sighed. “All right. Have it your way. Besides, if you’re only having a fling, you might be more willing to share details like how he kisses or how good he is in bed. It’s sad, but at the moment I have to live through you.”
“What happened to lunch with the hot guy?”
“Turns out he’s hot for the other team. I can’t read you, and my gaydar’s off. Not a good day.” She paused before adding, “Don’t get in too deep with Dominic, Catherine. If he hurts you, I’ll have to kill him, and then I’ll end up in prison. I don’t think I’d like the food there.”
“I’m sorry about your lunch, and I appreciate the support. But there won’t be any need for felony murder, I’m sure.” She picked up a pile of papers and sorted through them without seeing what was on the pages. “Now get out of my office and let me try to get some order in here.” She indicated the stacks of paper and sample publications scattered about the room.
Melody grabbed her box of candy then asked one more question as she headed for the door. “Are you seeing him again?”
Catherine hesitated for a few seconds but finally gave in with a small smile. “Coffee tomorrow and dinner next Friday.”
“Who knew this would happen when we moved into the building?”
Melody closed the door, leaving Catherine standing in the middle of the evidence of a chaotic week, touching her mouth with her fingertips and saying softly, “Yeah, who knew?”
• • •
Dominic arrived in time to get coffee for himself and Catherine and get to her office by eight, as he’d promised. He’d considered being at her office door when she arrived at seven but thought that might be a bit too eager. And he didn’t do eager. However, he was surprised at how much he was looking forward to seeing her again. Somehow, on the strength of an extended elevator flirtation, one lunch, and a kiss that seemed to promise there might be more to come, he had begun to anticipate their time together in ways not usual for him.
The door to her office suite was open although no one was at the front desk. He could hear voices coming from down the hall but decided not to wait for someone to acknowledge his presence. He knew where her office was, after all. But when he knocked on the closed door, he got no response. He tried again. Still nothing. She was either someplace else or completely wrapped up in her work.
Betting on the latter, he opened the door and said, “Delivery for Bennett.” She looked up from her computer with a startled expression.
“Oh, God, is it eight already?” she asked.
“It’s nice to see you, too, Catherine,” he said.
“Let me start over. Good morning, Dominic. How lovely of you to bring me coffee.”
“That’s better.” Plucking one cup from the carrier, he handed it to her with a flourish. “A double-shot, skinny latte for the lady.”
“It is altogether too stalker-ish that you not only know my credit history, my maiden name, and who-knows-what-else about me, but you also know how I drink my coffee.”
“I don’t. Didn’t. But the barista downstairs does.” He moved the visitor’s chair closer to her desk before making himself comfortable. “You didn’t say what you were working on today that brought you in so early. Big project?”
“Yeah. I need to get this draft edited for my project manager before I leave. What’re you doing?”
“My usual Saturday drill. Going over the billings and financials.”
“I thought you had a CFO.”
“I do, but I like to know what’s going on, so I look at the weekly report he leaves me every Friday.”
“I’m not crazy about that part of my job, but I can’t rationalize taking on a CFO or a managing partner yet. Not sure I want to.” She took a long drink of her coffee. “I know I said I didn’t want to talk business with you but I’m curious—you’re the managing director and Edie’s the creative director, right?”
“Correct. I split the responsibilities about
“What happened to lunch with the hot guy?”
“Turns out he’s hot for the other team. I can’t read you, and my gaydar’s off. Not a good day.” She paused before adding, “Don’t get in too deep with Dominic, Catherine. If he hurts you, I’ll have to kill him, and then I’ll end up in prison. I don’t think I’d like the food there.”
“I’m sorry about your lunch, and I appreciate the support. But there won’t be any need for felony murder, I’m sure.” She picked up a pile of papers and sorted through them without seeing what was on the pages. “Now get out of my office and let me try to get some order in here.” She indicated the stacks of paper and sample publications scattered about the room.
Melody grabbed her box of candy then asked one more question as she headed for the door. “Are you seeing him again?”
Catherine hesitated for a few seconds but finally gave in with a small smile. “Coffee tomorrow and dinner next Friday.”
“Who knew this would happen when we moved into the building?”
Melody closed the door, leaving Catherine standing in the middle of the evidence of a chaotic week, touching her mouth with her fingertips and saying softly, “Yeah, who knew?”
• • •
Dominic arrived in time to get coffee for himself and Catherine and get to her office by eight, as he’d promised. He’d considered being at her office door when she arrived at seven but thought that might be a bit too eager. And he didn’t do eager. However, he was surprised at how much he was looking forward to seeing her again. Somehow, on the strength of an extended elevator flirtation, one lunch, and a kiss that seemed to promise there might be more to come, he had begun to anticipate their time together in ways not usual for him.
The door to her office suite was open although no one was at the front desk. He could hear voices coming from down the hall but decided not to wait for someone to acknowledge his presence. He knew where her office was, after all. But when he knocked on the closed door, he got no response. He tried again. Still nothing. She was either someplace else or completely wrapped up in her work.
Betting on the latter, he opened the door and said, “Delivery for Bennett.” She looked up from her computer with a startled expression.
“Oh, God, is it eight already?” she asked.
“It’s nice to see you, too, Catherine,” he said.
“Let me start over. Good morning, Dominic. How lovely of you to bring me coffee.”
“That’s better.” Plucking one cup from the carrier, he handed it to her with a flourish. “A double-shot, skinny latte for the lady.”
“It is altogether too stalker-ish that you not only know my credit history, my maiden name, and who-knows-what-else about me, but you also know how I drink my coffee.”
“I don’t. Didn’t. But the barista downstairs does.” He moved the visitor’s chair closer to her desk before making himself comfortable. “You didn’t say what you were working on today that brought you in so early. Big project?”
“Yeah. I need to get this draft edited for my project manager before I leave. What’re you doing?”
“My usual Saturday drill. Going over the billings and financials.”
“I thought you had a CFO.”
“I do, but I like to know what’s going on, so I look at the weekly report he leaves me every Friday.”
“I’m not crazy about that part of my job, but I can’t rationalize taking on a CFO or a managing partner yet. Not sure I want to.” She took a long drink of her coffee. “I know I said I didn’t want to talk business with you but I’m curious—you’re the managing director and Edie’s the creative director, right?”
“Correct. I split the responsibilities about
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