Page 41 of Handle with Care
“I am.”
Then he’s also grinning like an idiot for at least a long, satisfying moment before he sobers. “It’s best not to get involved with work colleagues.”
“I thought this is your first job.”
“My first real desk job, yes.” He frowns slightly. “But I don’t need to have had a job before to know that we shouldn’t get distracted from the work at hand. Anything else would be?—”
“Don’t worry, I only date. I don’t have time for more. I mean, I’m only here in London for the summer?—”
“Absolutely. An entirely sensible outlook.”
“It’s the first time anyone’s ever accused me of that,” I say, my grin huge.
Will drums his fingers on the steering wheel.
“Maybe…” I try carefully, “maybe we can try just one date? Get it out of our systems. A quick drink, and that’s that.”
He gives me a skeptical look. “I don’t know… That doesn’t seem like a good idea.”
“You’re probably right. It’s probably a terrible idea.”
“Terrible.”
I probably shouldn’t have said anything, because I’ve definitely made things even weirder between us. Shit. If only I could put the words back in my mouth.
Will finally takes the car out of park, and Tessa’s likely wondering why we haven’t left yet. It’s felt like an eternity, but it’s only been minutes. It’s a quiet ride back to the museum. Willlooks serious the whole way there. I alternate between watching London go by from the passenger window and fidgeting with my phone, restless.
We go through our now familiar afternoon ritual, albeit a little stilted. We unload the exhibits, check them over and document their arrival, put them away, let Lily know we’re back. We very carefully detail tomorrow’s route and items. It’s purely, strictly, carefully professional. Even if Will’s looking flustered, pink-cheeked, dramatic against his dark hair.
As we pack up at the end of the day, Will finally looks at me. Our gazes lock as we stand beside the boardroom table in our now private office. His eyes are silver-blue in this light.
“Dylan?”
“Yeah?”
“Maybe… maybe only one date,” he murmurs, as if there’s anyone around to overhear us. “To get it out of our systems. Then we can go back to normal.”
My eyebrows lift at that. Startled speechless, I gawp instead, not wanting to question his change of heart. “Yeah? And back to calling me out on my bullshit like usual?”
“One date,” Will says firmly. “Leave it to me to sort out since I’m the local. Saturday alright?”
A shiver rolls along my spine at his take-charge energy. Yes, please. Also, there’s a problem, and said problem is that it’s Tuesday. And that means it’s four sleepless nights to Saturday. I might burst before then.
“Sounds great,” I say nonchalantly. I’m desperately intrigued but act cool. I shove my sweaty palms into my chinos, as if we’re accidentally going to shake hands like we’re making a business transaction for an exhibit pickup.
“Very good,” he says solemnly. Then the way his gaze lingers over me gives him away.
I flash a quick smile, elated. “Perfect. It’s literally one date.”
“One. Only one.” He hesitates. “Please don’t tell anyone. Especially at work. Also… we should make sure nothing seems out of the ordinary here. People shouldn’t catch on.”
“My lips are sealed, I promise.” Which is a real shame because I sure could use them for something else right about now. That is, if we weren’t at work. And if Will wasn’t compartmentalizing like nobody’s business. “You’ll need to leave a paper jam in the copier, at least, if you want to maintain your reputation so no one catches on.”
The smile he gives me is more brilliant than the summer sun. I shiver with pleasure, heart thundering so loudly I’m sure everyone in the office can hear me swooning.
So much for Raj’s cad alert. I’m doomed.
Chapter Seventeen
