His Forbidden Temptation

Chapter 3–A dangerous dance

The air between them was thick, charged with an intensity Lucy couldn’t escape. She should push him away, should walk back into that restaurant like nothing had happened. But she didn’t move.

Alex’s fingers brushed lightly against the inside of her wrist, a featherlight touch that sent a flush of heat rushing through her veins.

“You’re playing with fire,” Lucy whispered, her voice steady despite the rapid pounding of her heart.

Alex smirked, tilting his head slightly. “Am I?”

His thumb traced slow, lazy circles on her wrist, and it took everything in her not to melt at the sensation. She was furious with herself—for reacting to him, for allowing his presence to unravel the careful walls she’d spent years crafting.

“I came here for a job, not to relive the past,” she said, forcing herself to step back. “You don’t get to do this anymore.”

For a moment, something unreadable flickered in his storm-gray eyes. He let go of her wrist, but instead of stepping away, he caged her in, his palm flattening against the wall beside her head.

“Then why are you shaking, Calloway?”

Damn him.

Lucy clenched her jaw, refusing to let him see just how much he affected her.

“You think I don’t remember how you used to look at me?” Alex murmured, his voice lower now, rougher. “How you used to fall apart with just a touch?”

Her breath seized.

The worst part was that he wasn’t even wrong.

Back then, Alex Varela had been her everything—until he walked away, leaving her shattered. She had sworn never to give him that power over her again.

But standing here, caught in his magnetic pull, it felt like she was teetering on the edge of something overwhelming.

She exhaled sharply. “You don’t get to talk about the past like it meant something to you.”

Alex’s expression darkened. He leaned in, so close she could feel the heat of his breath against her cheek.

“You think it didn’t?” he asked quietly.

She hated that her pulse betrayed her, that her body reacted before her mind could tell it to stop.

“This conversation is over,” she said, lifting her chin defiantly.

She ducked under his arm and walked away, leaving him standing in the dimly lit hallway, his gaze burning into her back.

**Back in the Dining Room**

Lucy returned to the table, slipping into her seat as if nothing had happened. The executives were deep in conversation, but she could feel Alex’s presence behind her even before he sat back down.

He was composed, cool as ever, as if he hadn’t just cornered her and sent her world spiraling.

Fine. Two could play this game.

She picked up her wine glass and took a slow sip, ignoring the way her fingers trembled slightly. But she knew Alex saw it—he saw everything.

“Is everything alright?” one of the executives asked, glancing between them.

Lucy smiled smoothly. “Of course. Mr. Varela and I were just discussing work.”

Alex let out a quiet chuckle, so soft only she could hear it.

Liar.

The rest of the dinner passed in a blur. By the time they wrapped up, Lucy was itching to get away, but Alex wasn’t going to make it that easy.

As they exited the restaurant, he placed a hand on the small of her back, guiding her toward the waiting car. The touch was light, barely there, but it sent a rush of heat down her spine.

The driver opened the door, and before she could decline, Alex murmured, “I’ll drop you off.”

Lucy hesitated. The last thing she wanted was to be stuck in a confined space with him, but declining would only make it obvious that he got to her.

So she slid inside, keeping as much distance as possible.

Alex followed, the door shutting behind them. The silence was heavy, thick with unspoken words.

As the car pulled away from the curb, Lucy kept her gaze trained out the window, refusing to look at him.

But then his voice cut through the tension.

“You can lie to them all you want, Lucy. But don’t lie to yourself.”

She tightened her grip on her purse. “And what exactly am I lying about, Alex?”

His smirk was maddening. “That you still feel this.”

She turned to face him, her eyes blazing. “The only thing I feel is regret.”

He chuckled, low and dangerous. “Try saying that without your hands shaking.”

Damn him.

The car rolled to a stop outside her apartment building. Without another word, she shoved the door open and stepped out, needing to put as much distance between them as possible.

But as she turned to slam the door shut, Alex caught her wrist—gentler this time, but just as firm.

“Goodnight, Calloway,” he murmured, his gaze locked onto hers.

There was something unreadable in his eyes—something that made her chest tighten.

She yanked her wrist free and turned on her heel, forcing herself not to look back.

But as she stepped into the building, she knew one thing for sure.

This was far from over.