by Gina Wilkins
He covered her hand with his and gave her fingers a warm squeeze. “I’m glad you feel free to speak candidly with me. I don’t think you’d have said those things to just anyone—not even to me had we had this discussion just a couple weeks ago. Right?”
“No, probably not,” she conceded. “I’d have just said everything was fine. But if you come to my cousin’s party with me, I’m sure you’ll see how it is with my sister and me, so I wanted you to be prepared.”
“When I come with you to your cousin’s party,” he murmured, emphasizing the first word, “I’m sure we’ll get along fine with your family.”
“Oh, undoubtedly. We’re all very civil when we get together.” Mostly because she bit her tongue until it almost bled to keep from snapping when they criticized her, she added silently, choosing to keep that comment to herself.
He laced his fingers with hers. “Maybe you and I could go camping sometime. I think you’d like it.”
Her heart gave a quick thump at the thought of spending a night in a tent—or anywhere else—with him, but she managed to smile. “Both of us out of the office at the same time? Sounds like a recipe for disaster.”
“I suppose we’ll have to figure out how to handle that situation in the future,” he said with a slight shrug and a smile that almost made her sigh aloud. “We’ve both been working damned hard for a lot of years. Now our company is well established, we have good people on our payroll that we can trust to take care of things occasionally, and we can be reached in a multitude of ways if we’re needed. I think we both deserve to take some time away from work occasionally, don’t you?”
Several things about that little speech stood out to her, but his use of the plural possessive was particularly startling. Our company. Our payroll.
“I’ve been giving it a lot of thought lately,” he continued before she could answer what must have been a rhetorical question. “I’m closer to forty than thirty now, and all my energy thus far has gone into the company. Buying it, growing it, securing its future. As you know, I pretty much ignored my personal life. I made the one attempt at getting engaged, but that would have been a mistake even if it hadn’t fallen apart due to my own negligence. Now I’m ready for more. Commitment. Marriage. Kids. Soccer games and teacher meetings and dance recitals. Eventually cutting back on work to travel and see the world with my wife.”
“That sounds very nice.” She almost sighed in response to the lovely images he’d invoked.
“But first,” he said briskly, “we have to get through the holidays. What’s next on our social agenda?”
There was that word again. Our.
She moistened her lips and drew her attention back to the topic. “I’m sure you remember that tomorrow afternoon is the reception at the Best Burger home office to celebrate the holidays and the opening of their twentieth restaurant.” The relatively new, locally based fast-food chain was rapidly expanding throughout Arkansas and two neighboring states and had contracted with Scott to handle its new construction. It was one of the more lucrative deals Scott had signed during the past few years. He spent a lot of time making sure the owner of the chain was happy with the construction, including one currently under way in Little Rock. The three-to-five drop-in reception was for store managers, vendors and other professional associates, and Scott was expected to make an appearance. “I don’t know if you want me to attend that with you...?”
“Absolutely. This was the deal, remember? We’re doing all the holiday stuff together.”
The deal. Was that the way he viewed their dating agreement? She supposed it summed it up well enough. She cleared her throat silently and nodded to indicate she was on board.
“So we’ll stop by the Best Burger thing tomorrow afternoon. Do you have plans for tomorrow evening?”
This felt so familiar, she thought with wry amusement. How many hours had they spent coordinating their office calendars, planning business commitments for weeks or months at a time? She supposed it was only natural that they’d handle their personal plans in much the same way. “No, I don’t have anything specific planned for tomorrow night.”
“I have tickets for the symphony’s holiday performance. I know it’s short notice, but would you like to go with me? You know—a real date?” he added with a crooked smile that was too charming to resist. “Just the two of us.”
“I would like that. I love the symphony.”
Looking pleased, he nodded. “We’ll pop back in to the office after the reception, then leave from there to have dinner and go to the concert, if it’s okay with you.”
She made a quick mental note to choose a day-into-evening outfit for the next day, and to take a sparkly jacket to slip on for the concert. “That’ll work.”
“What about the rest of the weekend? Do you have personal plans?”
“Saturday is my niece’s birthday, and Nina has made reservations at that popular new Japanese restaurant.”
Should she ask him to accompany her? She supposed the reservation could be changed to add one more, but was it too soon for Scott to join her at a family celebration? Would it make the evening better or even more awkward to have him there with her?
The possibility of joining her didn’t even seem to occur to him. “I’ve got family stuff Saturday night, too. I told Jake I’d go to his house to watch the SEC West playoff game with him tomorrow night. Have fun at the party.”
She nodded. It seemed that she and Scott were already beginning to define their future together: they would be free to pursue their own interests as individuals even as they attended some events as a couple. Practical and independent. The two adjectives had always been applied to her, so it made sense that they defined her budding relationship, as well. “Have fun with your brother.”
It occurred to her that he was still holding her hand. It felt nice. His fingers moved on hers again, giving another little squeeze as he said, “Next weekend is fairly busy, too. We have our office Christmas party Saturday night. But before that, on Friday night, I have a dinner thing. Would you be free to go with me to that?”
