Page 10 of Craving Francesca

I nearly groaned as someone stopped in the doorway of my office, and I took my time zipping up my bag before I lifted my head.

“Oh, hey,” I said in surprise, my lips tipping up.

“Hey,” Scott greeted, leaning against the doorway. “Big plans tonight?”

“Not really.” I threw my bag over my shoulder and rounded my desk. Scott didn’t usually work in the same office as I did, but lately he’d been there pretty often. Technically, he was my superior since he was much higher in the company than I was—his uncle owned the thing—but we didn’t really have any direct connection since we worked in different departments.

I liked him. He was easygoing for a boss, and he always said hello to everyone, remembering their names and shit. I knew from experience that wasn’t always the case. Most people paid little attention to their subordinates.

“I’m moving this weekend, so it’s home to pack.”

“Moving, huh?” he asked as I locked my office. “Going far?”

“Actually, just down the street,” I replied as we walked down the hallway. “Far enough that it’s going to be a pain in the ass to carry things, but not far enough to rent a truck.”

“That’s rough,” he replied with a laugh. “Need any help?”

I glanced at him in surprise. “That’s really nice of you, but no.” I smiled to soften the refusal. “There will be plenty of big strong men to carry stuff for us.”

“Ah, boyfriend?”

“No boyfriend,” I replied. “Just family and friends.”

Scott nodded, pressing the elevator button.

We stood there in the silence, and I couldn’t think of a single thing to say. Just as it began to feel a little awkward, he spoke again.

“Would you like to have dinner with me?”

“Oh.” I glanced up at him, startled. “Um.”

“No pressure.” He lifted his hands like he was surrendering.

“Sure,” I said after a moment. The only dates I’d been on in the last few months had been duds, and Scott was cute in a boy-next-door way. He wasn’t my normal type—a little too clean cut—but he was handsome, and he took care of himself. Plus, it would be nice to get dressed up and have a good meal that I wasn’t eating over the sink in between projects. And it wasn’t as if he wasmyboss, justaboss in a company we both worked for. “When?”

“Next week? I’d say Friday, but that seems really far away.” He smiled charmingly as we got into the elevator.

“I could do Tuesday,” I replied.

“Tuesday it is.”

“Sounds good.” We made our way outside. “This is me.”

“Nice spot,” he said with a teasing whistle.

“I got here early this morning,” I said with a laugh, unlocking the doors so I could throw my bag in the passenger seat. “I had my pick of the parking lot.”

“I’ll have to use that trick next week.”

“I’ll see you Monday,” I said with a smile, rounding the hood.

“Monday,” he confirmed, waiting on the sidewalk until I’d driven away.

As I drove home, I tried to get excited for our date, but I honestly didn’t have the energy. I’d be so relieved when we were finally moved into our new place. I’d been burning the candle at both ends for weeks, and I hadn’t been sleeping well even when I had the chance to crawl into bed. I’d struggled with insomnia since I was a kid, and it was re-surging with a vengeance.

It didn’t help that I’d had to spend time with Gray lately while Myla’s boyfriend was dealing with family stuff. I loved that the Aces circled the wagons when someone in the club had a problem, but it didn’t fill me with joy that it put me in close proximity to a guy I was trying to forget. Especially when I’d seen that same guy the day after we’d had surprisingly fantastic sex, standing with a woman outsidemyfavorite restaurant, his hands all over her.

Letting out a loud scream, I ignored the woman staring from the car next to mine. I hated that I couldn’t stop thinking about that night. I hated that every man I’d flirted with since then hadn’t measured up. I hated that I hadn’t slept with anyone else because I was afraid it would confirm what I already knew—that crazy, kinky, exciting sex still wouldn’t measure up to the quickie I’d had in that clubhouse bedroom. I didn’t want to think about Gray, but I still hadn’t managed to shut that part of my brain off.

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