Page 20 of Catalyst

“Since Matthew and I went to school with Desmond, I can get us tickets to New York Raptors games pretty much anytime we want to go. If that’s something you’d ever be interested in.”

I freeze in the middle of the dance floor. “You’re freaking joking with me right now, right?”

Adam bursts out laughing as he shakes his head. “No, I’m not joking with you. Pick out the game you want to go to, and I’ll take you.”

“God, I want to kiss you right now!”

Adam’s eyebrows shoot up his forehead, and I realize I just toldmy bossI want to kiss him. Cue immediate mortification. “I mean… you know, if it wouldn’t be workplace harassment… or weird…” I clear my throat. “Never mind. Pretend I didn’t just… You know, I’m just going to go to the bathroom.” I drop my arms from around Adam as if he’s on fire and turn to race off the dance floor.

How could I have said something so stupid? What is wrong with me?

“Ellie, wait!” Adam calls from behind me.Embarrassment has me speeding up, but I’m not fast enough. A hand around my arm forces me to stop in the middle of the empty hallway.

“Damn, you’re fast in heels,” Adam says, his breath coming out in short pants from racing after me.

“Humiliation can be quite the speed booster.”

“Please don’t be embarrassed. You didn’t do anything wrong.”

I roll my eyes. “I practically threw myself at you. I’d totally understand if you wanted to keep your distance from your lunatic secretary.”

Adam puts his hands on my shoulders and pulls me closer. “Does it look like I want there to be any distance between us?”

Looking into those sharp blue eyes, I feel as if I could get lost in them. I shake my head no, my words drying up on my tongue.

“God, if I’d met you anywhere else but the office, I’d be kissing you right now.” His desperation helps to calm my raging emotions.

“You want to kiss me?”

“More than I want my next breath.” Adam shakes his head. “But I don’t think I can. Our company policy strongly frowns upon boss-subordinate relationships. I’d be putting your job at risk, and honestly, I can’t lose you. I didn’t think anyone could be as perfect for me as Tessa, yet you’ve far exceeded any of my expectations.”

“So… you won’t kiss me because I’m too good at my job?”

Adam huffs. “It sounds ridiculous when you put it like that.”

“Because it is ridiculous,” I counter. I get where he’s coming from to some degree, but at this particular moment, while I’m pressed up against him, all I can think about is what his mouth would feel like against mine.

“Fuck, why am I the way I am?” Adam murmurs to himself, dropping his forehead against mine.

“Hey, everything okay?” Matthew’s voice has us springing apart as if we were doing something naughty.

I look at Matthew, whose eyes are bouncing back and forth between me and Adam. “Are you ready to go get milkshakes?” I blurt out. It was the first thing I could think of to defuse the tension.

“Uh… sure.”

“Great! Let’s get going, then. I just need to go grab my bag.” I set off toward the ballroom, feeling both Matthew’s and Adam’s eyes boring into my back.

Angry whispers start up when I’m too far away to hear what they’re saying. Probably better that way so I don’t hear Matthew tell Adam how stupid it would be for him to get involved with his secretary. Without the heat of Adam’s body pressed against mine, reality starts to invade, and I know he did the right thing by putting a stop to my advances.

It’s nice to confirm he feels the same way I do, but it would be stupid to allow anything to happen between us. I need this job more than I need to know what Adam tastes like. Ugh, I bet he tastes delicious.

NO! Stop that right now.

I grab my things from our table and make my way back toward the entrance of the hotel. Adam and Matthew are standing by the doors, waiting for me. They’re both handsome, but Adam has an air of authority about him that I can’t quite describe. It’s this quiet confidence that lets you know he’s the one you should turn to during a crisis. He’s the lighthouse guiding you to shore during a raging storm. You will always be able to trust him to lead you to safety, no matter how dark the night gets.

“The car is being brought around now,” Adam says, putting his hand out for me to lead the way outside.

The fall air is refreshing after having been in the stuffy ballroom all evening, and I take deep breaths in an attempt to cool my still-overheated body.

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