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“You and Natalie seem to be getting along,” I say as we file into the elevator, crowded together by a handful of other people, the muscle of his biceps brushing mine as he shifts to make space for them.
He arches a brow at me. “You said our dating wasn’t a problem.”
“As long as it doesn’t interfere with either of your jobs, of course not,” I say coolly. He studies me carefully but holds his tongue as the elevator empties out on the sixth floor. When the doors close, he puts a step between us and braces his arms on the handrail behind him.
“Tell me something, Nic. Have you two ever—” Finn gestures vaguely.
“Dated? Good God, no.” I glare at him. “She works for me.”
“Plenty of people don’t care about that anymore.”
“I’m not one of them.”
The doors open, and I head for the office without another word.
“Hold on,” says Finn. I stop at the door, remembering the instructions he’d given us the day before about letting him check the office before either of us entered.
“You’re clear,” he says a moment later. He follows me through to my office, I assume because Natalie’s not yet arrived. “I didn’t mean to offend you.”
“You didn’t offend me.”
He looks me in the eye, cocks a brow.
“Nobody should have to deal with that kind of pressure when they’re working, least of all Natalie.” I stare him down, raising my brows right back at him.
“You mean from me?” He points at himself and frowns. “Did I say anything?—”
I cut him off with a wave. “I didn’t hear anything inappropriate yesterday. I’m not accusing you of anything. Just…”
Christ, I never fumble for words anymore. I might as well be fifteen again, crushing on the prom queen. Though, in my case, I was trying to get over my crush on her brother.
“Natalie is special,” I say firmly. “I’d like to know your intentions.”
His eyebrows climb up slowly.
“My intention is to have dinner with an interesting, attractive woman away from her workplace.” He articulates every word slowly. “Having said that, I’m not entirely sure it’s your business, Nic. If this is going to be a problem after all, maybe we’d better draw the line here and now.”
I could do it. I could fire him right here. No more sitting here listening to them flirt, no more of this… this cloud of awareness, no more wondering about the muscles under the cut of his suit or just how much Natalie might be enjoying his eyes on her from across the room.
Not that I’ve spent time thinking about any of those things.
But then, I’d only be able to speculate on how things between them were going without seeing it for myself. At least this way, I’ll be able to tell if—when—things go south.
And if I fire him, I’ll have to hire somebody else, not to mention explaining it all to Natalie.
“No,” I say. “Like I told you the other day, it’s not a problem. She’s just…” Words fail me again.
“Special,” he says, his expression softening as he nods, just once. “You said. I understand.”
I’ve said too much, somehow. Or said it wrong.
“You have my word, I’ll treat her with the utmost respect,” says Finn. “Unless she requests otherwise.”
I glare at him, and before I can even get into why that was incredibly inappropriate, Natalie comes through the main door.
“Sorry! Sorry, Nic,” she says. She’s breathless and flushed, and God, if I thought Finn was being inappropriate before, it’s nothing to the reaction my body has at the sight of her now. “The line for the elevators was ridiculous, so I took the stairs.”
“It’s not even nine yet,” says Finn. His voice sounds strained. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out he’s fighting the same battle I am.
