Page 113 of Nothing to Do

“No, we already won’t be able to afford this. The deal that was supposed to be done apparently isn’t, so it’s panic stations. Everything I did on the island is useless, until we get the deal, I guess. Maybe it will be relevant after—”

“There!” Anika exclaimed. “There! He’s there!”

Turning around, Anika had an arm outstretched, pointing to her guy. Their boss, Revland, stood right there by her side.

“Oh my—Mr. Dyce!”

“I just saw him beep through and everything. It’s really him.”

Really him who she hadn’t recognized, but the rest of her office knew instantly.

“Where’s your security hub?” he asked, draping an arm around her.

Fully comfortable in his ownership, Zane’s nonchalance about the public displays of affection was a turn on. Huh, she was learning new things about herself.

“Mr. Dyce, we can—I can—it’s an honor.”

He squeezed her opposite arm. “Do you know where it is, Wanderer?”

“Up a floor,” was the sum total of her knowledge on the subject.

“Your server room nearby?” he asked, scanning every nook and corner. “I’ll increase your energy efficiency while I’m at it because this is just… offensive.”

“Is this why you came to mine?” she teased. “To play with security and server rooms?”

“Anything to be under the same roof as you.”

“Can we get you anything?” Revland asked.

The rest of her colleagues crowded and craned in doorways just to get a look. Guaranteed not every one of them would’ve recognized him. Word traveled fast. All it needed was one person to whisper his name. From there it would carry in roars through every wall and window.

“Just directions.”

“We’d be honored if you’d allow us to assess your company, Dyce Technologies, new and ongoing training processes with—”

“Thea makes all those decisions,” he said and pointed to a door. “This is a stairwell, right? I’ll follow the tech and find it.” He tipped up her chin to kiss her lips and lingered there asecond. “Even with people watching.” He winked. “Come find me for lunch.”

“I’m avoiding stairs with my boot,” she called out, as he went into the stairwell.

“Call me and I’ll find you,” he replied just as the door swung shut.

Revland and Anika stood there, fixated on her.

“What?”

“You make decisions about Dyce Technologies—”

“He was kidding.” And that was enough to send Revland hurrying after Zane. Her boss would probably stalk him all day. “Don’t we need to get back to work?”

“Let’s talk for one second about him kissing you,” Anika said in almost awe-struck disbelief. “You’re dating Zane Dyce? You’re dating a billionaire with—what the hell are you doing here?”

“Not what I’m supposed to be doing.” She pointed toward their boardroom. “Should we get back to work?”

Getting everyone back on track shouldn’t really be her job. It was a better one than spilling all to her gossip-hungry colleagues. Her guy was there, he’d do his thing. She’d never really understood it, but he was good at it and seemed to enjoy it, which was enough for her.

His happiness, her happiness, she couldn’t find hers without knowing he held his. What did it mean when one person’s joy came from just knowing their other half was whole? On the island, on the mainland, every part of her yearned to be close to him. They had to talk, they really did, but what was the rush when there was a chance that conversation would shatter both of their illusions? Forever? Maybe. Was she ready for that? Was he?

THIRTY-FIVE

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