayleigh?”
She shook her head. “That’s too soon. I need more time to figure this out.”
Dane smiled. “We’ll figure this out together.”
Bayleigh groaned. Maybe if she hadn’t slept with her friend she could be proud she stepped
out of her shell and said yes when she should have said no. But this wasn’t what she had been
referring to when she brought the idea up to her friends.
Bayleigh exhaled softly. She was a rational person. This was something she could handle.
Just treat this like a deadline at work,” she whispered.
“What?”
She looked at Dane when she realized she said the words aloud. “Nothing. Dinner tonight at
Sotto Voce’s sounds fine.”
A look of satisfaction crossed his face. “Good. Is seven okay?”
“It’s fine. I’ll be going now.”
Dane leaned closer, his masculine scent overwhelming, making her fight the instinct to step
back.
“Are you okay to drive?”
“I didn’t have that much to drink.”
She stiffened as soon as the words left her mouth. There went her potential excuse.
Dane nodded. “Come on, I’ll walk you to your car.”
“That isn’t necessary.”
He gave her look that told her he had no plans to argue.
“Bayleigh, it’s two in the morning. I’m not letting you walk to the car by yourself.”
“But—”
“Either I walk to you the car, or you get back in my bed and leave at a more reasonable
hour.”
Her gaze automatically went to the bed. The sight of her underwear at the edge of it was the
jolt of reality she needed. She looked at Dane and nodded. “Just let me grab the rest of my stuff and
I’ll be ready.”
“Okay.”
Stepping around him, she snatched her bra and panties off the bed and stuffed them into her
pockets. Dane stood in the doorway waiting for her.
“Aren’t you going to put a shirt on?”
“It’s warm out. Besides I won’t be outside long.”
There was no use debating with him. It would just be another delay. Right now all she
wanted was her own bed and a little time and privacy to gather herself. Bayleigh followed Dane out
of his room.
He led her down the hallway. Embarrassment rushed through her when she spotted the
bottle of wine and empty wineglasses next to it. After tonight, she would never drink wine again and
not think about this night. Bayleigh moved to gather up her work. Dane’s eyes burned a hole into
her back the entire time.
She slipped her feet into her shoes. After Dane opened the front door, she slid by, careful
not to brush him as she did so. His bare chest was enough to look at, if she touched him she’d be in
trouble. She made her way to her car with Dane on her heels. He opened the door after she hit the
power lock. When she turned around to look at him, she wished she hadn’t. His expression was one
she didn’t want to see.
“I don’t want you to leave like this, Bayleigh.”
“Dane, please. Sotto Voce’s, tonight at seven.”
“I’ll be there.”
Bayleigh slid into her car. Dane closed her door and stepped back. His eyes were on her the
whole time she backed out of his driveway. The entire drive home, she beat herself up over her
carelessness. If only she had said no instead of yes.
She was still beating herself up when her alarm went off a few hours later. Today was going
to be difficult. There was a meeting first thing and Dane was going to be there. He had to be. It was
the reason she had gone over to his house last night. If only she left once they finished their portion
of the presentation. Instead she stayed and because of it had the best sex in her life. Sex she would
never be able to experience ever again.
Bayleigh sighed as she sat up. She had to get a move on if she was going to be on time.
When she walked into the bathroom she avoided the mirror and undressed quickly before stepping
into the shower.
Bayleigh didn’t want to lose her friendship with Dane. He was a good guy and had been
from day one. Dane made her laugh and relax in a way she couldn’t around most other people. He
knew her quirks like she knew his. Dane could be domineering at times but last night it had come in
handy. He told her to lay back and relax.
Once she had, he rewarded her, several times. She giggled. Dane had given her more
orgasms in one night than she had in her entire life.
Her giggle ended on a sigh of regret. She hoped their friendship would survive. Bayleigh
finished her shower and dressed quickly. It took her longer to do her hair than she would have liked
because of lack of care last night. But at least it was presentable.
Gathering up her briefcase, Bayleigh made sure it held everything she needed. Giving
presentations was the only part of her job she hated. What she loved about her job was that it was
only a few miles from her home. She’d worked hard to earn her job with the Research and
Development department at Cal-Com Communications.
A competitor was always developing new technology, which meant she was always busy in
her department trying to stay ahead. Or at least stay even. They were in the process of trying to
develop a new wireless technology, which was why she often had to work with Dane. He was a
senior Network Engineer who provided her with the technology know-how of the products being
researched and developed. Their working relationshi
p was a close one. Dane understood her.
Bayleigh sighed. Why did she have to go and mess up everything by having sex with Dane?
She frowned. Had she started it? The last thing she could remember after the wine was talking to
him. The next she was kissing him. Had she kissed him or had he kissed her? It didn’t matter
because it had been an error in judgment either way. Bayleigh pulled into a parking spot, then closed
her eyes. This day would be so much better if she didn’t have to face Dane. The reality was she had
less than twenty minutes to prepare herself.
She released a quivering sigh before grabbing her briefcase and climbing out of her car.
Bayleigh went straight to her office, greeting her co-workers along the way. She reached her office
and closed the door behind her, locking it for good measure. A few minutes later her computer was