slowing down in your old age.”
He rolled his eyes at her joke. “Careful with that, sunshine. You’re only two months behind me on the birthday wagon.”
She stood up and walked toward him. He was assaulted by the scent of her perfume once more. Then, she picked up a cube of Post-it Notes, grinning as she waved it under his nose. “Of course, there’s still the issue of this.”
“You’re rejecting me because of the Post-it Notes. Jesus Christ, Kris. Hello ancient history. That was four years ago. I was a different man back then. And you lost the right to throw that in my face because you already paid me back for that mistake.”
She laughed, the sound so infectious he couldn’t help but join her. “Oh, Jason. I’m not complaining about any of this. It’s all just a part of who you are. Hell, I’ve spent the last decade living vicariously through you and your crazy antics. I know it seems like they make me nuts and irritate me, but the truth is you always make me laugh.”
It was the closest Kristen had ever come to admitting she actually liked him. The compliment left him feeling warm, happy.
“But, just to be clear, J, I don’t think that sticky note prank was in exchange for my silence on the subject. I never intend to let you live that down.”
He grinned ruefully. He’d made an impulsive, stupid purchase from the hot office supply lady while flirting with her. He thought he’d bought thirty packs of Post-it Notes, when he’d actually ordered thirty cases. Kristen walked into his office to ream him out for the mistake and caught him in flagrante with that same woman on his desk.
As revenge, she’d completely covered his Audi using an entire case of the damn pink sticky notes. As far as pranks went, he had to hand it to her. That one had been pretty funny. And annoying. It had taken him over an hour to clean his car off so he could drive home.
She lifted one shoulder, giving him a regretful look. “Are you mad at me for stopping?”
He shook his head. “Are you pissed at me for starting?”
Kristen smiled sweetly. “Not at all.” She reached up and cupped his face gently, but the gesture killed him because he knew what was coming. “We’ve spent years building this firm together. Blood, sweat, tears. You name it, we’ve invested it. Yes, I believe you when you say you want to settle down, that you want a committed relationship. You deserve that. But it can’t be with me. The risk is just too great. You understand that, right?”
He wanted to shake off her caring touch, to rail at the gods, to tear this office apart with his bare hands.
He did none of that.
Instead, he nodded.
“Good. I think I’m calling it a night and heading home.”
She started to step away from him, but he caught her hand and held fast despite the scowl in her expression. “Do me a favor?”
“Sure,” she offered.
“Don’t wear the stockings again.”
She held his gaze and he watched a myriad of emotions fill her pretty blue eyes. Confusion, fear, desire. Then he saw just a hint of a dare. She was going to challenge him, even though she knew she shouldn’t.
He didn’t bother to hide his grin. While her words were sensible, it appeared that practical Kristen had fled with intelligent Jason. And she’d given herself away. This game was far from over.
She looked uneasy in the face of his far-too-pleased smile. “Fine,” she said at last. “No problem. You’ll never see them again.”
He released her and let her leave. When he heard the door to the office close, he sank down into her chair and slowly rebuttoned his shirt. It was time to figure out his next move because there was no way in hell he was going to be her back-up plan anymore. Jason fully intended to make sure he wasn’t her last resort. He was about to move up to the number-one position.
Kristen knocked on the door, relieved when Zoey answered. “Saw the light on. It’s not too late for a visit, is it?”
Zoey motioned
He rolled his eyes at her joke. “Careful with that, sunshine. You’re only two months behind me on the birthday wagon.”
She stood up and walked toward him. He was assaulted by the scent of her perfume once more. Then, she picked up a cube of Post-it Notes, grinning as she waved it under his nose. “Of course, there’s still the issue of this.”
“You’re rejecting me because of the Post-it Notes. Jesus Christ, Kris. Hello ancient history. That was four years ago. I was a different man back then. And you lost the right to throw that in my face because you already paid me back for that mistake.”
She laughed, the sound so infectious he couldn’t help but join her. “Oh, Jason. I’m not complaining about any of this. It’s all just a part of who you are. Hell, I’ve spent the last decade living vicariously through you and your crazy antics. I know it seems like they make me nuts and irritate me, but the truth is you always make me laugh.”
It was the closest Kristen had ever come to admitting she actually liked him. The compliment left him feeling warm, happy.
“But, just to be clear, J, I don’t think that sticky note prank was in exchange for my silence on the subject. I never intend to let you live that down.”
He grinned ruefully. He’d made an impulsive, stupid purchase from the hot office supply lady while flirting with her. He thought he’d bought thirty packs of Post-it Notes, when he’d actually ordered thirty cases. Kristen walked into his office to ream him out for the mistake and caught him in flagrante with that same woman on his desk.
As revenge, she’d completely covered his Audi using an entire case of the damn pink sticky notes. As far as pranks went, he had to hand it to her. That one had been pretty funny. And annoying. It had taken him over an hour to clean his car off so he could drive home.
She lifted one shoulder, giving him a regretful look. “Are you mad at me for stopping?”
He shook his head. “Are you pissed at me for starting?”
Kristen smiled sweetly. “Not at all.” She reached up and cupped his face gently, but the gesture killed him because he knew what was coming. “We’ve spent years building this firm together. Blood, sweat, tears. You name it, we’ve invested it. Yes, I believe you when you say you want to settle down, that you want a committed relationship. You deserve that. But it can’t be with me. The risk is just too great. You understand that, right?”
He wanted to shake off her caring touch, to rail at the gods, to tear this office apart with his bare hands.
He did none of that.
Instead, he nodded.
“Good. I think I’m calling it a night and heading home.”
She started to step away from him, but he caught her hand and held fast despite the scowl in her expression. “Do me a favor?”
“Sure,” she offered.
“Don’t wear the stockings again.”
She held his gaze and he watched a myriad of emotions fill her pretty blue eyes. Confusion, fear, desire. Then he saw just a hint of a dare. She was going to challenge him, even though she knew she shouldn’t.
He didn’t bother to hide his grin. While her words were sensible, it appeared that practical Kristen had fled with intelligent Jason. And she’d given herself away. This game was far from over.
She looked uneasy in the face of his far-too-pleased smile. “Fine,” she said at last. “No problem. You’ll never see them again.”
He released her and let her leave. When he heard the door to the office close, he sank down into her chair and slowly rebuttoned his shirt. It was time to figure out his next move because there was no way in hell he was going to be her back-up plan anymore. Jason fully intended to make sure he wasn’t her last resort. He was about to move up to the number-one position.
Kristen knocked on the door, relieved when Zoey answered. “Saw the light on. It’s not too late for a visit, is it?”
Zoey motioned
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