“What?” I scowl. “My stolen food not good enough for you, asshole? Or would you like to take my lip gloss too? Or how about my phone? You seem to just take whatever you want.”
He drops the bao. His face turns pink as his breathing comes out fast. “Are there peanuts in this?”
“Mei always adds them to Leah’s food. They’re her favorite.”
“Fuck.” He starts digging around in his briefcase. “I’m allergic.”
He clutches his throat with one hand as he fumbles with the briefcase with the other, eventually flipping it upside down.
“Sit down.” Realization hitting me, I jump into action. Although I don’t like my new editor, I refuse to be caught with his corpse. It’d be the plot of a terrible murder mystery. “Let me help you.”
“It’s in here somewhere.”
“I said, sit down!” He looks startled when I shove him back into his chair. “Quit fussing, and focus on your breathing.” I calm my voice. “It’ll be quicker if I do it. You’re less methodical when you’re panicking.”
I rifle through his belongings—mainly a load of notebooks—but there is a crumpled-up photo that falls out of a book. It’s a much younger Calder along with two older men—one of whom has Calder’s light brown hair—and a woman, who I can only assume is his mother. She’s absolutely stunning. Something about their faces look familiar, but I can’t place them. My mind doesn’t have time to dwell as my fingers close around his EpiPen.
“Do you need?—”
He grabs it from me and injects himself, his shoulders instantly sagging as his breathing slows to a normal rate. “Much better.”
“Do you want me to call anyone for you?” I ask. “Your pack, maybe?”
He shakes his head. “That won’t be necessary.”
I pull out the chair opposite him.
“What’re you doing?” he asks.
“You shouldn’t be alone so soon after a reaction. What if you keel over and die?” I drum my fingers on the desk in front of me, my nails tapping on the surface. “I’m doing it for my conscience, not for you.”
He cracks a wry smile. “If I died, at least you’d get the editor position.”
I roll my eyes. “Imagine the scandal.”
“A front page story, I’m sure.” His eyes twinkle playfully.
Maybe he’s not a total monster after all, but that doesn’t mean I’m letting him off the hook so easily.
“I’m sure there’s a lesson to be learned here.” I hurl the food container with the offending peanuts into the nearest trash can. “Maybe next time you shouldn’t take what isn’t yours?”
He chuckles wearily, the slight redness around his mouth already fading. “I also should know better than to take an omega’s food.”
“You should.” I scowl at him. “Especially when it’s from Noodles and Chill. That shit is plain addictive. Take my fix away, and you’ll pay.”
“Duly noted.” He smiles. A smile that completely changes his stern expression. The kind of smile that would make most women melt. “I think we got off on the wrong foot. Can we start over?”
“We can try,” I huff. “But if you think I’m going to forget saving your life, you’re mistaken.”
“I guess I’m in your debt. How can I repay you?” His gaze trails down to my lips. “Dinner, perhaps?”
I cross my legs. The intense way he looks at me, similar to the way I’d pore over a mid-century painting, causes the air between us to thicken. His sunshine lemon scent sweetens, making me dizzy.
“After everything that just happened…” After seeing the hungry look in his eyes, I have to shake away the rogue thought that pops into my mind about how good it would feel to be bent over the editor’s desk. “You’re inviting me on a date?”
“I owe you a meal.” He motions to the trashcan. “You said it yourself, I stole the food.”
How am I going to tolerate a boss who goes from cold to hot within seconds, giving me emotional whiplash? The crinkles around his eyes deepen as his smile broadens. Self-assuredness is a quality I find attractive, but damn.
