“I think you’re beautiful.”

Elena loved his words more than she thought possible. After Tiffany, she felt ugly, like she shouldn’t be on this date with him. The problem now was the fact he was still her boss.

“This is crossing a line, don’t you think? You think I’m beautiful, and you’re my boss.”

“Bosses have eyes as well. We’re not blind. I said you’re beautiful, and I mean it.” He leaned in close, and kissed her lips once again. “I’ve been wanting to do that for a long time.”

“This is so weird,” she said.

He chuckled. “Tell me about it. I had this great romance planned out. I was going to take you out dancing tonight, show you my moves. Then more dates were to follow.”

“More dates? This isn’t a one time thing?”

“No. It’s not.” The hand on her hip moved up, and he sank his hand into her hair, and she couldn’t look away, nor did she want to. She wanted his kiss once again. “Tell me, Elena, do you want me to stop?”

She shook her head. “No.”

“Good, because I don’t want to.”

Chubby Chaser. That was his name in high school. Whenever he was around, she’d always looked toward him, and he’d always been staring at her. Was she the reason he was called that? Tiffany had said as much. Cole didn’t seem to mind though. Elena didn’t like it, as it was just another way of calling her fat, and now she didn’t want to even think about it. Would being a bigger girl follow her everywhere? Big, fat, chubby, large, pie-face—they were all things she’d been called.

No! She wasn’t going to dwell on those names. They were not important to her. Not now, not ever.

Even as she thought it, she knew she was lying to herself. Those words would haunt her for the rest of her life. But for tonight, she was going to try to not think about them again.

They danced, and Elena couldn’t get rid that stomach twisting feeling. “I need some air,” she said, pulling away from him.

She didn’t wait around, or stop. Instead, she kept on going, leaving the bar, and moving as far away from anyone as was possible. Rounding the building, she was near the trash bins, but the noise was slightly less. Leaning against the wall, she released several breaths and closed her eyes. This was not what she expected. She hated how Tiffany could get into her head, and make her feel things that she had longed to forget.

“Did I scare you?” Cole asked, and she opened her eyes to find him standing, watching her.

“No. You didn’t.”

“You’re looking a little out of it.”

“I want to go home.”

“Is it too hard for you to think that I wanted you here just because I did? This wasn’t for anyone else but for myself. Tiffany’s a fucking bitch. Always has been. Don’t let what she said affect this, hurt us.” He stepped toward her, so close that it was next to impossible to look away. Cole trapped her between his hard body and the wall, his arms resting on either side of her head. “Look at me, Elena.”

She did. “Why were you called that?”

“You know why I was.” He reached out to stroke a curl from her face. “Because no matter what, I was always enthralled by you. They saw that I wanted you, but I kept my distance. That is what I’ve always done. I’ve always kept my distance.”

“You’ve never said anything.”

“There was never a right time to say something, Elena. You were behind me in school. Then there was college, and then you were dating, or I was dating.”

“I had no idea you even looked at me,” she said.

“Always. I’ll always look at you.”

“Did you hate me?”

“How could I hate you?” he asked.

“For being called that name?” Shaking her head, she tried to leave, but he wouldn’t let her. “No. I’m not even going to think about this. I thought I was the bigger person, but it hurts.”

This wasn’t just about him being called chubby chaser. This was about her, and what she’d been called just because she had a little more weight than everyone else.

Cole cupped her face, and slammed his lips against hers. He moved forward, kicking her legs open, and moving so that his cock was pressed against her pussy. The way he moved, the command of his body, had her aching for more. One of his hands left her face, and he cupped her thigh, drawing her leg up. The dress stopped her from lifting her thigh too high, and Cole growled in frustration as he moved down, shoving her dress up until it was at her waist. She was neither fighting nor helping. In fact, she was in a little shock, and incredibly aroused at how he was acting. She wanted him to, and there was no fight from her. The last thing she wanted to do was fight.

“Do you have any idea how long I’ve wanted to do this?” he asked, breaking the kiss, and moving down to her neck.