“No,” I said instantly.
It makes me kind of hot though.
“Do you love him?”
Jace gripped his coffee mug tightly andsmiled like a man who’d fallen head over heels. “Yeah. I think I do. He snuck up on me out of nowhere. I never thought I’d love anyone the way I love you, but he’s really something special.”
“I know. I remember,” I said. Kayden was sweet, honest, and sexy. It would have been easy to fall in love with him if I’d had more than an evening with him four years ago.
“It doesn’t hurt as much as I thought it would. You loving him,” I said.
Jace took my jacket from me and started walking toward my desk. He hung it on a coat rack that hadn’t been there last week. “Good. Because I don’t intend to stop loving either of you. Now, can I ask you a question?”
“Yes, I’ve never lied to you. Same secretly-in-love-with-you-for-years-and-too-scared-to-say-it situation, but that’s it.”
“Good. I don’t want to pressure you to decide anything. I meant what I said in the car about waiting until you’re ready to talk. But I also don’t want to go back to trying to hide my interest in you. The cat’s out of the bag, Olivia. I’ve been suppressing my love and desire for years and I’m tired of it. So can I please love you and flirt with you openly now even if our future is undefined?”
My heart thudded in my chest, and it look all my willpower not to throw myself at him so I could finally find out what it would feel like to have his lips on me. “Yes. Please don’t hold back at all. I want total openness from now on.”
He grinned and nodded. “Okay.”
I sat down at my desk and logged into the computer. “Don’t forget I’m taking a late lunch to get my flu shotat one o’clock.”
“Okay, can you cancel whatever I have at one o’clock, please?”
“Why? You can’t make it to one meeting without me?”
“I can, but I’m going with my best friend to get her flu shot.”
“Why?” I asked as he plopped down in the chair across from me, looking smug.
“Because you’re terrified of needles. And you’re only doing this because it’s a company requirement.”
I groaned. He was right. I believed in the science of vaccines, but I also hated needles enough that I’d rather just get the flu and be miserable for two weeks. I made Kaylee get her shot every year and she handled it like a champ. I’d probably be crying at the clinic today and it would be nice to have a warm, sexy shoulder to lean on. “Fine. Thank you.”
“Don’t mention it,” he said.
“Is there a reason you’re lingering this morning?” I asked.
“Yeah, I have no idea where I’m supposed to be right now.”
“Oh, dear lord, Jace,” I said, rolling my eyes as my computer booted up. “The day I decide to find another job, you’re going to be completely lost.”
“Yes, I might just have to tie you to your desk and keep you forever,” he said.
My breath caught in my throat.
Jace smirked. “Wondering if that’s something I like or if it’s something you’d like?”
“Both,” I said, flushing again.
“Don’t worry, Liv. Someday we’ll answer all your questions,” he teased.
I shook off the shiver of arousal that shot through me and focused on my computer screen.
“Are you okay?” he asked, taking a gentler tone. “You look tired.”
I glared at him.
