Page 78 of Bossman

“I’m not talking about this with you.”

“When do I get to meet her?”

“When I’m ready.”

“So that means you expect her to be around a while?”

Chase huffed. “Did you have any actual business you came here to discuss? Because I was in the middle of something important when you interrupted.”

“Fine. But you love my interruptions, and you know it.”

I heard footsteps move closer followed by the click of the doorknob, but then it went quiet again without the door closing. Samantha’s voice was serious the next time she spoke, and for some reason, I visualized her stopping and looking back over her shoulder.

“I’m glad you’re moving on, Chase. I hope it works out and I get to meet her.” She paused for a second and then spoke softly. “Maybe it’s time you take down the shrine, too.”

I waited a few minutes before hesitantly cracking opening the door. Chase had opened his windows to the outside and was staring at the advertisement on the building across the street.

He didn’t turn to face me when he spoke. “Sorry about that.”

“Things went too far today. We shouldn’t have…” I trailed off.

He was quiet. I assumed his mood shift was because of what I’d overheard. Even though I’d never had one, I imagined talking about a dead ex-fiancée was kind of a buzz kill. So he surprised me when he turned and said, “I want this.”

“Sex in the office?”

The corner of his lip twitched. “That, too. But that’s not what I meant.”

“No?”

He shook his head. “I want this. Me and you. Sam just came in here to talk about Peyton. The lead detective on the case called her, too. It’s time for her annual call where she tells me they’re still working the case but nothing new has come up.”

“I’m sorry. She called you last week, right? That must be hard.”

He nodded. “It was always hard. I’m not saying it’s easy now. But normally I go to a dark place after the mention of Peyton’s case. I pretty much expected to feel miserable after Sam walked out the door—waited for it to hit me even. Took a deep breath while I was waiting, and you know what happened?”

“What?”

“I smelled you on me.”

I blinked a few times. “I don’t understand.”

He shrugged. “Neither do I. But I fucking love smelling you on me.”

He looked so sincere, even though it was a bizarre thing to say.

“And smelling me made you feel better?”

His grin was lopsided. “Uh-huh.”

“Okay then.” I fought a blush. “I really should get back to work.”

“Dinner tonight?”

“I’d like that. How about if I make you something at my place?”

“Even better. Then I don’t have to wait to get you home to get you naked.”

***