Page 83 of Strictly the Worst

“Who with?” he asks, frowning. We’ve made it to the offices. The desks are only half full because there’s a big presentation going on in the boardroom. But when I glance over at the corner office I see Tessa there, and my throat tightens.

She’s leaning over her laptop, her hair pulled back into a bun, revealing the contours of her face. She’s wearing a white silk blouse that I can almost feel between my fingers. I imagine pulling at it until the buttons pop open and her luscious body is revealed.

If I ran this company I’d stride into her office and fuck her over the desk until we were both breathless and sated.

“Salinger?” Roman prompts. “What’s the appointment?”

“Just a check up with the doctor,” I lie, aware that I’m really bad at it. “And it’s my brother’s wedding the following weekend. I’ve booked PTO for that.” Because I know that Roman’s next suggestion will be for me to go next week instead.

Roman looks frustrated. “But I need you in the air, Linc. You’re the secret weapon here. I need to have somebody I can rely on to go anywhere at a moment’s notice.”

I look over at Tessa’s office again. She’s stopped typing and is looking at her phone.

She’s so damn beautiful it makes my heart hurt.

And then she turns and catches me and Roman standing there in the hallway. She gives me the sweetest of fucking smiles.

“After the wedding,” I tell him. “I’ll be back on my ‘A’ game. I promise.”

“Good.” Roman nods. “Now go see if you can set up that damn video call.”

TESSA

I watch as Roman finishes talking to Linc about something. I can’t tell what it is, but Roman’s frowning which is never good. Linc stands there for a moment, then runs his hand through his hair and turns to look at me again.

Our gazes connect and it makes me breathless.

And then he starts walking toward me. Somebody in the main office calls out his name and he nods, but his steps don’t falter as he walks into my office and closes the door behind him.

“What are you doing this weekend?” he asks me.

I look up at him, surprised. “Hi,” I say, smiling.

“Hi. This weekend?”

“We’re refinishing the living room floor.” The electricians have promised me they’ll be done with the wiring by Friday. Which means we can finally sand and varnish the floor. The hole-free floor.

I’m so excited I could burst.

“Who’s we?” he asks, looking wary.

“Zoe and me,” I say. “Though she may be more of a hindrance than a help.”

“What time are you starting?”

Ooh, he’s very abrupt today. “Did you wake up on the wrong side of the bed?” I ask him. “Was it the concert? Did you have ringing in your ears last night?”

“Something like that,” he mutters and I have to bite down my smile.

“Thank you for the ride home,” I tell him. “Zoe didn’t stop talking about you this morning. She wanted to know everything about you. I think she likes you as much as she likes Ryker.”

“Yeah, well he liked you.”

“How do you know?” I tip my head to the side.

“Because I had brunch with him. He was asking about you.” He looks grumpy and I hate that I like that. “He wanted to know if you kept your panties on.”

I start to laugh and that makes Linc scowl. “What did you tell him?”

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