“I didn’t mean that…I just mean, I don’t need to flaunt this. Us sitting together will suffice.”
“Where’s the fun in that?”
“The fun is where we maintain a good employer-employee relationship at the end of this by not taking things too far,” I warn.
Her voice lowers, her gaze dipping to my lips. “So to be clear, what exactly would be considered too far?”
My hands slide up her thighs, my thumb running along the inside until I reach the top and grip her hips. “I think you’re smart enough to work it out.”
She leans forward, her arms lightly tracing over my shoulders until she links her fingers behind the back of my neck. She’s so close, I could almost brush the tip of her nose with mine.
“It seems you’re not smart enough to make the determination though, Dr. Adams.”
“Oh, I’m smart enough to work it out. I just don’t have the strength to follow through. I’m going to need your assistance, Miss Sinclair. Work with me here?”
“What’s in it for me?” Her nose rubs against mine this time, and I suck in a breath. My hands are all over my fucking employee. What the hell am I doing? I am becoming more and more like my father every day. Taking advantage of employees, using people for my own gain. But with Mia, it’s the truth within a lie. I don’t have the strength to stop this pull I have toward her. For now, I withdraw my hands, stepping away. I adjust myself, Mia’s eyes lighting up with victory.
I hold out my hand to her, and she takes it, hopping down from the counter.
I ignore her question, partly because I’m scared of what she would ask for. And partly because I know whatever it is, I’ll give it to her.
???
The evening descends into an unplanned and yet not entirely unpredicted chaos. Katie and Jonesy have argued to the point of nearly clawing at each other about the acceptable way to mimic a dog during charades.
Lottie has taken no fewer than three phone calls, her words getting more and more slurred with each one as she hiccuped through. No doubt to her secret beau.
Caleb has kept his eyes on Mia the entire time, tilting his head every now and then as if she were a complex puzzle for him to figure out. Asking increasingly personal questions.
These people are my friends, and they are aware of my proclivity to dating, or lack thereof. Why wouldn’t they be curious about her? Despite the fact that the second she sank into my lap, the Mia I know all too well rippled to the surface. She’s charmed them for sure, and I’m almost certain that Caleb is calculating the likelihood that whatever is going on between us is casual, a fling, something he can pick up once we’re over.
I like Caleb. We’ve been friends for years, but despite being a respected psychologist who works in emergency services, he has a penchant for anything that gives him an adrenaline rush. Booze, drugs, women, the latter especially when she is off limits. I’d unintentionally created the perfect prize for him by holding Mia against my lap. Not that Caleb would do that to me if I asked him not to. I am his friend and, as such, immune to his behavior, but that doesn’t mean he won’t try to push my buttons, regardless.
“Caleb, darling,” Katie straightens her spine, “you’re being an awful creep tonight.”
His mouth quirks up, and his eyes shift toward Katie.
“How about a new game? Truth or dare.”
Jonesy shifts a little closer to Katie as he always does once he’s had a few to drink. His stance crowds her petite frame.
“What are we? Nineteen? You gonna ask me to make out with you, Caleb? Finally gonna beg for that kiss you’ve always wanted?” Jonesy teases, lightening the tension that has grown thick in the room.
“You know I’m not picky, Jonesy. But I’m sure there’s someone else here you’d rather make out with.” His eyes flick to Katie, and her face thunders with a rush of red. It was an unspoken rule in our group. You don’t talk about the underlyingsexual tension between Jonesy and Katie. It has been fifteen years since we all met, and fifteen years that it was painfully obvious that they were meant to be together. And now, both of them are single at the same time for the first time in years, it might actually happen. But it’s like kids on a playground. If you leave them to it, they’ll become firm friends, but if you force them to spend time together, then more than likely, they’ll dig their heels in and refuse to play nice.
Sensing the shift in Katie, Mia diverts the attention. “I’ll go first.”
Caleb bares his teeth, grinning like the Cheshire Cat. I watch Katie let out a deep breath, Jonesy’s knee gently leaning against hers. She doesn’t pull away this time.
“Truth or dare?” he purrs into his scotch, taking a hefty sip.
“Truth.”
I sit up a little straighter, my grip around her middle squeezing a little bit tighter.
“Have you ever been in love?”
I feel her back stiffen, all softness gone in a second. Despite this, her face remains neutral. She’s had many hours on placements where I’m sure she’s heard all manner of things. Every good psychologist has an excellent poker face. Hence why we have one poker night a year to crown the poker face champion for the year.
