She hesitates, but only for a second. “Okay, but not for long.”
I stand and move around to her seat. “I’ll take it.” I hold out my hand to her, and she places hers in mine.
We walk outside into the cool night, the city still buzzing around us even though it’s getting later in the evening. Our paceis slow, and our shoulders are touching, but she doesn’t move away.
“This feels familiar.” I look down at her and smile.
“What does? Walking?”
“Yeah. Walking with you specifically,” I say, my voice certain.
She exhales slowly, tensing. “Maybe this isn’t a good idea.”
I stop and turn to face her. “Why not?”
“For the most minor of reasons, I’m your boss. Lines will blur, and things could get really … complicated,” she mumbles.
I reach for her hands. “I don’t mind complicated.” I pull her in closer to me. “And I’m not going to ignore this connection between us.”
“Liam …” She looks conflicted.
“Alie, let me ask you something. Did you have fun tonight? With me?”
She tilts her head to the side, still not pulling out of my hold. “I did.”
“So did I. And I think we should do it again. And often.”
“You know, you’re kind of bossy.” Her lips twitch.
“I think you like it when I’m bossy.” I smirk.
“I’ll think about it.”
“Okay, I’ll take it. But, Alie, don’t make me wait too long.”
She huffs, “Or what?”
“I can be relentless when I need to be. And I’m not gonna let you walk away from me again.” A smile tugs at my mouth.
“Is that right?” She’s staring at my mouth.
“Yep.” I lean in and whisper in her ear, “And this time, I have an advantage.”
“What advantage do you have?” She sucks in a breath, clearly affected by me.
“I know where you work now.” I pull back, but still close enough that it wouldn’t take much for me to kiss her.
A laugh bubbles out of her lightly. “Easy there, MVP.”
We linger there, close. Both of us smiling. The moment stretches until I can’t take it anymore, and I close the distance and take her lips in a soft, testing kind of kiss.
She doesn’t pull away, so I deepen the kiss, winding my arms around her waist, pulling her in close to me.
Her hands slide up my chest, and she grips my shirt, as if she needs to steady herself. And I move one hand to cup her jaw, not wanting this kiss to ever stop. The sounds of the city fade around us, until all I hear is the rush of our breaths, both of us chasing the pull it seems we’ve both been missing.
When we finally break apart, she’s a little breathless, eyes still closed, cheeks flushed.
“Alie”—I kiss her softly—“you good?”
