Snap out of it, Chloe.
We still hadn’t gone out for that lunch despite his begging. I didn’t trust myself, not with the way his eyes seemed to cut through my clothes every time he gazed at me, how every whisper of his hand on mine sent my heart racing out of my chest.
I found myself pacing the office after a few days, my eyes constantly on the elevator doors, waiting for him to come striding through in the casual way he always did.
I noticed I wasn’t the only one awaiting his arrival. He had become a celebrity on both floors, and it didn’t take much to understand why.
It was after nine that day when Gavin made his entrance. He strode in as usual, hands in the pockets of his dark slim fit jeans, a dark grey sports coat over his Pink Floyd tee. He spoke to a few people who called out his name, stopping to take a moment to chat with each person. Just like every other day, I couldn’t stop observing him. When he spotted me staring at him through the frosted panes of my office, his tongue darted out over his lips, his chin rose, and his entire demeanor went from friendly and confident gentleman to god of desire.
Damn him.
I pretended to be hard at work at my desk when he finally got to my office, and this time, he didn’t bother knocking.
“Do you know what I don’t have?” he asked as he burst into the room.
I settled my elbows on the top of the desk and leaned my chin on my knuckles. “What’s that?” I asked.
“I don’t have your phone number,” he said, stopping before my desk.
“What?”
“Your phone number,” he repeated. “I was heading this way and was going to ask if you’d had breakfast, when I realized I didn’t have your number.”
I quirked a brow, and he handed me his phone.
“Breakfast?” I said. “Sounds like a lie.”
“I could have said that I was sitting on my couch with my dick in my hand last night and wanted to see if your fiancé was gone, but I thought you might find that inappropriate for the workplace,” he replied.
I eyed the grin on his lips and resisted laughing. “Your presence is inappropriate for the workplace,” I said, handing him back his phone with my number inside. “Don’t abuse it.”
Gavin sat on my desk and leaned over to look at my computer. “What are you working on?”
“Ah… one of my girls came back with a header design. I’m still not sure how I feel about this font. It feels too… rigid, maybe? Your brand is synonymous with fun dating schemes, parties, and the actual arrow, so I’m just not sure this speaks to all of that. What do you think?”
I turned the computer screen so he could see, and he considered it. “You know, I think we should go out for breakfast to chat this over,” he said. “I compiled a few notes on the package you sent over yesterday.”
It sounded innocent, yet I knew better with the look in his eyes. “I’ve already had breakfast,” I said.
He smiled. “Lunch then,” he said.
I huffed a laugh and shook my head. “Gavin—“
Two knocks sounded on my door. We both turned, and I shot up from my seat, my heart dropping so quickly that a wave of nausea washed over me.
“Tyler,” I nearly spat. “Hey—I didn’t realize you were coming by today.”
Gavin tensed, but stood from the desk as I went around to meet Tyler.
“Hey,” Tyler said. He kissed me gently, one eye still on Gavin, and wrapped a hand around my waist. “I thought I would come by on my way to the airport.” His gaze landed fully on Gavin, giving him a liberal once-over. “Who’s this?” he asked, and I noticed the forced politeness in his tone.
“Oh, this is my client. Gavin. CEO and founder of Cupid’s Arrow,” I said, separating from Tyler’s grasp. “You remember him from the social a few weeks ago? Gavin, this is—“
“Tyler,” Gavin said, extending a hand. “The fiancé. I remember.”
Gavin stood at least six inches taller than Tyler, and somehow he seemed to stand even straighter as Tyler took Gavin’s hand and shook it. A firm handshake, firmer than any normal one should have been.
“Right, I remember now,” Tyler said, his chin lifting as if to make himself taller. “You’re the one that’s keeping my fiancé up late most nights with your project.”
