* * *
Lucas and his partners had a late-afternoon meeting with one of the tech guys. They’d gathered in Lucas’ office, and the man was droning on for way too long about a new idea for an algorithm that had potential. Lucas already understood the point. He didn’t need to sit here any longer.
He yawned and shot Kade an annoyed look. The other man nodded. He glanced at Derek, who did the same.
“Wrap it up, Mark. We’ll discuss your suggestions and figure out where to go from here,” Lucas said.
The other man, one of their young, brilliant talents, summed up his pitch and left the room.
“Thank God,” Lucas muttered. He wanted nothing more than to head home.
“I couldn’t agree with you more. Lexie’s home waiting.” Kade grinned.
“I really don’t need to know you’re going to get laid,” Derek muttered.
Lucas coughed.
Kade shot Derek a nasty look. “Hey, that’s Lexie you’re talking about.”
Derek held up one hand in apology. “Right. I got it.”
“No, you don’t. But someday I figure you will.” Kade rose to his feet, and both he and Derek made their way out, shutting the door behind them.
Lucas began to pack up his laptop along with some work to take home when his desk phone rang. He picked it up quickly. “Yes, Tessa?”
“You have a visitor,” she said.
“Whoever it is, I’m done for the day. And you can get going too,” he told her.
Lucas might not have a woman waiting for him the way Kade did, but he got to see Maxie at the end of the day, and that was enough to lure Lucas away from work.
“Okay, boss. I’m sorry, Ms. Sullivan, Mr. Monroe isn’t seeing anyone today,” Lucas heard Tessa say before she disconnected their call.
Maxie was here?
He jumped up from his seat and nearly vaulted across his desk in an effort to make sure she didn’t leave before he could get there.
He swung open the door, catching sight of her standing beside Tessa. Dressed in the same work clothes from this morning, she wore a simple black skirt that hit above the knee, heels, and a cream-colored blouse that showed off her luscious curves. Her hair, clipped off her face, fell over her shoulders in sexy waves.
His breath hitched just looking at her. “I’ll see her,” he called out to Tessa, who stared at him as if he’d lost his mind.
He’d probably burst through the door like a lunatic, and this woman was to blame.
“Maxie, come on in.” He gestured for her to join him, and she walked around Tessa’s desk and brushed past him as she entered.
He shut the door behind them and, because he didn’t want to be disturbed, locked it with a press of a button.
He wondered what she was doing here. He’d texted her after lunch, asking about the storage unit, and she’d said not to worry, all was fine. She hadn’t answered his reply, so he figured she was busy and he’d see her when he picked her up from work.
He walked to his desk, turned, and leaned against the aluminum, meeting her gaze. “Hey,” he said lightly.
She stood a few steps away from him. “Hi.” Her lips lifted in a smile.
He folded his arms across his chest. “So, this is a surprise.”
She inclined her head and nodded. “If you’re busy, I can see you at home later.”
“I’m never too busy for you. What’s up?”