Page 31 of Business Casual

“Thank you,” he said to her, flashing his amazing smile. “We appreciate it.”

She giggled before she hustled off to her next table.

His effect on people was riveting to watch. I found myself smiling at it.

When I looked back at Tre, he was staring at me. “What?” he asked before taking a big bite of his burger.

I shook my head, deciding to keep my thoughts to myself. “So do you always go to lunch with the new recruits or was that just something you said to get me to agree?”

Amusement tugged at the corners of his mouth. “One of the members of the executive team usually will have lunch with the new contracted employees, so that is the truth. But…” He paused as his smile grew. “This wasn’t that. You’ll get an email when that’s scheduled.”

“So, what is this?”

“This”—he gestured between us— “is two people who were hungry at the same time.”

I narrowed my eyes at him. “Mm hmm.”

“Nah for real, we have a lot in common and we’ll be working closely on this project for the next six months. There’s no reason we can’t be friends.”

I considered his words. But as I stared at his sexy lips, I remembered how they felt, and I started to throb.

“I don’t know,” I said slowly. “I can think of a reason.”

“I’ve been tryingnotto think of that reason. And I’ve been failing because damn…” He let out a rush of air. “It hasn’t stopped replaying in my mind.”

I bit my lip. “Last night was incredible and it was tough getting through that meeting—especially in the beginning—without having flashbacks.”

“Is that why you wouldn’t look at me at first?”

I nodded profusely. “Yes. Absolutely.”

“That’s funny because that’s the exact same reason I couldn’t stop looking at you.”

“Well, while I was avoiding looking at you, I noticed your dad noticing us,” I informed him.

His brows furrowed. “He didn’t say anything.”

“Maybe he wanted to wait until he had proof.” I shrugged my shoulders.

“Nah, my father is not the type to mince words. He might suspect my interest, but he would’ve said something in the elevator if he knew anything.”

“Well either way, I think your dad made himself clear on where he stood with the idea of you pursuing something with me. And yet, you invited yourself to lunch.”

“And you accepted my offer to join you.”

We watched one another carefully as we silently acknowledged the facts. The sex was too good to forget. The connection between us still existed. And the willpower for us to walk away from one another just wasn’t as strong as we’d hoped.

I ignored the flurry of thoughts and emotions that he was pulling out of me. “I can’t lose this contract.”

“And I can’t have any sexual misconduct rumors swirling around me—especially with the new direction I’m trying to take the company.”

There was a lot on the line—for both of us.

“So, we will be colleagues,” I declared, sitting up a little straighter. “We’ll be work friends. We’ll be friendly. But we won’t hang out or take lunches or anything that might seem inappropriate.”

“Yeah,” Tre agreed, putting his milkshake down. “But under one condition.”

“Anything.”

---