Page 57 of Hot in the City
Cruz shrugged again, one shoulder effortlessly moving up and down with exaggerated lounginess. He was fake-relaxed, she could tell. “I gave him the option of taking a slightly more senior role in Sydney, with moving expenses covered. I think he’d be a good fit for the direct marketing side of the business.”
She nodded, thoughts whirring. Peter would be good at that sort of job. He’d also be a fool to turn down what was essentially a promotion. And he’d be out of Megan’s way. She wasn’t completely deluded. She understood Cruz might be trying to improve her work situation because he fancied her.
That warm, fluttery feeling floated through her and settled in her belly. Cruz was a good guy. Her instincts were rarely wrong about these things. She felt the tug of her cheek muscles, the silly grin that no doubt told him all her thoughts, as plain as if she’d written them on a note and passed it to him under the table. I like you, A LOT, she thought at him.
Then, because she absolutely didn’t know how to play it cool, she blurted out, “I’ve seen you before you know. Around.”
Cruz met her gaze, his black jewel-like eyes flashing. "I've seen you, too. At the café just down the street."
Megan blinked. "The one with the rockstar barista?"
Cruz leaned forward on the table. "Sam, yeah. He's an old friend of mine from uni. We used to be in a band together."
She stared at him. "So, you're a rockstar, auditor and IT guy?"
He pushed his hair back from his forehead. "Um, I guess. I play guitar but I'm not in a band right now."
She blinked a few more times. "And you've...seen me? Hanging out at the café? Eating their delicious chocolate truffles?"
Cruz nodded, keeping his eyes on hers. She could have sworn his cheeks were turning pink. "Well, yeah. And I've noticed you in the street near here. You're kind of hard to ignore in your little outfits."
What the hell did that mean? Did he think she was a nutter – which was a distinct possibility if he'd seen her in her mini sailor dress with matching hat and pirate boots, or her Pikachu onesie on Wear Your PJs to Work Day – or maybe, did he really like her?
Megan crossed her arms under her boobs. She couldn't help but notice Cruz's eyes tracked the motion.
She sighed. "Are you a weirdo stalker? If so, tell me now so I can call Jean to rescue me from your evil clutches."
He leaned back in his seat and paused for a second before replying. "If you want. But I'm no more stalkery than, say, a peeping tom watching a guy across the street get changed in the privacy of his own apartment."
She placed a hand on her heart, which was squeezing and thumping uncomfortably. She couldn't breathe. She squeaked out, "I'm totally busted, aren't I?"
A slow, slightly dangerous smile crossed Cruz’s face. "Totally. But don't worry, I didn't mind."
He rolled up the sleeves of his crisp blue business shirt, exposing very nice, well defined forearms with a dusting of dark hair. Megan's mouth went dry.
Cruz tipped his chin in her direction. "I figured you were watching me for a reason. Either you think I'm hot, or," he smiled evilly again, "you're an assassin who was hired to kill me. I know people generally don't like auditors. Which is it, Megan?"
She squeaked again, "Hotness, obviously."
"Well, then." Cruz raked his gaze over her from head to toe, pausing to admire her awesome platform shoes. He glanced back up and stated, "I'd say we have some things to discuss."
"Really? What things?" She was panicky now. What if he fired her? He probably could.
He continued speaking, over her increasingly loud thoughts. "Dating, et cetera. How does that sound, Megan?"
It sounded pretty good to her. Perfect. But wait, did he mean... "You mean us dating each other, right? Not office policies about dating colleagues and sexual harassment and stuff?"
For a moment, Cruz looked stunned. His mouth was hanging open and his face was kind of slack. "Us, dating, obviously. You're a gorgeous woman, Megan. I like you. And I think it's time we got out of here."
He stood up in one fluid motion, then stretched out his hand towards her.
She took his hand in hers, enjoying the warmth and the buzz of electricity from the contact. There were sparks between them, for sure. She licked her lips and looked up at him through her eyelashes. "Um, where are we going?"
"How about my apartment? It's right across the street, you know."
"Oh, I know."
Cruz grinned, and her heart thudded wildly in response again. Maybe he really didn’t mind that she’d been checking him out all those times. Maybe, he’d even enjoyed it. What a weirdo.
