What can I say? I type back. You bring out the worst in me…
Worst? If that’s bad then I hope you’re never good. ;-)
I laugh, forgetting my office door is open and draw Harvey’s attention as he walks by. “My, aren’t you in a good mood today?” he says with an indulgent look on his face.
“Yeah,” I smile back. “I guess, I am.”
He wiggles his eyebrows. “Hot date?” At the horrified look of embarrassment he probably sees on my face, he rushes on, “I tell you all the time you work too much. I just want to see you happy, Heather. You’re an incredible young woman.”
“Thanks, Harvey. Do you have time to go over the reports we’ll need for today?”
He nods and I gather my folders, standing to follow him down the hall to his larger office. “I’ll be right in,” I call out, remembering to text Tony at the last second.
Heading into meeting, will text later.
The rest of the morning stretches past noon, with me spending far too long trying to explain our financial position and recent investments to Harvey. I’ve already been slotted to attend the meeting at Apollo later today, but I sincerely hope enough of the newest data sinks in so I won’t have to jump in and speak.
Public speaking is not my thing. I’d rather not have the spotlight on me around all these corporate honchos if I can help it.
I don’t leave for lunch until after one. A sporting goods store catches my eye as I head back to the office and I make a quick detour inside. The sexy black boots turned a lot of heads at the deli, and in here, surrounded by manly sports equipment, they work more magic.
A big, buff sales guy approaches me when I’m barely ten feet inside the store. I smile and ask for directions to the yoga clothes, eager to try some flexible stretching and toning moves. My sore muscles this morning drove home that I really need to become more limber if I’m going to keep up with Tony.
I select some basic black pants and a snug top, and mentally remind myself to text Carla and see if I could join her yoga class. I’d hate to go by myself, and maybe it would help us reconnect. She’s been traveling this week and I’m dying to tell her what’s been happening between Tony and me, but I’m worried she may react poorly like she did before.
A pair of silky, black sports underwear for men catches my eye. A tingle zings through me as I picture the material hugging every muscular plane of Tony’s thighs and hips. I wonder if he’d wear them if I asked. Maybe he would if I told him to. My God, he’s delicious.
Impulsively, I snag the underwear. Maybe I’ll send them to him. Wouldn’t that be sexy? Geez, I don’t even know where he lives. We’ll have to change that tonight.
I pause when my phone rings. Maybe I’ll insist on going to his place. I dig my phone out and feel a warmth when I see it’s Tony.
“Hello?”
“Hi, it’s me.” He’s breathing hard, like he’s in a rush.
“Uh-huh. I know. What’s up?” My heart plummets to my toes. “You’re not cancelling tonight are you?”
A masculine chuckle pants over the phone. “Not on your life. That would be bad.” A teasing note sounds in his voice. “And who knows what you’d do to me if I was bad.”
I glance around to make sure I’m not easily overheard. “You sound almost hopeful, Tony…” I make my voice deep and try for sultry. “Were you hoping for a spanking?”
A swift intake of breath sounds from the end of the line. “I might be.” The distinct sound of a zipper rasps in the background. “Woman, what you do to me.”
A wave of desire whisks through me and sets my crotch ablaze. Could he be jerking off in his office while he talks to me? I franticly look around, desperate to make sure no one can hear me. “Are you undoing your pants, Tony?”
He pauses, then his voice comes out rough with desire. “No, I was zipping my gym bag. But I like where you’re going with this.”
I laugh, awkward and unsure what to say next. Damn, I hope I didn’t make an idiot of myself.
“Although, I’m happy to follow through with your wishful thinking, if you’d like….” His voice rises at the end, a hopeful note showing his eagerness. “Are we going to get creative during the workday?”
“No!” My face heats again. “I’m not in my office. I’m out.”
“I like your implication much better, Heather. Let me know when you want me to be risqué.”
Feeling playful and off balance with the turn this conversation has taken, I say, “You are a bit of a bad boy all on your own, aren’t you?”