“And look like you’re hiding because of public opinion?That’s not you.”
“If the office door is back, it had better stay open,” I warned.
“You two have a fun day.Text me if you need anything,” his mom said before hooking arms with Mom and leading her inside.
“Please come to work with me,” Konni said pleadingly.
I gave him a look, knowing full well why he wanted me there.He was being clingy in his dragon, rubbing away again.The sex last night had been particularly impressive because of all the petting, but I wasn’t about to tell him that.
“Under one condition.”
“Name it.”
“We maintain the professional boundaries I set when we’re around other people.”
“I’ll follow your lead.”
He agreed too easily.I didn’t trust it.He knew it, too, based on his slow grin as he opened the car door for me.
“Have I told you how beautiful you are today?”he asked.
“Yes.Twice.”
He leaned into the car and took the seatbelt from my hand to buckle me.
“You’re right.We should just stay home,” he said softly before kissing me.
I pushed at his chest after a moment and won a little space.
“No.Weshouldn’t stay home.Youneed to go to work so everyone knows I haven’t kidnapped you.I’ll tag along so everyone can see I haven’t been fired and that I’m there to work, not have office sex.”
“We could have office sex.”
I scowled at him.“Are you going to get into your own seat or crowd me all morning?”
He sighed, kissed the tip of my nose, and withdrew.Once he was driving, though, he reached over and held my hand.The feel of his fingers threaded between mine…the heat of his hand…the way he used his thumb to stroke my skin…it all made me realize how much I’d been missing out on by saying no to PDA.Not that I was ready for that yet.
Once we arrived, he didn’t attempt to hold my hand outside of the car, thankfully.We walked into the building together, with me just half a step behind him.He glanced at me but didn’t slow down to force me to walk beside him.He followed my lead as he’d promised.
We didn’t make conversation in the elevator, and no one was waiting for him when the doors opened.But I still veered off to make his coffee so I wouldn’t be seen walking through the department with him.
The people in the break area left right after I arrived, which didn’t surprise me.I was going to be the center of gossip for a while.
Edi found me while I was adding the required sickening amount of syrup to Konni’s cup.
“Hey, Sophia,” he said.“I’m sorry about your house.How are you doing?”
“Just surviving the shit tsunami that life’s been throwing at me,” I said.
He nodded and started making a coffee for himself.“It’s been a lot, hasn’t it.First, the data leak, then your mom’s car accident, the assault last week, and now a house fire.I can’t imagine anyone else handling all of that with as much grace as you have.”
The recap and his understanding poked at my composure a little.
“Careful, Edi.Too much compassion, and I might hug you.Not sure the public is ready for yet another illicit relationship scandal headline.”
He chuckled and side-hugged me.
“We’re here for you if you need anything.Don’t let the talk get you down.The people who matter know who you are and who you aren’t.”
