Page 45 of Forty, Flirty & Fake-ly Yours

"More like a hypothesis in need of testing." His thumb traces my lower lip. "For science, of course."

"Of course. Very logical of you."

The yodeling hits a particularly impressive high note, followed by what sounds like climbing gear tangling.

“I’m going to…” I peer towards the window.

"Prevent another HR crisis?"

"More professional than making out on my desk."

His eyes darken again. "Debatable."

We finally separate, though it takes longer than it should. As I move to help our alpine friend before he becomes a liability issue, Grayson starts gathering scattered papers.

He pauses, holding what I realize are my notes for Emily Hanning.

“’Love isn’t purely logical'?" he quotes.

“I’d like to think it’s not,” I say quickly. "Though, I do know how much you tech people love data."

"Funny." He sets the paper down slowly. “Because I'm starting to get the feeling that some things can't be quantified."

Before I can respond, both our phones buzz.

"Dani says her date's stuck," I report after checking my messages.

"Connor says I'm late for our strategy session about tomorrow's board meeting." He straightens his tie, though it doesn't quite hide what we've been doing.

He gathers his jacket, pausing at my door. "About that hypothesis..."

"Yes?"

"My place. Tomorrow night. I'll have CORA run interference against any potential interruptions."

"Very scientific of you."

"I'm all about thorough research." He glances at my desk, and the heat in his eyes makes me shiver. "Though I think we've definitively proven one theory."

"What's that?"

"Some chemistry can't be predicted.”

He leaves me with scattered papers, cooling gnocchi, and a yodeling urban explorer still dangling outside my window.

My phone buzzes again. Emily Hanning: Still waiting on those notes if you’d like them included in the feature.

I leave her message unanswered, looking at my desk—at the scattered evidence of what definitely wasn't "purely logical" matchmaking methodology. At the draft email I'd been composing that could either save or destroy everything.

Less than three weeks to figure shit out.

Definitely not enough time to decide the best next step.

13

CONTROL ALT DELETE MY FEELINGS

Downtown Seattle,WA

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