Distracted by Alexandra Warren Page B

my action had to be more urgent. “Bryson! Take. Them. Out.” Apparently all it took was me getting stern with him for him to get the point. He stopped, unzipping the suitcase and dumping all of his clothes and shoes on the bed.
    “Now fold them up nicely.”
    He huffed and puffed like he didn’t wanna do it, but I gave him the look to let him know I wasn’t playing. Thankfully he went with it.
    “This shit takes way too long.”
    “Bryson, it takes all of three minutes tops. You’ll survive.” He rolled his eyes and I had to smile at the fact that I had the power this time around.
    Once he got all of his clothes and shoes in neatly, he tried to zip it again but it wouldn’t close.
    “See, Kenn? Did all that shit for nothin’.”
    I walked over to the bed, giving the zipper a tug and quickly discovering it was indeed still jammed. I pulled it backwards before attempting to zip it again with a little more of a head start.
    That didn’t work either.
    “Here. I’ll push it shut and you zip it.” Considering the clock was ticking on how much time we had left before we absolutely had to board our plane, I really wasn’t in a position to turn down the idea. But when Bryson somehow ended up directly behind me, his arms on each side of my body as he held the suitcase down, I knew it was bad one.
    I zipped the suitcase as fast as I could, giving it just enough umph for it to close. And even though the suitcase was shut, Bryson didn’t move away. Instead leaning in to whisper, “Thank you, Kennedy” in my ear.
    It took a few short breaths before I could answer, “You’re welcome.”
    I expected him to move away but he didn’t, taking advantage of our closeness to nibble on my ear. The moan escaped my lips before I could catch it.
    Kennedy!
    I immediately snapped out of it, mustering up enough energy to push him away.
    “Bryson, this has got to stop.” I tried to get even further away, but he caught me by the wrist, pulling me flush against his perfectly-crafted frame.
    “Why, Kennedy? Why does it have to stop? Give me one good reason why I should push away every urge of attraction I feel for you, every need I feel to touch you, every…”
    I cut him off, “I am engaged . Not dating. Not cohabiting. Engaged .”
    “Okay. Two good reasons.”
    I put my hands against his chest - always a mistake - as I reminded him, “I’m your employee.”
    “ Three? ”
    Now I had to push him away. “Bryson! No more. Got it?”
    He had the nerve to get an attitude, snatching his suitcase off the bed as he said, “You’re acting like I have control of the shit. If I did, it would be easy. If I did, of course I wouldn’t touch you. That’s flat out…”
    “Pathetic. Is that the word you were looking for? Pathetic?”
    “No. Pathetic is you settling for someone like Landon when you deserve someone like me.”
    He’s gonna get enough of talking about my man...
    “Landon is my soul mate. He’s righted my wrong on more times than I can count. And guess what? He even lays the pipe well.” I don’t know why I felt it was necessary to drop the last fact, but sex always seemed like the ultimate one-up when it came to competitions between men.
    I was surprised when Bryson smirked as he said, “Well and outstanding are two different things. I’d like to think I’m the latter.”
    That stopped me dead in my tracks, forcing me to turn his way. “What fool told you your arrogance was attractive?”
    He flashed me that brilliant smile as he answered, “You.”
    Before I could reply, there was a knock on the door signaling our car had arrived.
    I grabbed my suitcase and Bryson followed me with his own. “We’re not done here, Kennedy.”
    I didn’t bother giving him my eyes, instead focusing on the door as I corrected him, “We are.”
    “We aren’t.”
    I pulled the door open, dragging my suitcase close behind. “Well I am.”
    He used his free hand to grab me by my wrist, turning me around in the middle of the