I try to remember. "Lunch?"
"It's ten PM."
"Then... nine hours ago?" I pull away from his steadying hand, embarrassed. "I'm fine. Really. Just forgot to grab dinner."
Donovan's jaw tightens. "The vending machine or the cafeteria?"
"What?"
"Which one do you want me to raid for food?"
"You don't have to—"
“I do.” His voice is firm. "You're swaying on your feet. You needto eat. Choose.”
I consider arguing, then realize I'm too tired and too hungry to win this fight.
"Vending machine," I admit. "The cafeteria closed at seven."
"Wait here."
He disappears before I can protest, leaving me alone with the terrible coffee and my wounded pride.
I sink into one of the break room chairs, resting my head on my arms.
This is not how I wanted to end my first week.
Dizzy and pathetic and being fed from a vending machine by my boss who I'm definitely not supposed to be attracted to.
Donovan returns five minutes later with an armful of snacks.
Chips. Granola bars. A Snickers. A bottle of water.
Even a sad-looking pack of trail mix that’s clearly been aging in the back of the machine since 2019.
"I got options," he says, dumping them out on the table.
I stare at the pile. “You raided the entire vending machine.”
“It’s called choices.” He slides the water toward me. “Some of us like having them.”
I take the bottle, unscrewing the cap. “Oh, I’m very aware of how much you enjoy having…choices.”
“A smart man knows,” he says, his voice dropping, smooth as the scotch I imagine he drinks when he’s not ruining women’s ability to form coherent thoughts, “that options keep things interesting.”
I take a sip of water to buy time.
“Right,” I say, before twisting the cap back on. “Wouldn’t want you getting bored.”
He sits beside me, crossing his arms. The motion pulls his shirt tight across his chest, sleeves still rolled up, forearms tan and dustedwith dark hair.
“Trust me,” he says quietly. “There’s nothing boring about you, Sinclair.”
The words slide over my skin like heat.
“I meant the snacks,” I manage, setting the bottle down because my hands are starting to shake. “Not me.”
He smiles. “Sure you did.”
