Dakota's POV
It was my fault. I should have knocked. But I was so pleased by the idea of defying him. Even just a little bit. But now I was staring at his shirtless back which rippled with muscles. I went warm all over. When he turned around to look at me, I felt my face grow hot.
"Miss Harper?" He echoed and I jumped slightly.
"Mr Keller." I repeated, hoping that he couldn't read the thoughts that swam around my head right now.
His eyebrow shot up, but he made no move to cover his muscled, tattooed chest. "Is something wrong?"
"What?"
"Did you want something?"
"Oh, uh, yes. Yes, I think... I mean, yes. Yes." I cleared my throat, snatching my gaze from his. I reached between my nose and straightened my spectacles. I was supposed to be making his life difficult, yet here I was melting under his gaze.
"Which is?"
I hoped I sounded rude enough. "I want you to take me to work!"
"I knew I was going to take you to work." He leaned against the yellow sofa that matched the bouquet of sunflowers and the muscle in his shoulders rippled. "I was getting prepared for the day."
"Well, alright then, be quick. I don't want to be late."
"For a girl who got shot at yesterday, you're in a hurry to leave this safe haven." He said, stopping me at my tracks. I turned back slowly.
"I have a job to do, Mr Keller. Some of us actually have to work." His gaze was intense. I swallowed. "My father's company isn't going to run itself, you know."
"Do you love your job?"
"What?"
"Do you love your job?"
"Why are you asking me that?"
"I just want to know." He said and we just stared at each other for a while.
"I don't have the luxury of loving what I do, now if you would excuse me." I said and quickly walked out. My chest heaved as I tried to calm my nerves down. There was something about him. Something I couldn't quite place my finger on.
I was still pacing back and forth when Bruce effortlessly strolled into the room. The dark blue suit matched his eyes.
He stared at me. "You've been standing here?"
"I'm kinda in a hurry." I lied.
"Ah. Okay, let's go."
When we finally got the car, I stared up at the rearview mirror and saw him staring at me. "You're really in a hurry get out of the white house, aren't you?" He asked.
"You should really learn to mind your darn business, bodyguard." I said. I regretted it but he was beginning to get on my nerves with all the questions. I saw his eyes darken from the rearview.
His voice was suddenly harsh. "Yes, ma."
***
When the car pulled to a stop, Bruce reached over to the other side and opened the door for me. His eyes carefully avoiding mine.
I sighed. "I'm sorry."
He glanced at me, then coldly looked away. He shrugged. "I'm not sure I know why you're apologizing. You're my boss."
"I shouldn't have said what I said. I'm sorry. And please stop calling me ma. I prefer Dakota." I said and he just kept staring at me. With each passing minute his gaze intensified. His eyes fell to my lips and when I thought he would come close, he reached for the door and stepped out of that car altogether.
Still reeling in shock and embarrassment, I tried to unlock the door and race into the office if I had to, when the door to the backseat opened and Bruce slid in. He didn't have to talk for me to know what he was thinking. His hands roughly landed on my shoulders and pulled me into himself. His lips away from mine and when he spoke, his breath was hot against my face.
"You're something aren't you, miss Dakota?" He said, his eyes still trained on my lips.
"I... I told you to stop with the formalities." I whispered, barely believing this was happening.
"If we're going to do this, we're going to have to be discreet." He said in that low voice again and I swallowed.
"Uh... Um... Of course." I started saying, then I shook my head and pulled back a few inches. "Wait a minute, what are you talking about?" I said, trying not to look get lost in his eyes.
He took my spectacles off, then he placed a soft kiss on my temple, on the tip of my nose and on each of my eyes, distracting me. I anticipated when he would kiss my lips. Waiting for it. It never came.
"An affair." He said, both of his hands grabbing my cheeks.
"An affair?"
"You want me. I saw it in your eyes when you looked at me today. You couldn't get enough of me. Tell me I imagined it." He said. How was it possible that he was saying these things on a straight face?
"I... I..."
"Tell me I imagined it, Dakota." He said again and I swallowed.
"You didn't, but..."
"But what?"
"You must know that I'm seeing someone else and besides I don't do affairs." I said and glanced away. Maybe if I stopped looking into his eyes I wouldn't keep getting lost in them.
"I find myself doubting that." He smiled knowingly.
"Well, it's true." I sulked.
He smirked and carefully placed my spectacles back at the bridge of my nose. He leaned down and pressed a sweet but chaste kiss on my lips. He leaned back before I could get carried away.
"Think about it." He said and started getting out of the car when my fingers caught his arm. He stopped and stared at me.
I was beginning to say something when a knock sounded at the window making me jump back, my hands clutching my chest. Harry kept on knocking on the window, a big frown settling on his face.