Page 58 of Austin

No. But my lawyers would like me to. And they can be really mean.

She’s biting her lip, and it’s the death of me. I have to run a hand over my jaw to calm myself before I jump from behind this wall and take her right there on the desk. I try to bring it back down and remember that I’m at work and I’m her boss. But it’s so freaking hard, especially when the glass-top table shows those beautiful legs crossing and uncrossing as she fidgets, trying to decide what to type next.

I watch the bubbles appear and disappear without another message for a minute.

So … coffee?

She looks at her desk and the papers that she was working on. Her head falls to the back of her chair as she looks up and lets out a deep sigh. When she turns back to her phone, she types.

Rain check. I’m swamped with work, and Bryce expects this exposé to be completed before the end of day.

If I didn’t see with my own eyes what she was working on, I’d think she was blowing me off. There’s something sexy about a woman who isn’t willing to rush to a man’s beck and call. It’s been a long time since I’ve had a woman turn me down, and it’s a goddamn turn-on.

I turn around and head back into my office to grab a gift I ordered. It’s been sitting under my desk in a brown box for a few days. I take the mug out and then walk it into the break room where I clean it in the sink. Then, I make Jalynn a cup of coffee the way I’ve seen her make it before.

When I get to her desk, her bright eyes widen as I walk over to her with the mug in my hands. Her eyes follow mine as I walk around her desk and take a seat on the edge, making her scoot back a bit in her chair.

“You know, there are chairs you can sit on.” She tilts her head to the two that sit against he wall.

“Yeah, but I like this spot better.” I grin as I hold the mug out to her. “Since you’re too busy to join me for coffee, I thought I’d join you.”

She raises a brow as she looks at the black mug and the large writing in big white font on the ceramic. “Gomer Pyle? Where does one find a mug that says Gomer Pyle?”

“Amazon. You’d be surprised at the things you can buy online these days,” I answer sarcastically.

She shakes her head as she accepts the proffered mug and takes a sip. “Does this mean, you’re finally going to tell me why you call me Pyle? And what’s with the Gomer part?”

“That’s classified information.”

“You know how I take my coffee, and you felt me up last night, so I’d say we’re ready to declassify that one.”

She winks, and I have to adjust my seated position for a brief moment.

“It’s a Marine’s thing. That’s what they call the person who keeps messing up or causes problems.”

Her smile falls. “How do I cause problems?”

“Do you remember how I met you in the first place?”

She puts the mug down on the desk as she narrows her eyes at me, and the little vein pops out in her forehead. “You’re never going to let me live that down, are you? Fine. I’m a Pyle. I cross racetracks and create false starts.”

“You do.”

She lets out a groan. “That’s the worst nickname ever. Are you going to tell me more about the Marines now?”

“Nope. This isn’t our third date yet.”

I pull her chair in closer and watch as she sucks in a breath. I weave a hand through her hair and pull her face in, close to mine. She pants lightly as I place my mouth on hers, gently sucking on her bottom lip. Her kiss is as sweet as biting into a summer peach. I release my hold just as fast and then push her back in case anyone decides to walk down this way.

Her eyes flutter as her hands grab hold of the sides of her chair, bracing for support. “I’ve heard I should watch out for you.”

“By who?”

“My roommate.”

“Oh, yeah?” I drum my fingers on the glass, spreading my legs to accommodate how heavy my cock feels in my pants after that kiss. “What did she have to say?”

“She figured out it was you by your hat last night. She’s been to your races, and she knows who you are—as Falcon and”—she licks her lips—“Austin.”