“I waited on you so we could do them together.” Her brow furrowed and he chuckled. “You’re worried I didn’t do my job.”
“No.” Yes.
“It’s fine, Grace. I dictated what I needed to and I’ll work from that to fill in any blanks.”
“Oh,” she said stupidly. “I didn’t consider dictation.”
His gaze narrowed and a wicked smile curled the corners of his lips. “It’s quite a useful...tool.”
The sexual innuendo rolled over her like a heat wave. She was suddenly sweating and needed air. “You want me to go to Starbucks and get us drinks?” Spending the extra money was foolish, but if it got her out of the office and away from him? It was totally worth it.
“There’s coffee in the break room. I’d rather you stay right here and work with me. Side by side.”
Damn. She’d hoped she could bribe him. Settling her chair in front of the desk, she couldn’t help but draw in the clean, crisp smell that defined Justin.
He slid in closer so their elbows touched. “Let’s get this party started.”
His low, smooth voice churned up things that were better left dormant in her, cravings for more from him than just the one night they’d had. He was offering more, but how far could things possibly go in the two weeks she was here? And when she was finished? How could she leave a man like this behind? Then again, how could she not? Could she risk everything she’d worked for on the slight chance that this thing between them might go somewhere?
“No,” she said aloud, startling both of them.
“No party?” he asked lightly.
“Sorry. I was answering a personal thought and it slipped out.”
He leaned back in his chair and draped his arm around her. “What thought?”
“I don’t want to discuss it.”
“Was it work related?”
“No,” she answered too quickly, giving him insight into her that she didn’t necessarily want him to have.
“Was it about me?” The quiet question held an undertone of hope.
“Yes.” Her answer, just as quiet, hurt. “But I don’t want to talk about it.”
“Fair enough.” He sat up, reached for his laptop and dragged it over. “Let’s get started.”
“That’s it? ‘Fair enough’?”
“You said you didn’t want to talk about it. I respect that.”
Grace was so confused. She wanted him to press, wanted him to be more determined to know what she was thinking just as much as she wanted him to leave this, and her, alone. Frowning, she reached for her pad of paper. “I need a laptop.”
“I’ll see what I can do about that,” he answered, sliding his laptop in front of her. “Use mine for now.”
“What will you use?”
“My personal computer.” When she hesitated, he pressed. “It’s fine, Grace. I brought it with me.” He retrieved an older machine and set it in front of his workspace. “You can argue with me about it later. Right now, we’ve got to get the notes in before our next client.”