go find them.”
He stepped into me, grabbing me by my elbows. “I promise. Cross my heart. Hope to fly.”
His arms wrapped around my lower back, bringing me in. His hair was a disheveled mess, but his eyes were light, and he wore this smile that seemed to be permanent on his face.
“How about we take advantage of this no-underwear situation?”
“Um, you did that. Twice.” And right now, I wasn’t thinking about sex. “And I’m hungry.”
He grabbed my backside and pulled me in closer for a kiss. “I’m hungry again too. Round three?”
I shoved his shoulder. “You’re insatiable. I’m hungry for food, not more sex. I think we’ve burned enough calories in there that we’re allowed to binge.”
He dipped me back and playfully bit my neck. “How about you eat food … and I eat you?”
I leaned back until we were eye to eye. “Hey, our pretend space is only in that closet.”
Connor squeezed my bare ass and walked us back. “Let’s find another place. I’m not done pretending yet.”
I painfully pressed a hand to his chest because we were not thinking clearly now. He was kissing me out in the open. “I’m serious, Connor. We don’t want anyone seeing us. Right?”
He visibly frowned as though I’d popped his balloon. “It’s only our cleaning service, but you’re right.”
He released me, and his fingers intertwined with mine. Even though we shouldn’t be holding hands, I let him.
“I know this great Italian restaurant I want to take you to,” he said, pulling me down the hall.
“Italian. Yum. I’m starving.” I went on my toes and kissed him one last time before we were out in the open outdoors. “Only in the pretend closet.”
“Only in the pretend closet.”
It was a solemn oath, but after dinner, it was broken—in his car, at his apartment. And the next weekend later, the closet, his car, and his apartment all over again.
Chapter 21
Charlie
We were in the break room, and Casey was complaining about Kyle again because he’d happened to stop by her gym this morning.
“He’s so annoying.” Her eyes flittered throughout the room. It was as though a light had flipped on her head. “Are those free chips for everyone? The vending machines were empty.”
Her change on topics gave me whiplash.
“What I don’t need is another bag of chips.” Alyssa frowned. “Seriously, I’ve been stress-eating a ton.”
I nodded, but my thoughts were on Connor.
Connor had invited me to lunch, but I’d declined. If we had lunch, I knew that we wouldn’t be discussing the branding and remarketing plans; we’d be discussing which position he wanted me in and our next exciting place to have sex.
It’d been a few weeks since we crossed that boundary, and somehow, it’d turned him into a sex fiend. But holy moly cannoli, life was grand.
“You’ve been working late hours, haven’t you?” Alyssa said above her chicken salad sandwich croissant.
I shook my head from my Connor-filled thoughts. “Yeah. A little. Trying to tighten things up before the filming.”
She smiled, and I got a strange gut feeling that Alyssa knew what was up.
“When are you presenting to Mr. Colby?” Casey asked, pushing around her salad.
I blew out a breath. “Next week. After we film and the videos are edited.”
Alyssa’s voice lowered. “What kind of video?”
My eyes widened because she was insinuating things. My mind played back the events of the week, trying to recollect if she had seen Connor and me together anywhere.
Where I was careful, Connor was touchy-feely and kissy, not careful.
I cleared my throat. “We’re filming a commercial to show his dad. It’ll give him the whole feel about the brand. Connor will be in it.” I left out the part that he wanted me to be in it.
Casey basically jumped in her seat. “When can we see it?”
I shrugged. “That’s up to Connor, but I’m assuming after we present it to his father and they present it to the board, the whole company will see it at the relaunch.”
I stuffed the rest of my sandwich in my mouth because I didn’t want to be grilled any further.
“I’m excited!” Casey clasped her hands together. “It’s going to be epic; I know it. Because you’ve worked on it together.”
My smile slipped. Did Casey know too?
I straightened. No, I was for sure just being paranoid.
I didn’t want the gossip mill starting, especially since Connor was leaving and I’d be left here.
The thought sent an ache straight to my chest, and I let out a slow exhale.
Casey’s eyes moved to the other side of the room.