“A dinner thing?”
He waved his free hand. “It’s an engagement party. The couple sent out invitations a couple of months ago, I think, and to be honest, I’d forgotten about it until I got a reminder by email today. You know how hectic everything has been the past few weeks. This dinner totally slipped my mind.”
This was the first she’d heard of an engagement party. She didn’t handle his personal social calendar, but usually he mentioned upcoming events at least in passing. It did speak to his state of mind lately that he’d forgotten a commitment. “Did you tell them you’d be bringing a date?”
“Oh, sure. I figured I’d ask someone. I can’t think of anyone I’d rather go with than you.”
She swallowed. Accompanying him to the Holiday Open Home had been a relatively innocuous first social outing together. If anyone had been surprised to see them enter side by side, Tess hadn’t noticed. She figured the Best Burger open house would be similarly easy. It was possible they’d see people they knew at the symphony performance, but then again, perhaps they wouldn’t, nor would they likely be expected to explain why they attended together. But an engagement party... Well, that was very different. This would most definitely be interpreted as a date. “Are these close friends?”
He shrugged. “Bethany, the bride-to-be, is the youngest daughter of my mom’s college roommate. I’ve known her all her life, but I wouldn’t call us close friends. The groom just finished dental school in Louisiana and Bethany’s mom talked Dad into interviewing him as a potential associate.”
“So is he going to join your dad’s practice?”
“Yeah, I think so. Dad’s been wanting to add someone who specializes in pediatric dentistry, which apparently this guy does.”
So the daughter of an old friend an
d his dad’s new business associate. Which meant the entire Prince clan would probably be in attendance at this party. “You haven’t, um, mentioned to your family that you and I are...”
“I haven’t talked about us with anyone,” he assured her. “But they’ll probably get the picture when we show up at the party.”
She nodded.
“Haven’t changed your mind, have you?” He spoke lightly, but she sensed he was serious.
“No.” In fact, now that he’d laid out such an enticing future for them, she was even more committed to their tentative plan. “I have to admit I’m a little nervous, but I’ll go with you.”
“Why are you nervous?” he asked with a little smile, holding her hand between both of his now.
“Well, it’s your family and friends.”
“Many of whom you’ve met several times. They already know you and like you.”
“As your office manager.”
“As a person,” he corrected firmly. “My family doesn’t tend to label people by their professions. The dinner’s at Trapnall Hall and it shouldn’t last overly long.”
“I always enjoy events there this time of year. I’m sure the Christmas decorations are beautiful.”
He lifted one hand to her face, running a fingertip lightly over her lower lip. “I’m glad you’ll be going with me. It’ll make the event much more tolerable.”
Warmth seeped through her in response to his nearness, his touch. In some ways it still felt odd to be snuggled with Scott on her sofa, yet beneath the novelty was a growing certainty that it was exactly where they were meant to be. He’d simply realized it before she’d acknowledged it herself.
She rested a hand on his chest, allowing her fingers to curl a bit against his shirt to savor the warm strength beneath. He’d removed his jacket and tie and opened his collar, so he looked casually at ease, gazing at her in a way that made her heart beat a little faster. His eyes had darkened to a gleaming navy and his lips were curved into a faint sexy smile that made her ache to taste him.
“I’ll try my best to make the party tolerable for you,” she said, smiling.
His gaze was focused intently on her mouth. A low rumble of laughter escaped him. “I appreciate that,” he murmured.
Silence fell between them then. Looking into his eyes, she realized that the time for conversation had ended. It was time for him to go...or not. Which didn’t mean they had to rush to a decision about those options. She slid her hand up his chest to the back of his neck, her lips parting in an invitation he accepted instantly, eagerly.
Gathering her against him, he kissed her with a thoroughness and urgency he’d reined in previously. His mouth was hot, hungry on hers, his tongue sweeping deep to explore and challenge. She gave a little moan of surprise and pleasure, her arms closing around his neck to bring them even closer. His hand moved on her leg, toying with the hem of the dress and then sliding under to caress her thigh. She shivered in response to an image of his hands moving higher. Her breasts swelled against his chest, and a restless ache settled there. Just the thought of his hands closing over them made her tremble.
Slowly breaking the kiss, he lifted his head only a couple inches, his gaze sweeping her flushed face. Still nestled snugly in his arms, she was aware that he was breathing rapidly, that his eyes were dilated, his heart beating hard against hers. He was as aroused as she was, in control but reluctantly so.
She touched her fingertips to his jaw almost wonderingly. “Does this feel weird to you? Shouldn’t it feel strange?”
His lips curved upward. “Maybe it should. But it doesn’t. It feels...good. Right.”
“To me, too,” she confessed. “Maybe the strange part is that it doesn’t feel weird.”
He chuckled and set her a couple inches away from him. “I’m not quite sure how to unravel that statement, but I think I’d better go.”
