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She nodded, looking at him through her lashes as she created a new bite. He noted how she made sure each bite had at least two pieces of pasta, a piece of chicken, and either a tomato or an olive. Sometimes both, but she was running out of olives. Taking the bite, she set down her fork and wiped her lips with a napkin before signing. "Don't you go stir-crazy eating at your desk every day?"
"I've never thought about it."
Jewell sat back, dropping her napkin on the remains of her lunch left on her plate. Her smile made his pulse jump, and he liked it. "I believe I'm going to need to get you out of the office more often, Mr. Roth," she signed, feigning a serious expression as she wagged a finger at him. "It's my duty as your executive assistant."
"I don't recall that in your job description."
"I'm taking the initiative."
He was saved from making a completely inappropriate comment, one that was sure to bring a new flush of color to her pale cheeks, by the return of the waitress. Benjamin didn't bother to look up, keeping his attention on Jewell. She looked at the waitress, shook her head, and waved a hand at the empty plate. The waitress took it and set the bill on the counter. Jewell reached for it, but Benjamin was faster. He grinned at the shocked look on her face.
"Hey, now. You didn't even eat."
He just grinned and shifted to take his wallet from his back pocket. Leaving a bill on the table, he stood and offered his hand to help her stand. It pleased him in a way he couldn't qualify when she took it and came to her feet, retrieving her jacket from the back of her seat. He liked her bare arms. They were trim, but just as pale as her face and sprinkled with freckles.
They stepped back into the oppressive humidity of the afternoon, both slipping on their sunglasses against the bright sun. Walking in unison, they turned down Market Street toward the Financial District. The walk was short, but August in New England was as hot and humid as any southern bayou or Florida Everglade, especially here in the city deep in the jungle of massive steel and glass buildings that blocked any cooling breeze that might drift in off the Atlantic Ocean. They reached the light at the corner and joined the mass of people waiting to cross. Benjamin chanced a glance in her direction, catching her huff as she blew wisps of hair off her forehead.
"Perhaps we should save our next lunch outing for a slightly less smothering day."
She smiled and nodded. "Please."
The light changed and they all moved en masse. Benjamin cupped her elbow, not realizing until they stepped onto the other curb that he'd once again reached for her. It felt natural, instinctual. And once again, she hadn't moved away. It would be so easy to slide his fingers down the inside of her arm and take her hand, just to see if she'd let him shift his fingers between hers.
They crossed Market and headed down Friend Street toward the tower of steel and glass that housed Bulwark. He dropped his hand from her elbow as they neared the building, and caught the slight tip of her head as she looked down at her bare arm and then up at the gleaming face of the tower. Benjamin stepped forward and pulled open the glass lobby doors.
A refreshing wave of cooler air washed over them. Jewell stopped inside the doors and tipped her head back, a slow smile on her lips. He put his hand against her back to move forward and felt the purr of a groan vibrate through her ribcage.
The reaction in his gut was intense and nearly made him stumble.
She waved to the security guard at the front desk as they crossed the black marble floor to the bank of elevators. He noted that Jewell smiled at every person who passed them, and nearly every one of them returned the smile. She inspired the reaction; he understood that even for himself. When Jewell smiled at him, he couldn't help but smile back.
Benjamin used his security card to call the elevator and let her precede him into the empty car when the doors opened. The interior of the car was polished brass and wood, and each wall acted like a mirror, surrounding Benjamin with images of Jewell. She slipped on her cream-colored jacket and ran her fingers over the twisted curls at the nape of her neck.
"I must look a fright," she said with a tilted smile, trying to get a look at herself in the reflective brass walls.
Benjamin pushed his hands deep into his pockets to keep himself from touching the tendrils along her cheeks. He leaned against the railing that ran along three sides of the elevator car, watching her compose herself.
"You look… fine,” he finally said.
Her green eyes shifted to him, then away. The elevator bumped to a stop, and he glanced up to the red numbers indicating the floor levels and saw they had another five floors before they reached their office. The doors opened, and three people stepped on, among them Kevin Burke. Benjamin shifted along the rail to stand closer to Jewell, giving the others more room.
"You two just coming back from lunch?" Burke asked.
"Yes," Jewell answered, turning so she faced both of them and Benjamin could see her face. "Well, I went for lunch and Mr. Roth happened to find me."
Burke looked between them, then his gaze settled on Jewell. Benjamin watched the other fund manager's focus shift from the pretty curls around her face, to the glistening skin at the base of her throat from the heavy humidity outside to her flittering hands as she smoothed and buttoned her jacket.
Benjamin's neck prickled and he slid his hands from his pockets to curl around the handrail. Something about the predatory way the other man looked at Jewell jabbed at Benjamin. He didn't like it. He just wasn't sure why he didn't like it.
Jewell touched his arm, drawing his attention. "I'm going to the break room for a cold drink. Do you want one?"
He nodded, releasing his grip on the bar to sign. "Thank you."
The elevator stopped at their floor and the doors opened. Everyone filed out, and with a final smile in his direction, Jewell headed through the bullpen to the break room on the other side. Benjamin walked slower toward his office door, watching her wave to some and pause at the desk of another for a brief conversation before moving on.
Burke tapped Benjamin's arm with the back of his hand, then pointed after her. "I think you owe me one, Roth."
Benjamin just smirked and turned away, effectively ending the conversation as he went into his office, raising a hand of acknowledgment to April. She held up several pink "While You Were Out" slips that he took as he passed. He didn't bother looking back to see if Burke had walked away, or not.
