Page 34 of Take It Offline

How quickly she’s ruined me for anyone else.

Reliving it is maddening, but finding even a minute to talk to her in private is an impossible task. Her calendar is booked solid with meetings I expect are code for “I’m busy, don’t bother me.”

Then when she does finally return to her desk, Drue appears.

“Hey, so, Malcolm needs six hundred new numbers, and the distribution matrix didn’t load correctly, so it all has to be redone.” By the time the poor guy spits it all out, he’s so tense his shoulders are next to his ears.

“Okay, deep breaths. You can bulk load the numbers, and I can fix the distribution.”

He sags in relief. “Are you sure? I know how swamped you are.”

“Don’t worry about it.” I say, waving him off. This new project is already running me ragged, and that’s while Ops isn’t imploding. But what’s one more thing on my plate?

“Thanks, Charlie.”

He leaves me to a fresh clusterfuck that completely derails any other plans I have for the day.

It’s only when I’m dick deep in the data that I realize how quiet it is.

Emma’s at her desk, but the furious chorus of her typing is missing from behind my screen, so I wait, holding my breath, knowing she’s got something to say.

It doesn’t take long.

“Is the distribution likely to take a while?” she asks, her tone curious.

It’s enough to make me suspicious. “All day, probably.”

She stands, and I don’t even try to hide how quickly my attention jumps to her. Emma’s always beautiful, but this morning, she’s a walking fantasy. White button-down under a body-hugging black dress, hair long and loose.

“I know a trick for that if you’d like. It might save some time.”

The chance that this is another wild goose chase is small, but I’m still wary. “What do I have to do?”

It’s a good thing I’m sitting down, because the way her eyes light up as she rounds her desk to mine knocks me on my ass. The smell of blossoms and sunshine follow her like she’s a cartoon princess.

Goddamn. Reese would have a field day if she saw me.

“Do you have the original list?” she asks.

As I open the file, she inches closer, her chest brushing my shoulder. I want to bury my nose in her neck and drown in her.

“Why are you so helpful all of a sudden?”

I feel the exact moment she freezes, and fuck, I really need to stop putting my foot in it.

She pulls away, ducking her head. “If you don’t want it?—”

Spinning in my chair, I peer up at her, pleading. “I do.” I’d sell my right arm for a solution right now, but even if it doesn’t work, this is the nicest Emma’s ever been to me. I’m not about to mess that up.

“Charlie,” she sighs after several quiet seconds. “About the other day. I’m sorry for the things I said. I was frustrated, and I took it out on you, which wasn’t fair.”

Well, fuck me. I spent the weekend kicking myself for crossing the line, and here she is, beating me to an apology. Once again, nothing about Emma makes any goddamn sense.

“It was rude and unprofessional,” she continues. “And I’m genuinely sorry.”

Christ. If I never have to hear those words out of her mouth again, I’ll die happy.

“No.” I take a chance and place my hand on hers. “I was a jerk. I didn’t mean to—shit, I thought you were taking a shot at me, and then I wasn’t really thinking at all. If we’re gonna talk about being unprofessional, I think I got you beat.”

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