Page 65 of The Situation
He steps back, observing me quietly, and I’m not sure how to take it. My body tenses as I consider that he might realize that it’ll never work with me here. Case in point: we can’t even have this conversation without sexual innuendos, and I’m 1000 percent sure that’s against company policy. And hecanfire me without cause. I’m still technically in my probation period.
“By all accounts, you are the one holding this department together,” he says. “You were very impressive today.”
I give him a real, broad smile. It grows wider when he doesn’t lessen his praise by cheapening it with a nod to last weekend.
“If one of us needs to leave, it should be me,” he says. “And I will leave if my presence here bothers you. I’ll figure out a remedy because I refuse to make you feel uncomfortable, Aurora.”
My mouth goes dry. “Thank you.”
He glances at the floor for a moment, then lifts his gaze to mine. His eyes are clear, shining a bright blue, as he looks at me.
“I don’t understand why you’re trying to resist me,” he says cheekily. “But let’s put that aside for now.”
“Nothing can happen between us again.”
“I hear you.”
“I mean it,” I say, unflinching. “I’m the hero in my story. I have to save myself.”
“You have to save yourself from what?”
I shrug. “Myself. I’m a romantic at heart and have a habit of falling for the first man who crosses my path when I’m vulnerable. And traditionally speaking, the first man to cross my path isn’t the one for me.”
“That makes total sense.”
“Good.”
“It seems as though a few motherfuckers cut in line.”
My heart flutters despite my ferocious attempt at resisting him.
“But I do hear you,” he says, searching my eyes as if he’s trying to read me. “And I give you my word that not only is your job safe but you are also safe with me.”
“I’m not with you, Tate.”
He flashes me a sideways grin. “As your friend and boss, of course.”
We both know that’s not what he meant. We also know that I can argue with him until I’m blue in the face, and it won’t change anything.
He’s under my skin.Deep.
Goose bumps break out across my skin as a bout of anxiety hits me full-on. Tate was supposed to be my spicy little secret, a moment in time to bridge two eras of my life together. He wasn’t supposed to be a fixture in my life.
And he wasn’t supposed to make me feel anything but satisfied.
What did you really think would happen when you pickedhimto share the night with, Aurora, you fool?
Oof.
“Fine,” I say, picking up my things from the table. “We’re both adults. We’re capable of a working relationship.”
“Absolutely.”
“And on that note, I need to get back to my office,” I say, heading for the door. “I’ll email you this afternoon with a revised schedule for this week.”
I plant a hand on the door to push it open when Tate calls out.
“Aurora.”
