Page 73 of Making It Burn
Something in his tone made the back of my neck prickle.
"Paul, if you have concerns about case assignments—" Carter started.
"No concerns."Paul's response was quick."Just making an observation.Some of us have been grinding away for years.But congratulations.Really."
The words felt sincere on the surface, but there was an edge underneath I couldn't quite place.
“Alright, everyone back to work,” Patsy said.“And remember—this is the standard we expect.Excellence, professionalism, and results.”
The meeting broke up, people filing out in groups.Beau and I stood, and he leaned in close.
“Henderson Technologies,” he murmured.“Looks like we’re stuck with each other.”
“Looks like it.”
“My office or yours?”
“We should probably—”
“Mason!Beau!”Lisa appeared beside us.“Congrats on the new case.You two are killing it.”
“Thanks,” I said, stepping away from Beau.“We’re pretty excited about it.”
“I bet.”Lisa looked between us, her expression thoughtful.“You want to grab lunch later?Celebrate?”
“Can’t,” Beau said.“Buried in work.Rain check?”
“Sure.”She walked away, glancing back once with a look I couldn’t quite read.
“Think she suspects something?”I muttered, then thought better of it.“Forget I said that.She doesn’t know a thing.”
“Exactly.We’re fine.”Beau’s hand brushed mine as we walked toward the elevators.“Stop worrying so much.”
* * *
I was reviewing the Henderson Technologies preliminary documents when my office door opened and closed quickly.
Beau leaned against it, a wicked smile on his face.
“Hi,” he said.
“Hi.”I glanced at the door.“You should probably—”
“What?Come in without knocking?I think I just did.”He walked toward my desk.“Miss me?”
“It’s been two hours.”
“That’s not an answer.”
I sighed, but I was smiling.“Yes.I missed you.”
“Good.”Beau perched on the edge of my desk.“Because I’ve been thinking about you all morning.”
“Beau, we’re at work.”
“I know.That’s what makes it fun.”His foot found my chair, rolling it closer.“Do you know how hard it was to sit through that meeting with your leg pressed against mine and not be able to touch you?”
“We touched.Under the table.Multiple times.”
