Page 7 of Just Watch Me

My colleagues nodded enthusiastically as they fell for his lines. Several appeared less stressed, even hopeful. Hell, I even fell for his charisma. I’d wondered what it would be like on the receiving end of it, and I knew. I just wished he was trying to convince me of something far sexier than being a good worker bee. He could talk synergy all day long if he did it with his shirt off.

CHAPTER6

The rest of work was a blur. My coworkers had speculated wildly about everything from how the consultants seemed like they might have their shit together to how they would tank what could be the biggest game of our careers.

I wanted to believe in Skylar, but I’d been through consultant experiences before. They talked a big game at the beginning, but it always ended the same. Me dealing with Chad, overworked, overstressed, and somehow further from my dream of making the switch to game design. I should probably listen to my parents and not worry about making any big moves at work. They’d tried to teach me that being grateful for what I had and not rocking the boat was enough.But why doesn’t it feel like enough anymore?

I stepped off the MAX light-rail and spent the two-block walk home again going back and forth over whether I should keep my blinds closed. I’d somehow managed not to think about the whole jerked-off-in-front-of-my-neighbor thing for most of the afternoon while I despaired over what the consultants would empower Chad to put us through. Despite my best efforts, I dreaded how Skylar would act when I saw him next. If he didn’t act weird, I certainly would. Acting weird was my baseline.

I turned onto my street and steeled myself to face him through our windows. If the universe was on my side, his blinds would be closed, and I could put off the confrontation for another day. As I thought about it, the more it hit me that he was likely as uncomfortable as I was.What if he worried I would act all weird about it?It was possible he’d barely acknowledged me in the meeting out of self-preservation.

As I approached the main entrance to my building, I pulled my key from my messenger bag.

“Hey.”

I stilled at the familiar deep rumble.Seriously, universe? What the hell did I do to you?I turned around and hoped I didn’t appear as frantic as I felt. It was one thing to see him up close in gym clothes, but to be in touching distance while he wore a fitted suit over his tight body was a fresh hell.

“Hi, um, Skylar. What’s up?” It was weird to both know and say his name.

He tugged his bottom lip between his teeth. The endearing nervous gesture relaxed me a smidge.

“I feel like an ass.”

I’d heard him say a lot of words that morning, but having them directed at me hit different. I frowned. “Why?”

“I saw you in the meeting and panicked because I wasn’t sure you’d want people to know we knew each other—since I’m on the enemy’s side.” He ran his hand through his perfectly styled dark hair and messed it up so some of the slicked-back pieces fell around his face. “Hell, I don’t even know your name. I didn’t want to cause any trouble for you, but then I felt terrible all afternoon. I nearly searched out your office but decided to hold off until I talked to you. I was going to knock on your door, but running into you here feels far less creepy.” He let out a harsh laugh. “Jesus, I’m rambling.”

It was sweet that he thought I had an office instead of a shared cubicle. My heart—and smile—grew three sizes as I listened to him. I had built an image of him in my head based on a series of assumptions, and none had included rambling. I liked him even more.

“Don’t worry. I totally get it.” It took a great deal of effort to stop the imminent word avalanche and tell him all the thoughts in my head to make him feel better, but I didn’t have the guts. It was one thing to find nerve in the privacy of my home, but without the windows between us, I wasn’t so confident. I didn’t want to leave him hanging though. “I’m not worried if people know we’re, uh, acquainted.” My cheeks heated at his answering smirk. “I mean, if you don’t mind either. It’s not just my job involved.”

“I don’t mind at all,” he finally said. “But I would like to know your name.” Skylar’s head tilted to the side, and he gave me a once-over.

It was amazing how a look from him left me feeling as naked as I’d been the previous night. The way he went from hot and a little nervous to hot and in full control gave me the best kind of whiplash.

“Oh. Right. It’s Jesse. Jesse Anderson.”

“Anderson, huh? We’ll be meeting very soon.”

“We will?” I ignored the obvious hope in my voice.

“When I’m at the initial listening project stage, I prefer to meet with everyone in alphabetical order. It eliminates anyone feeling more or less important than others and helps prevent bias if I’m getting a mixture of perspectives the entire way through. Everyone’s input matters.”

I never expected to have a thing for hot business talk. The sincerity in his words and delivery seemed authentic.Have I seriously underestimated the guy?“I think that’s great.”

“Yeah?” For a second, he seemed like a puppy soaking up praise after learning how to sit.

How dare he be hot and nice and smart and charming and sweet? He’s like the human equivalent of rolling a nat twenty.

I nodded and smiled. Something about how he shifted between a dominant sex god and a relatable human was completely addicting. It gave me a new perspective on Superman’s kryptonite.

“Have dinner with me.”

“Is that a question or a demand?” The words tumbled out of me without conscious thought. I wanted them to be a demand.

His eyes flashed with heat. “Up to you, Jesse.” His voice dropped.

Right. Okay. Things have taken a turn.I swallowed. “I could eat.” My voice hadn’t cracked like that since puberty.

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