Page 30 of Missed Communication
“Limiting it.”
“Well, in that case, I’ll need to take you out for dessert.”
“As friends? Or as colleagues?”
“Neither.” Slowly closing the distance, he reaches for my hip, pulling me flush with him. “Did your IVF take?”
I nod, and even though I’m not showing yet—more like I had a big lunch—as he swipes at the side of my belly with his thumb, I can’t help feeling self-conscious of how my body is already changing. But I also hate how his subtle touch still lights me up inside.
“Twins?”
I stifle a laugh. “I don’t think so.”
“Shame.”
“Why are you here?”
“For you.” He leans in, his breath fanning my neck as he whispers, “I’ll be waiting outside your office at six.”
As he shifts back, it’s as if a tether is yanking my heart out of my chest. I can’t do this, or at least I shouldn’t. I don’t care if it’s dinner, coffee, or dessert, I can’t date him. It has to be part of his plan to steal my job. The words are on the tip of my tongue, but I can’t voice them. His sinfully gorgeous brown eyes search mine, and with little warning, he tilts my chin and brings my lips to his. It’s chaste, leaving me aching for more and a whimper stuck in my throat.
Push him away. That’s what I should be doing. Push the asshole away from me.
But what if I’m wrong?
He did threaten to quit, all so he could have dinner with me. I’ll need to keep my wits about me in case I’m right, but maybedessert isn’t the worst idea after all. It’ll give me an opportunity to see what his motives are. Then again, either way, I lose, and I refuse to pine after a man I can’t have.
When he pulls back, a tear slips down my cheek, and he wipes it away. Pressing a soft kiss to the damp trail, he repeats, “Six.”
15
Jamie
Leaving Aubrey’s office, there’s practically a skip in my step. A month apart didn’t manage to throw a single drop of water on the fire that’s burned between us since we first met. If anything, it made it exponentially worse—at least for me.
When accepting the position, I had my suspicions Aubrey would try to put distance between us. It’s for the best, really. I’d never want to jeopardize her career or mine; the work we’re doing is too important. I just want to be close to her, and if I’m lucky, we can pick up where we left off.
With an hour to spare before I’m supposed to meet with Governor Harris, Isaac is nowhere to be found, so I don’t dare request an earlier appointment. There’s a very good chance I’d walk in on an intimate moment between her and my former employer. Not exactly the way I want to start my new job. On the way in, I noticed a large park frequented by families, people walking during their lunch breaks, and several cyclists. I step out and make my way through a maze of trees and flowers. The apartment I’m renting is significantly smaller than the one in Ottawa, so I won’t have the luxury of having as many plants athome; this will be the next best thing. With the weather in the twenties, I can see myself taking walks here often before the heat of the summer sets in. I also take a mental note that I’ll need to adjust to Fahrenheit when talking to people here, or they’ll assume I’m discussing frigid weather.
While admiring a redwood, my phone vibrates in my breast pocket. I reach in and check it, unable to hide my amusement as I see the contact of the incoming text.
Aubrey
Unblocked. Happy?
You have no idea.
What happened today can’t happen again.
I should’ve anticipated that kissing her would have her second-guessing meeting with me tonight. Despite wanting to double down, I take a seat on a nearby bench and leave the message, exiting out of the app to ensure there’s no read receipt.
At the top of the screen, the notification shows half of a new message from her saying we need to remain professional at work. I agree, and since I can’t resist, I click on it.
We need to remain professional at work. You can’t kiss or touch me like that again.
What about when we’re not at work?
The summit was risky enough.
