His words land like tiny sparks, grazing my skin and making me take note.Being here, with Zach, in an enclosed space, feels both exciting and dangerous.I start to climb down, focusing on my footing, when my heel slips on one of the rungs and I cry out.In the next instant, Zach’s hands are on me, firm and supportive.One arm wraps around my waist, solid and sure, the other braces against the ladder.All I can think about is every point where our bodies touch.
“Just step down slowly,” he coaxes.
I miss the last rung and lurch forward before I can stop myself, losing my balance and stumbling into him.I instinctively grab the front of his shirt to steady myself, as I fall into him.His body absorbs the impact easily, and his grip tightens just enough to keep me upright.
For a split second I’m pressed flush against his hard and unyielding body, breathless and painfully aware of how close we are.
His sweet breath skims my face, and I can feel the heat of him, the strength in his arms, the way his body has gone completely still as if he’s afraid to move.It’s like he’s fighting the same thing I am—not sure whether to pull apart or stay like this.
I look up, to find Zach staring down at me, his jaw tight, his expression unmasked and unfiltered, like he’s trying to hold back, but can’t.His eyes are darker than I’ve ever seen them.His grip around me isn’t too tight, but firm enough to make me extremely aware that his hands are on my body.I feel hot and tingly all over.In this frozen, suspended moment, my hands slide upwards slightly.It’s instinctive, and I don’t fully understand why I’m doing this.My hands aren’t quite touching his neck, they’re not that far up, not quite crossing that line, but they’re close enough that I know exactly what I’m doing.
And he knows it, too, because his Adam’s apple bobs, like he’s afraid to swallow, or breathe.
Maybe he’s nervous.Maybe he’s not.
But then he slowly and deliberately lets go, taking a step back as his hands drop to his sides.The sudden absence of him feels so cold.
“Careful,” he says quietly, his eyes not meeting mine.
“You always have my back,” I say before I can stop myself.My voice is softer now.“You always have.”I realize it in that very moment, sharp and as sudden as a bolt of lightning.
His eyes flicker.“I’ll always look out for you, Maya.You should know that by now.”
I wait with bated breath, hoping, wanting, wishing he would say more.But he doesn’t.I don’t move.I’m standing too near him for comfort, and, exactly where I’m not afraid to be.
“Maya,” he says, carefully, his eyes pinning mine.“This needs to stay professional.You asked for that.”
He’s not wrong.Around him my guard is slipping, brick by brick.I’m starting to feel more aware of him in ways that have nothing to do with work anymore.I scratch the back of my neck absent-mindedly, unsure of myself and how I feel.“I just… I like working with you,” I blurt out, with full honesty.
I close my eyes, frowning as the words reverberate around the room.When I look up, his eyes are on me.Searching.Examining.Assessing.He nods, before turning back to the boxes, giving me space even though I don’t really want it.I hate that he’s choosing to ignore me when his attention is what I now find myself craving.
“I’ll come back to this after lunch,” I mumble vaguely.My insides are in complete upheaval, like the insides of a shaken snow globe.We head for the door, the air between us charged and heated.Even though nothing happens, it feels like we were dangerously close to something.
We almost bump into someone as soon as we step into the corridor.She’s a manager from another department, and she slows down as she walks past us, her eyes narrowing when she sees us both emerge together from below.
Suspicious eyes flick from Zach to me, then back again to Zach.My insides sink with a heavy rush of dread and we walk away, in opposite directions, but my pulse is racing, my skin prickling as if everyone can see straight through me.
It’s going to get harder to ignore Zach now that he’s firmly planted in my place of work.
I hate that despite my resolve, he’s making inroads into my heart and mind.
Chapter 17
ZACH
It’s late, past ten o’clock, and the Stella offices are usually empty by now.Shame I forgot an important folder I needed.
Security waves me through.I walk towards my dimly lit temporary office.There’s a low glow from the city lights filtering in through the windows, but the office lights automatically come on as I walk.I rush in and grab the folder, but just as I’m about to leave, I see movement in the open plan area overlooking where I sit.
What the hell?
A figure skulks around quietly and some of the lights switch on.I catch sight of something familiar.My insides drop, recognition hitting hard, like an unexpected jab to my chest.
Maya?
What is she doing here at this hour?I don’t dare to breathe, and watch silently, my thoughts going in a thousand different directions.I blink when I see her heading towards Katherine’s office.
Why would she be going into Katherine’s office?
