Page 78 of The Bargain

“Fiona?”

“Payroll,” Byron replied as he pulled me in for another kiss.

“How am I supposed to survive here without you to save my ass constantly?” I teased between kisses.

“Kaylan will take excellent care of you, and I will be there to kiss your bruised ego at the end of the day.”

“Promise?”

Byron’s smile was like a million sparkling lights glowing in a frosty night sky. “I promise.”

The elevator doors opened once again, but to the correct floor this time. I threaded our fingers together and pulled him out after me. As soon as we strolled into view, Kaylan launched from his chair and thrust his arms above his head.

“Yes! I knew you could do it!” he shouted, followed by a wild cackle.

“Thank you for your help. Now, your next job is to make sure that no one disturbs me,” I directed, pointing at him.

Kaylan directed a jaunty salute at us. “Got it. You were never here.”

Now that our backs were covered, I escorted Byron to my office, where I attempted to capture his lips, but he slipped away from me while holding up one hand.

“Let me borrow your bathroom for a moment to splash some water on my face. I feel disgusting,” Byron begged.

“Go ahead. I’ll get you some water.”

Byron dropped his jacket and bag next to the black leather sofa and disappeared into the bathroom. I immediately tossed my suit jacket across my chair before grabbing a bottle of waterfrom the mini fridge. But that wasn’t good enough for my new boyfriend. No, I got a crystal glass, filled it with ice, and poured the water into that. Then I dug around the assortment of snacks that Byron had always made sure were in my office for when I inevitably got hungry and restless at three o’clock.

What would he like? A packet of mixed nuts? A granola bar? Maybe he had more of a sweet tooth and needed some dark chocolate with sea salt. Or?—

“Stop overthinking it!” Byron called from the bathroom above the sound of running water.

“How did you know?”

Byron’s answer was a low chuckle.Oh, right. Of course, he knew.Byron knew me inside and out from our years of working together. But soon, I was going to know everything about him because of our dating. I couldn’t wait.

Byron reappeared with his tie off and sleeves rolled up. He’d slicked his damp hair off his forehead, and his face was much less flushed. But the wonderful smile was still there, as if he couldn’t stop it from showing now.

I directed him to the couch, where I had the water waiting with a granola bar.

“Perfect,” he murmured as he kissed my cheek.

“Okay, now tell me about your car. Are you okay? Where is it?”

“I’m fine. Just hot and tired,” he answered after drinking half the water I’d poured. “It’s parked, a bit illegally on Seventh, though. I’ll have to call a tow truck to get it taken to a mechanic.”

Carefully, I gathered Byron’s hands in mine. I rubbed my thumbs along his long, nimble fingers, loving that I could now do this whenever I wanted.

“Baby, we’re dating now. Officially, right?”

Byron pressed his lips tightly together, but they still trembled as he nodded. He looked as if he were trying very hard not to laugh in my face.

“If we’re going to be dating, I need you to be okay with something.”

“What’s that?”

“I need you to let me spoil you.”

Byron narrowed his eyes. “Define spoiling.”

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