She blinked. “You’re leaving?”
His voice was just a little rough when he nodded and said, “It’s either that or I’m going to start trying to get you out of that pretty red dress. I’m not sure we’re quite ready for that step yet.”
Though a surprisingly insistent part of her wanted to argue, rational discretion prevailed. She scooted back another couple inches and reached up with unsteady hands to smooth her hair. “You should go,” she agreed, pleased that her voice was reasonably normal. “We do have to work in the morning.”
She walked him to the door to lock up behind him. With a hand on the doorknob, she smiled up at him, giving in to an impertinent impulse. “Scott? For the record—you wouldn’t have to try very hard. With the dress, I mean.”
His eyes widened, then narrowed. “You’re determined to make me suffer tonight, aren’t you?”
She patted his cheek. “Just saying.”
His smile was decidedly lopsided. “So this is how it’s going to go, huh? You’re going to make me jump through a few hoops to prove myself worthy?”
Even though his amusement was obvious, she grew serious. “I know you’re teasing—as I was—but let me make this clear. I don’t play games. I don’t expect you to prove anything to me. Outside the office, we’re not boss and employee, but equals. Full partners. Yes?”
He matched her serious tone when he replied, “Absolutely. I’ve said from the start this has nothing to do with business. I expect you to speak your mind, state your wishes, read me the riot act when I deserve it, without fear of any professional repercussions.” And then he looked thoughtful. “Actually, that’s pretty much the way you act in the office, too. You’ve never been intimidated by me, have you?”
She thought fleetingly of that first interview so long ago, but merely smiled. “Not that I’d let you see.”
He chuckled, then leaned over to brush his lips lightly across hers. “And now you know why I’m convinced we make such a great team, inside the office and out. Thanks for the omelet, Tess. It was delicious.”
“You’re welcome. Good night, Scott.”
He hesitated for just a few moments longer and then gave a decisive nod and let himself out. Tess released a long breath and listened through the door as he walked away. Only when she could no longer hear him did she head for her bedroom to change out of the red dress and into her nightclothes. For the sake of her peace of mind, she made a deliberate effort not to imagine what it would have been like if Scott had been the one to remove the dress.
Chapter Six
As Tess had expected, no one seemed to find it newsworthy that she accompanied Scott to the Best Burger reception. It was their biggest regular client, and everyone knew she’d interacted frequently with representatives from the chain. Andy and Lana, their architect and cost estimator, had already left for the reception, so PCCI would be well represented.
The reception was drop-in and very informal. Tess had met most of the higher-ups in the fast food chain’s echelon at one time or another. Aware of her function as valued assistant to Scott, they welcomed her warmly to their base of operations. The owner of the chain even introduced her to a district manager as “the glue that held PCCI together.” Grinning, Scott said he couldn’t dispute that assessment. He stayed by her side during the hour they mingled, but she doubted anyone thought they were actually there as a couple rather than a work team. Still, as Scott had said, it was good for people to get accustomed to seeing them together in a variety of settings. They stood by the food table—laden, of course, with snacks available at any local Best Burger restaurant—chatting with a variety of local businesspeople, and when they thought they’d accomplished their purpose in coming, they made a gracious escape.
“That went well,” Scott proclaimed in his car on the way back to the office, sounding almost smug about it. “This whole dating thing is turning out just fine, wouldn’t you say?”
Tess laughed. “Scott, I refuse to ackn
owledge that as a date.”
He slanted a grin her way. “Was the Holiday Open Home a date?”
“More so.”
“How about the baby shopping trip followed by the barbecue dinner?”
“Less so.”
He chuckled. “So by your definition, we’re just barely in the honeymoon part of this relationship.”
Her heart gave a little jerk, though she didn’t know whether it was in response to the word honeymoon or relationship. Maybe it was something about the words used in combination. But because he was kidding, she chuckled and said, “Yes, I suppose.”
“But tonight definitely counts as a date. Just the two of us at the symphony, no professional obligations, nothing to do but enjoy each other’s company and the music.”
“That sounds nice,” she agreed, relaxing again. She really was looking forward to the concert. As much as she loved music, she was sure she would enjoy it even more with Scott by her side.
By the time they’d finished returning calls, answering emails, signing paperwork and placing orders, Tess and Scott barely got away from work in time. They acknowledged wryly that they should have known better than to stop by the office. “A couple of hopeless workaholics,” Scott said with a laugh as he locked up behind them. “That’s why we get along so well. You understand me because you’re just like me.”
Straightening the short sequined jacket she’d donned over her day-to-evening black jersey dress, Tess smiled in return. “Was that supposed to be a compliment?” she teased.
“Just an observation.” He placed a hand on her back as they walked side by side toward their cars. “I can count on you to understand that sometimes I get distracted or held up by obligations to the company. You won’t expect me to apologize when unexpected problems crop up or when I have to cancel social plans rather than risk losing a valuable contract.”