Page 12 of Worth the Risk

“Could be worse,” Eric says around another bite, “we could be Pacers fans.”

Austin shudders. “Or Packers fans.”

Both men laugh, Austin’s long legs stretched out in front of him as he leans back against the counter, one foot crossed over the other at the ankle. His dark pants pop against his crisp white shirt, the sleeves of which are perfectly folded halfway up his forearms, exposing just enough skin to make my eyes shift to his arms. He’s completely absorbed in his conversation with Eric that he doesn’t realize I’m even looking his way.

Something comes over me and I reach into my pocket to pull out my phone. I slide open the camera, turning it to video before hitting record. I hold it awkwardly for a second, finally finding a position that looks more natural, like I’m just focused on something on my screen.

I slowly pour a touch of cream into my coffee, watching Austin on my screen. He laughs at something Eric says, reaching his hand up to run it casually through his silky hair before turning to glance at me for a brief second. I hold my breath, his eyes catching mine so quickly I almost miss the wink he tosses my way before turning back to Eric.

Before he looks my way again, I quickly end the recording and slide my phone into my pocket before walking out of the break room with my coffee. I’m almost giddy when I get back to my desk and close the door behind me. I pull out my phone and open the video, hitting play.

I actually giggle when I watch it for myself. I rewatch it several more times, making sure I didn’t imagine the wink, but I didn’t. It’s there, plain as day. I upload it into the app, addingsome trending music I think would fit well and slow it down just a touch.

Before I hit post, I watch it again. The music, the almost slow-motion movement of Austin’s hand through his hair, and the way the camera perfectly captures his smile and that wink… I feel myself blushing. I add a few hashtags and a simple caption that reads:When your boss looks like he belongs on BookTok.

“Oh yeah.” I laugh, rolling my eyes before tossing my phone back onto my desk and turning my focus to work. “The ladies are going to love him.”

By the time my day is finally winding down, I have lost all track of time. I’m once again buried in contracts and due diligence reports, my head pounding and my vision blurring. I toss the stack of papers I’m staring at onto my desk and spin around in my chair to look outside.

Sadly, it’s not something I do very often. Even with a high-rise office in the heart of downtown Chicago, I often forget to even look outside. A feeling of guilt creeps up my throat when I remember why I chose this job in the first place. I wanted to be in control of my career and my life, not tied to billable hours with a major firm, yet here I am. I glance at the clock. It’s already after six which means most everyone else has probably gone for the day.

“Shit,” I groan, turning back to my desk to gather my papers and shut down my computer.

“Let me guess,” Austin says before he even has my office door fully open, “time got away from you and you had no idea how late it actually was?”

“I—” My mouth hangs open for a second. Clearly, I’ve worn that excuse out if he’s calling me out on it. “Fine, you caught me.” I laugh. “But at least I am heading home. I was just shutting things down. Why are you here so late?”

“One of us has to be a workaholic.” He winks.

“Speaking of”—I grab my purse and sling it over my shoulder—“I think I’m ready to hire on another attorney. I could really use a better work-life balance.”

“Hmm, almost like I told you so.” He walks with me out of my office and toward the elevator bank, reaching out to hit the button for me before I can. “Noah finally getting tired of the late nights?”

I look up at him, his eyes meeting mine. It’s just the two of us waiting for the elevator, the slightest hint of the Armani Code he wears hanging in the air between us.

“No, nothing like that.” I shift my gaze away from his as the elevator doors open. “Just ready not to be married to my job. I think I promised myself before I took it that I wouldn’t let it happen.”

“Oh, come on.” He steps toward the elevator, holding the doors open once I’m inside. “We both know it’s not about where you work, Tay. It’s who you are. But I agree with you on hiring someone else to help out; you can’t keep working yourself like this.”

My heart does that thing when he calls me that. The same nickname he’s called me pretty much since the day he met me.

“Well, maybe I’m ready to be someone else.” I shrug.

His eyes darken slightly. “Don’t change too much.”

“I won’t,” I say softly.

I don’t know what’s being exchanged between us, but for just a few seconds, it’s like everything around us has fallen away and it’s just us, lost in each other’s gaze. I can’t explain it. All of the air around us is thick and tense. My heart thuds in my chest and my stomach is seconds away from dropping to my feet.

It’s the same feeling I’ve had a few other times with him. Once that night I went over to his apartment after meeting him the day before, another time about two years into our workingrelationship when we were deliriously working into the early morning hours, and just now.

I have no idea if he feels it too or if it’s all in my head, but either way, I don’t want to know the truth. For far too long I’ve pushed every thought of Austin from my head because it wasn’t fair to Noah… and it wasn’t fair to me.

“Anyway, good night!” I lean forward and hit the lobby button, pulling myself from his trance. Something flashes across his face, a smile replacing that dark look in his eyes.

“Good night, Taylor,” he says in that low register.

I let out a long, shaky breath once the doors close between us. I clutch my purse, staring up at the ceiling and praying that this stupid little crush or whatever it is that’s been bubbling inside me all these years can please pass already.

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