but it was hard to be objective about a man who looked good enough to lick, and who looked at her like she was the most fascinating person he’d ever met. Those rapt gazes were more than flattering. If she had placed an order for the perfect man—sophisticated, ambitious, smart, and handsome—the universe would have stuck a bow on Matt Flemming and left him on her doorstep. Minus the bow, that was practically what had happened.
Still, what must he think of her, a junior executive who falls into his arms at the first opportunity? She worked hard to be taken seriously, to be seen as a professional. Letting down her hair and slow dancing with her boss wasn’t part of that picture. Suddenly uncomfortable, she stiffened and pulled back.
“I’m sorry.” Matt’s words made her look up. He smiled apologetically and shook his head. “I’m making you uncomfortable.” She started to deny it, a stupid, knee-jerk reaction to placate her boss, but he didn’t let her. “Yes, I am.” He stopped dancing and held her at arm’s length. “I’ve put you in an awkward position and we barely know each other. It’s wrong. Call me overeager to get to know my staff.” He laughed and shook his head.
She smiled back, relieved when she caught sight of their waitress heading their way. “That’s our order. Thanks goodness, I’m so hungry!”
“So am I.” His eyes were boring into hers again, leaving Zoe with little doubt as to what he meant.
She had the presence of mind not to say anything. But there was no question in her mind about her willingness to see what exactly the picture-perfect man would want with her.
• • •
The pizza was gooey with cheese over globs of tasty sauce, and loaded with pepperoni. Zoe was in love. Matt was nearly forgotten through her first two pieces. By the third piece she’d slowed down enough to notice that Matt’s attention kept drifting to the bar.
She turned her head to see what was so interesting. Several people sat on the stools that had obviously been a recent addition to the original bar. At the far end Jase stood talking to the woman Zoe had determined was Jennifer, the wife of his dead friend. Jennifer said nothing, just wiped down some beer spigots as she listened, nodding occasionally.
She turned back to Matt, and found him still watching. “Her name’s Jennifer. She’s known Jase a long time, probably longer than most people here.”
He flashed a smile that made her feel as if she’d just received an A from her favorite teacher. “You read my mind.” His gaze followed Jase as he walked away from the bar. “I think I’ll go get another beer. You want one?”
“No thanks.”
She used the time to go to the restroom and run a comb through her hair. When she returned to the table,Matt was still at the bar, leaning on his arms as he coaxed a few smiles from Jennifer.
If anyone could break through her reserve, it would be Matt. People warmed to him fast. Zoe had to admit it raised a few caution flags. She wasn’t immune to the effect, although he’d counteracted it nicely. He’d been straightforward about his feelings, at the same time acknowledging the touchy situation it put them in. Direct and honest—what more could she expect?
The chair across from her scraped as someone sat down, and she jerked her attention away from the bar.
“Your boyfriend likes to flirt,” Jase said. He leaned forward across the small table, his face less than two feet from hers. She noted the soft curve of his upper lip, the line of his nose, the straight brows. If she touched his cheek, she knew, his whiskers would feel like the fine side of an emery board, barely scratchy . . .
She gave herself a mental shake and managed a disinterested look. “He’s not my boyfriend.”
“Your date, then.”
“My boss.” She knocked their relationship back a step without thinking. It didn’t feel right to let Jase know she was interested in her boss.
“Friendly management style
Still, what must he think of her, a junior executive who falls into his arms at the first opportunity? She worked hard to be taken seriously, to be seen as a professional. Letting down her hair and slow dancing with her boss wasn’t part of that picture. Suddenly uncomfortable, she stiffened and pulled back.
“I’m sorry.” Matt’s words made her look up. He smiled apologetically and shook his head. “I’m making you uncomfortable.” She started to deny it, a stupid, knee-jerk reaction to placate her boss, but he didn’t let her. “Yes, I am.” He stopped dancing and held her at arm’s length. “I’ve put you in an awkward position and we barely know each other. It’s wrong. Call me overeager to get to know my staff.” He laughed and shook his head.
She smiled back, relieved when she caught sight of their waitress heading their way. “That’s our order. Thanks goodness, I’m so hungry!”
“So am I.” His eyes were boring into hers again, leaving Zoe with little doubt as to what he meant.
She had the presence of mind not to say anything. But there was no question in her mind about her willingness to see what exactly the picture-perfect man would want with her.
• • •
The pizza was gooey with cheese over globs of tasty sauce, and loaded with pepperoni. Zoe was in love. Matt was nearly forgotten through her first two pieces. By the third piece she’d slowed down enough to notice that Matt’s attention kept drifting to the bar.
She turned her head to see what was so interesting. Several people sat on the stools that had obviously been a recent addition to the original bar. At the far end Jase stood talking to the woman Zoe had determined was Jennifer, the wife of his dead friend. Jennifer said nothing, just wiped down some beer spigots as she listened, nodding occasionally.
She turned back to Matt, and found him still watching. “Her name’s Jennifer. She’s known Jase a long time, probably longer than most people here.”
He flashed a smile that made her feel as if she’d just received an A from her favorite teacher. “You read my mind.” His gaze followed Jase as he walked away from the bar. “I think I’ll go get another beer. You want one?”
“No thanks.”
She used the time to go to the restroom and run a comb through her hair. When she returned to the table,Matt was still at the bar, leaning on his arms as he coaxed a few smiles from Jennifer.
If anyone could break through her reserve, it would be Matt. People warmed to him fast. Zoe had to admit it raised a few caution flags. She wasn’t immune to the effect, although he’d counteracted it nicely. He’d been straightforward about his feelings, at the same time acknowledging the touchy situation it put them in. Direct and honest—what more could she expect?
The chair across from her scraped as someone sat down, and she jerked her attention away from the bar.
“Your boyfriend likes to flirt,” Jase said. He leaned forward across the small table, his face less than two feet from hers. She noted the soft curve of his upper lip, the line of his nose, the straight brows. If she touched his cheek, she knew, his whiskers would feel like the fine side of an emery board, barely scratchy . . .
She gave herself a mental shake and managed a disinterested look. “He’s not my boyfriend.”
“Your date, then.”
“My boss.” She knocked their relationship back a step without thinking. It didn’t feel right to let Jase know she was interested in her boss.
“Friendly management style
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