Page 54 of The Five Stages of Courting Dalisay Ramos

Naomi leans back in her high-backed chair, one corner of her mouth lifting in a smile. “Eliza put in her two weeks—it’s still not announced yet—but she suggested we replace her with someone internally, and your name was the first that came to mind. You’re a good fit to lead the European team in her stead.”

Evan’s whole body starts tingling. He didn’t even know Eliza, his senior, was leaving. This is the absolute last thing he imagined would happen right now. “A promotion?”

Either Naomi doesn’t notice that he’s been rendered dumb, or she doesn’t care. “That analysis you wrote with Dalisay really impressed us. Those kinds of articles will be a staple going forward. Of course, you’ll have to travel more, but it comes with a significant raise and title change and … Is this something you’re interested in?”

Evan blurts out, “Hell yeah!” And then he clears his throat, gathering his professionalism. “I mean, yes.” He can barely sit still.

Naomi smirks. “Good. We’ll iron out all the details later, but for now get whatever projects you’re working on done, and then we’ll start talking about next steps.”

Evan thanks her profusely, standing on shaking knees, and leaves before he explodes with joy.

On the main floor, the first thing Evan does is look for Dalisay. She’s not at her desk, but he catches a glimpse of herback as she heads toward the storage closet. Without moving too quickly, he follows her while glancing around for anyone who might notice him, trying his very best not to sprint.

In the cramped closet, he finds Dalisay humming while she reorganizes the untidy shelves. He ducks in after her, pulling the door closed behind them. The single bulb above them is dim, but it still catches the brightness of her eyes when she turns to face him.

“Evan, what are you—”

He kisses her, holding her head in his hands, and her initial surprise fades as her arms lift, pressing her hands against his back. He sucks on her lower lip, dragging his teeth in a way that makes her sigh. Kissing her here and now feels dangerous, and it makes it all the better.

After a moment, she pulls away, having the same thought. “But we’re at work! Someone might see!”

“I’m gonna be a senior editor,” he whispers, his face close to hers. “Senior editor!”

Dalisay’s eyes widen “What!” she whispers back. “Evan! That’s amazing!”

“You’re the first one I wanted to tell! No one else knows!” He kisses her again, and he can feel her smile against his lips. Excitement pumps through him, making him feel like he could fly. This is all he’s ever wanted, and now he has it. Without Dalisay, this moment wouldn’t be so sweet. He wants to remember this day forever, brand it in his mind with the taste of Dalisay’s cherry lip gloss, the pinch of her nails as they dig slightly into his back when she grabs his shirt, the smell of her lavender lotion when he kisses down her neck. Sharing this small victory, even in secret, makes him feel unstoppable.

He’s getting hard being this close to her, especially at work. He knows it’s risky doing this right now, here, but he doesn’t care. He wants to hold her, touch her, taste her. He imagines all the things he could do right now: lift her skirt, pull aside her underwear, and push himself inside of her. Every muscle in his body tightens with anticipation. A small voice in his head tells him to take it easy, but when she winds her hands up his neck, cradling his head in her hands, the voice fades away. What’s the worst that could happen?

Dalisay seems to have the same thought, because she lifts one of her hands off the side of his head and guides his hand under her blouse. He squeezes her breast and lets out a breathy laugh against the goosebumps rising on her neck. This feels too good to stop.

“We might get caught,” she whispers, but he can hear the throatiness in her voice. He nips her neck, and she stretches it for him, undermining her caution with a soft moan. She throws her arms out, keeping her balance against the shelves.

“Only you come in here to organize things,” he says, stroking her ribs under her blouse.

“Someone has to.”

“And someone has to kiss you until you stop thinking about organizing things.”

He braces one hand on the shelf behind her, letting the tips of his fingers trace the outer edge of her lace bra while he meets her lips again. Is it the same one she wore the first time they slept together? He wants to see for himself. There’s too much padding between them; he wants to tear it off her.

She traces her hand on his pants, against his erection, and—

The storage room closet door whips open and Dalisay practically pushes Evan away and Evan’s stomach drops. Dread makes his whole body go cold as he blinks at the shadow in the brighter office light.

It’s Riggs. He just stares at the two of them, hand still on the doorknob, his expression surprised at first before settling into a performative flatness. Dalisay meets Evan’s eyes as she uses the back of her wrist to wipe her mouth.

The sight of Riggs is a distinct boner killer.

Evan knows that Riggs knows he caught them, but—like a good wingman—Riggs plays it cool. His gaze looks beyond them, pretending like he doesn’t see them as he reaches past their heads, grabs a box of red pens, and then slowly he closes the door.

After a beat, Evan and Dalisay smother their laughter behind their hands, relief making both of them giggly.

“Okay, yeah,” Evan admits, grinning. “That was too close.”

Dalisay closes the gap between them and fists the front of his shirt. “Let’s press pause and pick up where we left off tonight.” She drags her hands down his chest, firmly placing them against the front of his pants in a way that makes his spine go rigid, especially when she looks at him like that with pouty lips and half-lidded eyes. “I’m not done celebrating with you yet.”

“My place?” he asks, barely able to breathe. There’s too much fabric separating them, and he might go insane not being able to touch her.

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