Page 31 of My Office Rival

She held my gaze as I struggled, never backing down.

“Because I never do more than one night,” I finally said. The words were dragged out of me. I watched her eyes fly wide.

She snorted. “You’re such a dick.” She got up and paced into the kitchen. I followed her to where she leaned back against the sink and snagged her beer from where she had placed it on the counter. I drained it, watching her watch me, seeing her eyes darken with desire and her breaths come shorter. As I drank it, I imagined my lips were on hers, instead of on a glass her lips had also touched.Pathetic.

I set the beer down on the counter. “I’m a realist.”

“That’s just an excuse to be a dick. So, what, you don’t do relationships and you never fall in love?” She challenged, like she already knew the answer.

“No. I don’t do either of those things. Too much complication. One night or nothing.”A second night with you could be so good, sweetheart. I could finally show you all the things I’ve wanted to do to you.

She rolled her eyes. “Forget I asked.”

“Do I get another question now?” I asked.

“It depends on whether your answers to mine are going to keep being annoying.” She looked so put out that I had to laugh.

“I’ll try to keep it to a minimum. What about you? You’re not in a relationship.” At least I didn’t think she was. My stomach sank at the possibility.

“I’m not,” she said slowly. “But I don’t have a rule about it. I just don’t have time.”

“You sound like me.”

“I don’t,” she protested. “Well, maybe a little. My career and my independence are so important to me… I don’t remember the last man I met who was comfortable with my lifestyle. They say you can have it all, but as a woman in this profession, I know that’s not true.” Her voice was small, resigned.

“I wish I could tell you otherwise.” I gave her a half smile, and she smiled back, sadness lurking in her gaze.

“It’s okay. I chose this.”

“Do you want to ask a question?” I leaned back against the counter next to her and bumped her with my shoulder. It was the only comfort I could give her, the only touch I would permit myself.

“Honestly, Jason, I’m pretty exhausted. I’m going to head to bed. Thanks for the pizza and the company.”

My heart sank. I wanted to keep playing with her, wanted to bask in her lightness and her fire. As she turned to head upstairs, I cleared my throat.

“We can keep this going, if you want.”

“What do you mean?” Her lovely eyes looked confused.

“This not being an asshole to each other thing that we are doing now. At least at home.” I gestured between us and she smiled.

“Thanks. I would like that. Friends, but no promises when we’re at the office. Good night, Jason.”

Friends. Huh.I can do that with her.I watched her perfect ass sway up the stairs. Yeah, friends. That would be easy.

17

CYNTHIA

Two glasses of wine and a beer had been a bad idea. I lay in bed and stared at the ceiling, wide awake at four a.m. I probably had another hour of this to suffer through before I could go back to sleep. Ugh. Drinking because Jason made me nervous was dumb. I’d seen flashes of the man I’d slept with tonight, causing uncertainty and desire to mix in a potent combination, make me restless, hot. Driving me to drink beer, of all things. Disgusting.

I swung my legs out from under the fluffy comforter and made my way through the moonlit bedroom and down the hall, past where Jason’s door was slightly ajar. I moved as quietly as I could through the old house, trying to avoid the creaking stairs and using the moonlight to guide me into the kitchen. There was chamomile tea in the cabinet.Bless whoever bought it.The full moon illuminated the cornfields outside the window, where the stalks blew gently in the breeze. I shivered.

This was a perfect murder house, and I hated the silence. I did not do moonlit cornfields, camping, traipsing of any sort, rainstorms, or bugs. Growing up in the city meant a near pathological fear of sleeping in a giant house alone. It didn’t help that Jason was one room over. So no, I wasn’t technically alone, but the walls were sothin that I was constantly on edge in my room. I could hear every single thing that happened in his bedroom. I hoped he didn’t need to take any private calls, or worse, have anyprivate time.I nearly groaned aloud. Steps entered the kitchen, covering the small sound I’d made. I whirled around, sloshing my tea onto myself and yelping in pain.

“You scared the crap out of me!” I set my mug down and stuck my hand under the faucet.

“Shit. I’m sorry. Are you okay?” Jason sounded genuinely concerned.

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