Chapter 58: Sensible

“Says my boss,” Harper says seriously and drains the water in the sink. “I have to catch up your new secretary on your schedule and then settle in at my new desk.” She wiped her hands dry with the dish cloth hanging on the hook. Then she easily puts away the clean dried dished before going to sit down beside Oliver at the dining table. He watched her sit down beside him, his expression shifting from playful to thoughtful as he considered her practical proposal. “How about you leave early tomorrow morning, it is no big deal if the boss is late. And tomorrow afternoon I will bring some clothes over to your place,” she says practically. Taking a bite of his pizza slice, Oliver chewed slowly while processing her plan. “Alright, alright,” he conceded with a reluctant nod. “Early departure it is. But only because you are being sensible and I can’t argue with your logic.” He pointed his pizza slice at her accusingly. “Don’t think this makes you less tempting though. Knowing I have to leave in the morning just gives me more motivation to make tonight count.” Setting his pizza slice down, he pushes his stool closer to hers until their knees were touching underneath the small table. His hand found her thigh possessively, squeezing gently. “And for the record,” he added in a lower voice. “This new secretary better be damn good at keeping up with my schedule. You have set an impossible standard to follow.”

“Well, I will give you my opinion of her once I meet her,” Harper said and picked up a slice of pizza. Oliver’s lips curved into a smirk at her offer, his blue eyes lighting up with amusement. “Oh, I will be very interested to hear your professional assessment. Your taste in people has proved excellent so far.” He took another bite of pizza, chewing thoughtfully as he studied her face. “She is fresh out of business school, all eager enthusiasm and ambition. Probably thinks she can run the world by lunchtime.” His thumb stroked along her thigh absently. “Probably also thinks she can replace you which will be entertaining to watch fail spectacularly.” The casual dismissal in his tone suggested he had zero confidence in this new hire lasting more than a month under his demanding standards. He finished his slice and leaned back slightly. “Anyway, enough shop talk,” he declared, pushing the pizza box away. “My priority tonight involves significantly less clothing and much less discussion about work schedules.”

“I figured,” Harper said with a knowing smile and took another bite of her pizza. “Let me finish this slice and I will change into something more revealing…” Oliver’s jaw tightened visibly at the promise of something more revealing, his gaze sweeping over her figure appreciatively. “Revealing? Don’t tempt me too much, I might decide to interrupt your dinner.” He leaned back in the chair, crossing one ankle over the other as he watched her eat. The casual posture belied the intensity in his icy blue eyes, which followed every movement of her mouth as she chewed. Harper’s blue green eyes sparkled with mischief. “Take your time finishing that slice,” he said, his voice dropping into that husky register that always sent shivers down her spine. “But know that every second you are eating is another second I am imagining what you will look like…” his hands moved from her thigh to rest possessively on the back of her chair, fingers drumming an impatient rhythm against the wood. The pizza suddenly felt like an obstacle he was desperate to remove. “Hurry up,” he commanded softly, though it sounded more like a plea.

Harper takes another bite of her pizza. “If I choke it might spoil the mood,” she said with a playfully teasing tone. Oliver’s lips twitched into a smile at her teasing remark, his blue eyes crinkling at the corners. “Choking would definitely spoil the mood. And ruin my plans for getting you naked.” He leaned forward slightly, elbows resting on the table as he watched her chew deliberately. “But I appreciate the commitment to finishing dinner first. Shows discipline.” His foot found hers under the table, nudging it gently against her calf. “Though I have to admit, watching you eat slowly is torture. Makes me wonder what other kinds of patience you have.” Once she swallowed the last piece of pizza, Oliver was immediately on his feet. He rounded the dinning table in two swift strides and scooped her up into his arms without warning. “I am done waiting,” he announced decisively, picking her up from the chair and carrying her bridal-style toward her bedroom. “Bedroom. Now.”

Inside her bedroom was a neatly made bed with a tall, upholstered headboard in a rich teal-blue fabric with subtle tufted detailing.  The bedding is predominantly white, and a blue quilt is draped across the bed. Two large, patterned pillows with geometric designs and a darker solid cushion decorate the bed. There are two modern bedside tables on either side of the bed, with a thin black metal frame and glass top. On top of each table there is a reflective, metallic lamps, with a rounded, chrome-like finish. Beside the entrance is a large, full-length mirror with a slim black frame mounted on the wall, with a hallway beside it. The hallway leads to the bathroom and has built in cupboards and a wardrobe on the left. On the other side of the bed is a large floor-to-ceiling window, framed in black metal. Light grey curtains hand neatly to the sides.

Harper giggled softly at the way he swept her off her feet. Oliver’s arms tightened around her instinctively as he heard her soft giggle, a genuine smile breaking through his usually serious expression. The sound seemed to melt some of the tension he had been holding all day. “What is so funny?” he asked with mock offense, kicking her bedroom door shut behind them with his heel. “Carrying my girlfriend to bed isn’t romantic enough for you?” he deposited her gently onto the centre of her mattress, following her down to hover over her on all fours. The motion caused the bedsprings to creak softly under their combined weight. “You know,” he murmured, lowering his face until their noses were almost touching. “For someone who claims to be ‘fit’, you sure seem happy being carried around like a damsel in distress.” His icy blue eyes searched her face for any sign of protest or hesitation, finding only excitement reflected back at him.