Page 18 of (Un)Planned

“Calla…” Theo greeted me as he reached our table, waving for his friends to find a spot without him.

“Theo,” I answered back, unable to hide my grin. “I can’t believe you’re here. I was starting to think you never left the office, much less socialized with other people. That new software update is working wonders.”

Devyn’s eyes went wide, but Theo just stared at me, that same corner of his mouth quirking in amusement. “There’s a lot about me you don’t know.”

“Care to share any more secrets?” I dared to ask, not sure why exactly I was openly flirting with my boss. Maybe in the morning, I’d regret my choices and realize I was toeing a very dangerous line. But three drinks in, reasonable, sensible Calla was nowhere to be found.

That version of me was delighted when Theo leaned forward, his lips brushing the shell of my ear. “That lipstick is very distracting. I can’t seem to take my eyes off it.”

My breath sputtered out, and I was unsure how to respond when Theo pulled back, winking at me before leaving our table. “See you tomorrow, Calla.”

NINE

Despite saying good night to Calla right after I walked in, I couldn’t stop watching her. My eyes kept drifting back to her table, as if pulled by some invisible force. It was slow torture, seeing her so at ease while different men gravitated to her, and all I could do was sit back and let it happen.

You’re her boss.You’re too old for her. You would both lose your jobs if you crossed that line.The words echoed in my head, becoming my newest mantra. But fucking hell, watching her was the purest form of temptation, and I was just enough of a masochist to indulge.

The men seated around my table continued laughing, utterly oblivious to my predicament. Outside of the office, I had no real ties to them; most were junior agents who asked if I wanted to join them as they celebrated a big win. Typically, I would have said no, but with Calla’s perfume still lingering in the air and that red lipstick altering my brain chemistry, I agreed. I was in dire need of a distraction.

And, as luck would have it, they dragged me to the same bar as her.

I felt guilty about not introducing myself to hercompanion, too focused on the woman who plagued my thoughts. I watched their interactions, curious about how they knew each other. It seemed like they were related. They had the same smile and honey-brown eyes, but nothing about the blonde woman called to my soul like Calla did.

She was a balm to my banal world, igniting the shades of gray into vibrant hues.

“Theo?” one of the men across the table called out to me. I think his name was Harry? Maybe Hunter? I didn’t care enough to remember, which probably reflected negatively on my leadership, but at the moment, he was nothing more than a distraction, taking my attention away from where it really wanted to be.

As I turned to him with an unamused look, he cleared his throat. “We’re going to head out to another bar. You in?”

When I debated continuing my night, taking myself out of Calla’s orbit, her friend’s phone rang, and she hurried to take the call. She spoke in a hushed tone for a minute and then gave Calla an apologetic look. With a kiss on her cheek, the blonde rushed out the door.

I watched Calla for a moment longer, wondering if she would be leaving as well, but she surprised me when she called for another drink. With a smile on my lips, I shook my head. “I’m going to call it a night. Go have fun. I’ll settle the tab.”

With an excited cheer and many claps of thanks on the back, I was wonderfully alone.

But I had no intention of staying that way.

I slid over to the now-empty barstool next to Calla, watching as she swiveled her straw in her drink. She turned to me, the sly smile from earlier returning. It was different than her usual look, a wide grin that took up almosther entire face. Calla was not a person who gave out half-hearted smiles for the hell of it. When she was happy, it was obvious to the world.

But this look was even more intriguing.

“It's about time, Sunshine.” Calla turned to face me fully. “I was wondering if you were going to come back over here.”

“Were you hoping I would?” I asked, lowering my voice so she had to lean in closer to hear me. That same alluring scent overwhelmed my senses, shooting straight to my groin. Fuck, how long had it been since I wanted someone like this? Sex lately had become as much of a chore as everything else in my life—just a checkmark on the list of the things I needed to get done.

But sitting this close to Calla, her knee pressing up against my thigh, was enough to send me spiraling, a primal need taking over.

“Of course I did,” she answered. “You never got to meet my sister.”

“That’s who you were with?” I glanced toward the door. “She left in quite a hurry. Something you said?”

“Nope,” Calla laughed. “One of her clients has a crisis.” I must have frowned at the statement, because she waved me off. “It’s fine. She hung out longer than I expected. Usually, she doesn’t even make it through the first drink before work calls her away.”

“Are you close?” I asked, although I wasn’t sure why I cared. There was something about Calla that made me curious, and I’d developed a need to know everything about her.

Calla shrugged, motioning to the bartender for another drink. “We used to be, but now it feels like we’re ships passing in the night. It sucks because she’s the only person I have in the city.”

“Not exactly.” Calla arched her brow at my words. “You have me.”

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