“We’re a package that’s too good to refuse. We close this deal, then we continue to kick ass until the ninety days are up, just like you said. Together, we’ll show them the projections, plus our overall numbers. Finally, we’ll tell them about our relationship and our proposal to continue as co-CEOs. They’ll accept us.” I infused every ounce of confidence—and I was ninety percent confidence by weight—into my stare.
“And you want this? You want…us?” She shifted forward.
“I want you. I want to be with you. Here?—”
“Nothere.”Her blue eyes were wide as a virgin’s in a slasher flick.
“Okay, not in the office.” I turned my palms over and set them on my knees. “Not until we come out to the board.”
“No touching in the officeever,”she said. “It feels icky.”
My heart slowed. We were on familiar ground. A negotiation. I lifted my chin. “Then, I can give you a hand massage.”
She glanced down at my hands. “Only with the door shut.”
“Fair. Home offices are fair game though.”
“Afterwork hours. With laptops closed.”
“There’s a no-panties rule on Fridays,” I said, struggling with every muscle in my face not to break.
“Absolutely not!” She leaped to her feet.
I rose and captured her hand in mine. “All right, I cede that point. But we’re agreed? We’re together, secretly, until the ninety-day presentation. After that, we tell the board we’re a package deal.”
She looked up at me with those big, beautiful eyes. “Wouldn’t it be easier to keep things platonic?”
“There’s been nothing easy about these past two weeks. Not for me. Don’t you want it too?”
“Jesus, yes, I do.” She said it like a prayer. I bent to drink the words from her lips, but she slipped out of my grasp. “No touching in the office, remember? This won’t work if you can’t remember the rules.”
“Understood.” My brain started to calculate. “You have plans tonight. Can you come over tomorrow?”
She shook her head. “Foundation committee meeting. Friday’s out. I’ve got plans with my girlfriends.”
“Saturday? Caitlyn’s with Zara this weekend.”
“I’ve got plans in the morning, but I could come over after that.”
“Perfect,” I purred.
“Okay. I do really have to go now.” She bit her lip as if she didn’t want to leave.
I wanted to bite it too, but I had to show her I respected the rules. “Okay. I’ll see you in the morning.”
The next two days in the office were going to be torture.
32
JESUS HATES A VPL
Favorite tradition?
Bridget:Christmas Eve Midnight Mass with my family.
Cole:My family has many traditions. None I particularly care for.
BRIDGET
