Xavier pursed his lips and nodded. “Very impressive. Most people take a minute to work up the courage.”
I pretended to dab my lips with a napkin. “I’ve traveled in Latin America a lot. Eating bugs isn’t so uncommon there.”
“And lots of other parts of the world,” Xavier said brightly. “One of the things I’ve learned through managing the shop. We have to special order a lot of the candies that we import.” He frowned, then pushed his foot against mine. “Looks like I’ll have to come up with better than edible bugs to catch you off-guard.”
I pushed my loafer back against his sneaker. “Trust me. All you need to do to catch me off-guard is to smile.”
Xavier blushed, just like I knew he would. “So,” he said, glancing around, “this is your office, huh? It’s nice.”
I stretched my arm across the back of the couch and leaned back while Xavier pulled open the paper bag and began removing the contents, setting some tacos, salsas, and corn chips on the table. “This is it,” I said. “What do you think?”
Xavier trailed his eyes along the stacks of paper on my desk and the filing system that covered the wall. “Looks… busy,” he finally said.
I laughed. “It is. I keep meaning to put up some decorations, but honestly, I’m only here to get work done anyway.”
“Same for me at the shop, but I still love making it special. My dad always kept a lot of photos of our family and his customers around the counter.” He smiled to himself. “It makes the work easier to do if you remember why you’re doing it!”
“Having you around helps,” I said, then dipped a corn chip in the salsa and took a spicy bite.
Xavier kept batting his eyelashes at me while we chatted. Even knowing we wouldn’t indulge our fantasies that evening, I was still glad we could slip so easily into flirtations. I took it as a good sign that there was more to our relationship than just satisfying kinks.
“How’s Georgia?” I asked. “Did she secure the deal on that bar?”
Xavier sighed and shook his head. “She’s pretty sure she’s locked out. The other buyer just has more money.”
I spooned a little salsa on the avocado tacos. “She doesn’t want my help? There are more ways to solve a problem like that than just throwing money at it.”
“Didn’t you just solve a major problem in New York by throwing money at it?”
I laughed and pointed the fork at him. “Only partially. There was plenty of other maneuvering involved. But yes, I am now the proud of owner of a handful of buildings in Long Island City and a small company that manages them.”
Xavier frowned to himself as he poked at his tacos. I wondered if I had said something wrong or inadvertently reminded him of my absence the last weekend. Resting my hand on his knee, I gave him a soft pat. “Anyway, if Georgia does want someone to strategize, let her know I’m around.”
“I’m sure she’ll appreciate it,” Xavier answered, brightening again.
Occasionally, someone would hurry by the glass door of my office, reminding me that we were still on partial display. I had considered meeting Xavier somewhere with more privacy, but with my schedule being as it was, showing him the office seemed like an acceptable alternative.
Still, I couldn’t help but wish we had a moment to slip away together anyway. No matter how much his chiming laughter made my stress disappear, a part of me was still in business mode and still guarding my conversation.
“It’s kind of sexy,” Xavier said quietly, the words slipping out beneath his breath.
“Excuse me?” I asked, not certain I had heard him right.
“The office,” he said, biting down on his bottom lip. “Youroffice.”
I placed my hand on my jawline and rubbed my thumb across my thick beard. “Why Xavier,” I said sternly. “I’d almost think you were looking for trouble, coming into a place like this and saying a thing like that.”
He sucked in a quick breath, and I noticed his fingers curl against the couch, pressing down into the black leather. “Not looking for trouble, Sir,” he whispered. “Just thinking that, when I am…”
“The boss will be waiting,” I growled.
His delicate fingers pressed tighter against the couch, dimpling the fabric. “Good,” he whispered.
I swallowed and pushed aside the desire that he had ignited in me. My cock was already hardening, but I was in the office, with employees crawling all over the place.
With the desk for Xavier to bend over. The ruler in the drawer.
I cleared my throat. “Take your time,” I said. “I can’t complain about a hot guy bringing me dinner.”
