office, embarrassed that he believed I had an underlying motive for asking the question. Well, I did actually, but it didn’t involve Bruce. Not that I wanted a relationship with Easton either. We were friends. On our way to becoming close friends, but still…only friends. I didn’t want to mess that up, especially since Charlotte was my best friend and he was her brother. Easton was not known for his ability to commit, and if we started dating, it probably wouldn’t lead anywhere, and I didn’t want to put Charlotte in the middle. I’d only asked George the question out of curiosity, anyway.
I would just keep telling myself that.
A minute later, I hurried into my office and slid into my seat. Deanna was speaking to Bruce about paperwork, and she glanced up and waved. I smiled and waved back. I was about to make a phone call when I noticed a blinking light, indicating I had a message.
“Oh, someone just called you,” Deanna said, glancing over at me.
“Thanks. I’ll check the message.” I pushed a button and entered my passcode.
Hey, Maya, it’s Easton. Want to have dinner again after work? Let me know.
A satisfied, giddy feeling swept through me, hearing his deep voice, knowing he’d been thinking about me. We barely talked to one another in the office, but we’d hung out a couple of times after work. I didn’t want to call him in front of Deanna and Bruce, so I lifted my personal cell phone out of my purse and sent a quick text, deciding it was best to go that route. Sure, give me the address and I’ll meet you there.
A few minutes later, another text came through. Why not drive with me? I’ll bring you back to your car afterward.
A smile pulled at my lips as I thought about what to say next. So far, we’d been very discrete, and I’d taken my own car on both occasions so no one would see us leaving together. I typed a quick response. Aren’t you afraid people will talk?
Five minutes later, his reply finally came through. Let them. Doesn’t bother me.
“Who are you texting?” Deanna asked in a teasing tone. “Is that your boyfriend?”
“Ha. You know I don’t have a boyfriend.” We’d discussed our love lives or lack of in the break room many times, and it was a favorite topic for Deanna. She still brought up Easton occasionally, but he wasn’t the only man she admired. There were a few others that had caught her eye as well.
“I don’t know,” she said, winking. “Maybe you have a secret man you’re hiding from us.”
My face flushed, and I glanced away quickly, not wanting her to see my uneasiness with this subject. “Don’t be silly.”
“Hold on.” She walked around Bruce’s desk until she stood at mine, facing me. “You’re blushing. You do have a secret boyfriend.”
“I don’t. You just embarrassed me, that’s all.”
She shook her head as if she didn’t believe me. “I think I know who it is.” She swayed from side to side, a mischievous grin on her face as if she enjoyed making me flustered.
My heart began to pound in my chest, and I wasn’t sure what I would say if she brought Easton’s name up. I sucked in a breath, adrenaline coursing through my veins. There was no way she could know we’d been spending time together.
“I think you’re texting Brucey,” she said in a sing-song voice.
“As enjoyable as that would be, she’s not texting me,” Bruce said, holding up his phone. “See? No texts.”
“Ah… So it’s someone else. Who is it, Maya?” Deanna looked as if she were about to say something more when Easton walked into the room.
I was already on edge, so seeing him right after he’d texted that he didn’t care if people talked about us nearly gave me a heart attack.
“Mr. Radcliffe,” Bruce said.
Deanna swung around, one hand going to her hair. She smoothed it back as if subconsciously primping. “Easton, you’re rarely on this side of the office.”
He smiled. “Bruce. Deanna. Good to see you. I’m actually here to talk to Maya.” He glanced at me and my face heated again. “Come speak with me in my office when you get the chance.”
I nodded once. “Sure thing.”
He left, and I sighed in relief that he hadn’t said more, but what did I really expect him to say? I was freaking out for nothing since Easton and I were only friends. I needed to relax. Seriously…relax. It was no big