Edge of Deception

CHAPTER TWENTY THREE

Her boss was in a state of undress. He had ditched the formal slacks and was wearing a pair of blue jeans, the classic dark blue jeans which never went out of fashion. The material clung to his muscular thighs, molding the contours without leaving anything to the imagination. He was in the process of shrugging on a white shirt which left his torso bare for Tanya to get an eyeful.

Tanya looked from his bare feet, up his jean clad legs to the navel between the V of his waist, further up to his chest, finally to the thick column of his throat. In the dim light, the valley and shadows on his fit body were enigmatic. She felt as if she was in a movie, waiting for the man in front of her to get out of the garment, not inside it.

Unbeknownst to her, Ilario stood just a little bit straighter, his dark eyes following hers, slightly puffing out his chest, as if to present her a better look. As he watched, a pink lip came out to moisten the very feminine lips and she sucked in a breath.

Does she know what it feels like to be watched this way by her?

Tanya reddened when she registered that he had caught her. So busy was she in ogling him, she hadn't even noticed when he had stilled, letting her gaze roam around his body, appreciating him.

Lusting after him.

Her eyes clashed with his smouldering ones. His lips held that enigmatic smile that she found so endearing yet unsettling. She could feel her ears warming.

Oh my God! Oh my God! What did I just do?

Not giving him a chance to say anything, Tanya turned on her heels and practically ran out of the room. Her bag was already packed. As she was shutting down her computer, she considered making a run for it. She was sure that if she pretended that scene just didn't happen, then Ilario will do the same. And by Monday, maybe he wouldn't even remember what happened.

But I'll remember.

Oh why did she always get caught lusting after his boss?

Her system went dark, and she grabbed the strap of her bag. Now was the time to make a dash for it, he had still not emerged from his office. She picked up her phone off the desk and shoved it in her bag. Without a backward glance, Tanya made it towards the door, already taking off the access card off her neck to put it on the card reader.

"Running off again, Tanya?" The soft voice called from behind. "what did I tell you about hiding?"

She stilled. Oh no, he had followed her!

Slowly, she turned around. There he was, standing like a perfect male model. No, Ilario Orlando De Russo was too serious to be a model. No, instead he was the perfectly groomed Italian male clad in a pair of blue jeans and white shirt, looking casual yet classy, a look only a few blessed people could pull off naturally.

She cleared her throat, praying it wasn't too raspy. "I was just going to wait for you outside."

"Hmm." He pretended to consider her words, which made her redden even more. She hated it when he toyed with her like this. "Let's go with that explanation."

Prowling closer, he put a hand on the small of her back in a familiar gesture and ushered her out.