I should go. But I don't want to leave. I want to sit and just talk. “I should let you get back to work,” I say instead, standing up.
“Yeah, I've got a lot to catch up on.”
I'm halfway to the door when I stop. “Harper?”
“Yeah?”
“About the other morning?—”
Her body goes rigid. “Don’t.” She doesn't look up from her screen. “Just don't.”
“Right.” She’s probably right. That kiss is best forgotten. It was three o’clock in the morning, and we were both sleepy and out of it. Even if it’s all I’ve been able to think about since.
7
Harper
Crisis mode doesn't begin to cover what's happening in our office right now. Jessica is on her fourth backup venue call, her voice getting more strained with each rejection.
James has spreadsheets pulled up on two different monitors, frantically calculating timeline adjustments. Amber is stress-eating her way through a bag of M&Ms while updating our contingency plans.
“Any luck with the Plaza?” I ask Jessica, who is holding her phone away with a grimace on her face.
“They're booked solid through Christmas,” she says, covering the mouthpiece. “And they just suggested we try a Holiday Inn conference room.”
“AHoliday Inn?” My voice goes up an octave. “For a two-million-dollar contract with the Renegades?”
James looks up from his computer. “The Mandarin Oriental has availability, but they want three times our budget.”
I'm about to respond when there's a knock on our conference room door. Before anyone can answer, it swings open, and Cole Maddox fills the doorway.
All air leaves my lungs, and I stare at him open-mouthed.What the fuck?How did he even know where our offices are?
He fills the doorway, looking ridiculously large and out of place in our cozy, pastel-colored conference room. He’s wearing a dark Renegades hoodie and an apologetic scowl. “Sorry to barge in. No one was at reception.”
The reaction from my team is instantaneous and mortifying.
Amber lets out an actual squeak, her hand flying to her mouth. Jessica, mid-plea with the Plaza events manager, goes completely silent, her jaw unhinged. James just stares, his fingers frozen over his keyboard.
“Oh my God,” Amber whispers, loud enough for everyone to hear. “You're Cole Maddox.”
“Captain Cole Maddox,” Jessica adds, her voice breathy with admiration.
James finally finds his voice. “Dude, that overtime goal against the Stormers last season was insane.”
Cole scowls. “We lost that game.” Then his eyes find mine. “Ms. Hayes, could I have a word?”
“Of course.” I turn to my team with what I hope is a professional smile. “Guys, could you give us some privacy?”
They practically trip over each other scrambling to leave, but not before Amber manages to snap a selfie, which makes Cole scowl some more. God, he’s fun.
Cole drops himself on a chair on the opposite side of the table, and I have to actively stop myself from staring. His thighs look powerful even sitting down, and I find myself remembering exactly how those muscles felt pressed against me during our kiss.
Focus, Harper.
“You could have been kinder to James. He was just being a fan,” I say, feeling sorry for James’ dismissal.
“This isn't a meet-and-greet, Harper,” he says without an ounce of regret. “Can we focus on what brought me here?”
