Page 85 of Here & There

“Just…trust me. This is something I do more with my female clients, because men don’t usually want to go along with it.”

I arch an eyebrow.

“But you’ll go along with it, right, Mac?”

Say it like that, and I’ll dance barefoot in the snow for you, sweetheart.

“Okay, do what I do. Legs shoulder-width apart. Arms down, hands open.”

I adopt her posture.

“Okay, now…” Shelby does this adorable, extremely weird thing where she closes her eyes and wiggles her whole body, top to bottom. She makes a blowing-raspberry kind of noise at the same time.

“You doing it?” she asks.

“Yup.”

“Brr!” She keeps going, getting really into it, and I’m actually looking at her face, even though everything else is moving extremely appealingly.

Then she opens her eyes and freezes. “Hey!”

I can’t help it. I grin. “That was really cute.”

“You said you were doing it!”

“It was better watching you.”

She shoves my chest, laughing, and suddenly I’m frozen.

Her hands sear me through my shirt. I reach up, without thinking about what I’m doing, and let my hands circle her wrists.

“Mac,” she breathes.

She’s suddenly close enough that I can feel her breath skate across my neck.

A hard rap on the door makes us both startle. I drop her hands.

Chip’s there, looking like I’ve just murdered his best friend.

“Hey, Chip,” Shelby says.

“Is it time yet?” Chip mumbles.

“Just about. I’ll be right there.”

When Shelby turns around, Chip narrows his eyes at me.

I stare right back, raising a brow, since I am still his boss.

Chip clears his throat and backs out. I can’t help but notice he leaves the door open a crack. His shadow hovers in the gap too.

I rub my forehead. Poor guy. He’s a goner for her.

“We should get started,” Shelby says.

I nod.

“Okay. I’ll be back in a sec. Oh, and could you please move those chairs over there?” She points at the two chairs facing my desk.

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