bosses on going easy on us?
Luke sighed. “That’s where full transparency comes in. Management is watching us closely. If we don’t get this right, other people may be brought in to help.”
“And that’s... bad?” I could spin up another dozen developers in a day, and more staff would be wonderful.
Chase tensed. I actually felt the slight tremor where his arm rested against mine. “Help to fill the gap left by anyone who won’t be here.”
A wave of murmurs rolled through the room. Rinslet was going to fire people if we didn’t pull this off. Most likely starting with Luke and me, since we were overseeing development.
“Are you threatening us?” someone else asked.
Luke shook his head. “No. I’m telling you the way things are. I can’t guarantee jobs—yours, mine, anyone’s—if we miss this new deadline.”
Here in Salt Lake City, there were only two big game developers—Rinslet and Digital Media—and working for DM meant full-time crunch and a lot less understanding from management.
I didn’t want to find a new job. I liked working here. With good bosses and great benefits. With Luke. With Chase.
Losing my job was definitely more terrifying than whether or not I had someone fun and sexy to watch during meetings.
My lips tingled with a ghost of a memory of Luke’s kisses and the intensity in his. It was going to take a while to pretend I didn’t want that again.
“I have faith in you guys.” The strength and confidence were back in Luke’s voice. “You’re going to rock this release. Back to work, and remember to clock all overtime.”
The meeting broke up, and I headed back to my office, Chase walking next to me.
“I’m guessing this means you don’t have time for lunch,” he said.
I gave him a look I hoped properly conveyed are you fucking kidding me? I was considering tossing a cot in the corner, so I didn’t have to waste time commuting. Going out to lunch was a luxury I couldn’t afford.
He gave me a dry half-smile. “I’ll bring you some General Tsao’s?”
“That would be amazing.” I’d made him grovel for what he did to Sadie, but she’d forgiven him and so did I. Which was good, because I hated being mad at him.
He squeezed my arm. “See you in a few hours. You’ve got this.”
What would it be like, to have as much faith in our ability to deliver as Chase and Luke seemed to?
He left, and I dove back into work. I shut out the rest of the world and focused on code. We’d moved past the fingers flying over keys stage, and were in the stare at the screen and see why things were breaking point.
A knock on my door startled me. I looked up, to see Chase holding a bag from our favorite Chinese place.
“Sorry I’m late.” He crossed the room to hand me the food.
I glanced at my clock. Almost one-thirty. Talk about losing track of time. My stomach grumbled at the scent of food. “I didn’t notice, so no worries” I took the bag, resisting the urge to tear into it and eat like an animal. I shouldn’t have skipped breakfast. “You’re the best. Thank you.”
“Anytime. Really. You want dinner, too?”
“We’re having pizza brought in.” Luke’s comment made me jump for the second time in as many minutes. He stepped into my office. “I need to talk to you for a minute.”
I swore I could smell his cologne from here. I couldn’t really, but my brain was bent on convincing me otherwise. My thoughts ran rampant with memories, and my skin heated everywhere he’d touched last night.
I wasn’t ready for one-on-one time in a closed space. Not yet. How were we supposed to pretend nothing had happened?
Chapter Four
I nodded at Chase, to imply I was in the middle of another conversation. “Can it wait just a few?”
“It won’t take long, and it’s not top secret or anything. He can stay if he wants.”
Was it weird that Luke wouldn’t look directly at Chase, or was I searching for a distraction, outside of the way my body was screaming to be closer to Luke?
Door was open. We had witnesses. I could rein in my imagination under these circumstances.
Unless Chase wants to join us.
What the fuck, brain? No. I was not going down that path. “What’s up?” At least I could still speak normally, even if my thoughts were trying to sabotage my composure on every level.
“You and I are heading to Sacramento tomorrow, to meet face to face with Team Percival.”
“Hey,