Page 14 of Sweet Bred

“You didn’t need to do that. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

When we leave the bar, Shaw holds the door open for me. I don’t mean to, but my arm brushes against him as I step through the doorway, and our ever-so-brief moment of contact feels like a spark of electricity.

Outside, I’m grateful for the night air that cools my warm cheeks.

“Thanks for keeping me company,” Shaw says, standing tall beside me.

God, he’s like a big teddy bear. I bet he gives the best hugs.

I smile. “Ditto.”

“Goodnight, Juliet.”

“Goodnight.”

As we go our separate ways, I feel the loss of his presence. But I try to shake it off, knowing it’s pointless to dwell on that feeling. It was nice to spend time with Shaw, but that’s all it can be.

Nice. Nothing more significant than that.

I get in my car and pull out onto the street. But instead of going home, I drive over to Eric’s office. I don’t know exactly what I’m going to say to him, but I know I need to talk to him. I can’t keep living with this gnawing feeling in my chest.

Since it’s after hours, the building is locked. I tap in the entry code that Eric shared with me when I brought him takeout a few weeks ago, and let myself into the quiet, empty building.

The tapping of my heels echoes as I make my way up to the third floor. As I approach Eric’s office, I see a beam of light spilling out from beneath his closed door.

It’s so him to keep his door closed even when he’s the only one in the building.

I’m a little surprised when I hear the sound of Eric’s voice. Especially because it doesn’t sound the way he usually talks. Normally he’s measured in his speech, each word carefully considered and spoken, but the obscured speech I just heard coming from his office sounded much more relaxed and unrestrained.

And then I hear the other voice. Another man speaking. And a low, sultry, almost drunk-sounding laugh.

I halt, immediately frozen still. Suddenly it feels like everything around me has just come into sharper focus. At once, I understand why there’s never been any chemistry between the two of us.

I don’t know what I feel more of: shock, betrayal, or humiliation that I didn’t figure it out sooner.

I take a moment to let it all sink in. Blood pounds in my ears as I try to figure out what to do. Do I make my presence known? Do I confront him? Or do I leave and confront him about it later, under different circumstances?

Fuck.

I’m still struggling to make a decision when, for better or worse, it’s made for me. Eric’s office door pops open, and he walks out with his shirt unbuttoned and his hair a mess. He doesn’t see me at first because he’s looking over his shoulder toward his office, grinning.

“Two minutes,” he’s saying. “I swear it won’t take longer than that.”

Then he turns and sees me. Instantly, the smile falls off his face.

“I’m starting a timer!” the other man calls out jovially from inside Eric’s office.

Eric stares at me, his face swept with panic. “What are you doing here, Juliet?”

I take a breath. “I wanted to talk to you.”

“I—” He fumbles with his buttons, quickly doing them up. “This isn’t what it looks like.”

Anger sears through me. “Don’t tell me you think I’m that dumb.”

“Juliet, I—oh, fuck.” He rubs his face. “I don’t even know what to say.”

---