Page 15 of Catalyst

“Deal. Send me your address, and I’ll pick you up in an hour.” As I hang up the phone, I realize I have a huge smile on my face. Ignoring the voice in my head saying this is a bad idea, I walk back into the living room, where Matthew is scrolling on his phone. “We have to make a pit stop to pick up Ellie.”

“Nice. Maybe this event won’t suck now.”

“It definitely has a much better appeal than it did before.”

* * *

My knee bounces, and my eyes are glued to the front door of Ellie’s duplex. She lives on a well-kept street in the southern part of Westlake. All of the cookie-cutter duplexes have a different landscape design to help tell them apart. Ellie’s house has white hydrangeas blooming in a wild bush, along with a couple of other colorful flowers, the names of which I don’t know.

When the door opens, my breath catches. Ellie comes out wearing a long red halter dress, her lithe frame gorgeously shown off under the tight fabric. I want nothing more than to run my hands across her bare shoulders, down her sides, and across her ass.

Fuck, get yourself together.I mentally slap myself and get out of the car. A smirk tips up the corner of my mouth when I catch Ellie checking me out as she walks closer. Her heels click against the sidewalk, her own smirk lighting up her eyes.

“You look gorgeous, Ellie. Thank you for coming with me.”

“I’m glad you asked me. This is the most exciting thing I’ve done in a while. You look snazzy in your tux.”

Snazzy?I tell a woman she’s gorgeous and she responds with snazzy? All I can do is laugh, holding the door open for her to get inside the car.

“Well, hot damn, woman. You clean up good,” Matthew catcalls.

“Shall we try to keep things at least a little professional, Matthew? She is still our employee,” I huff.

“Oh, hush, you. Tonight, we’re friends, not colleagues.” Ellie turns to Matthew. “Did Adam tell you about the bet I made with him?”

After my signal, the driver takes off toward Greensboro. Ellie is squeezed between me and Matthew in the middle seat, her perfume surrounding me in an intoxicating cloud.

“No, what is it?”

“If he can prove to me he knows how to have fun, I’ll buy milkshakes at the end of the night.”

“Fucking brilliant. What does he have to do if he loses?” Matthew laughs.

“We haven’t discussed that yet.”

“I am capable of having fun. Matthew has seen me have fun,” I grumble. I hate how easily the two of them can banter. They feed off each other, constantly laughing and joking around. I feel like a scrooge around them most of the time, always telling them to focus on work and to stop playing around.

“I’m sure he has, but when was the last time you really let go?” Ellie counters.

I frown, trying to think about the last time I relaxed enough to enjoy myself. “I have fun when we play soccer together.” For the last several years, my siblings and I have gotten together for regular grudge matches. Usually, it devolves into a lot of cheating to win, but it’s a way for us to see each other despite how crazy our schedules are.

“Physical activity doesn’t count as fun.”

“It can,” I quip, raising my eyebrow. I can’t believe I just said that out loud. To my secretary. And now, all I can imagine is my lips crashing against hers, smearing her blood-red lipstick that matches her dress.

Ellie’s lips part in surprise. “Did you just make a sex joke?” She fans her face. “Whew, starting off bold, Mr. Ellis. I like it.”

I like when she calls me Mr. Ellis. The whole naughty secretary fantasy has become one of my favorites recently.

“Told you I can be fun.”

“One quippy remark does not make you fun. However, it does show potential. Keep it up.” She winks.

I glance over at Matthew, who’s been silent throughout this whole exchange. He’s biting his lip to keep from laughing while his eyes gleam with anticipation for the night. Could I really let my guard down? Am I capable of having fun, even though it’s not in my nature to let go?

I know if I don’t at least attempt it, Matthew and Ellie will end up enjoying themselves, and I’ll be left to third wheel it the whole night, despite asking Ellie here as my date.

That thought is all I need to confirm my decision. Ellie is my date tonight, and I’m determined to show her a good time.

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