Page 41 of Just a Little Tempted

I pushed off the doorframe. “Whatever you made smells incredible.”

Raina turned, and her eyes immediately dropped to my bare chest. She bit her bottom lip, and the way her gaze traveled over me—slow and appreciative—made me have to forcibly restrain myself from crossing the room, throwing her over my shoulder, and carrying her back to bed.

“It’s an egg casserole,” she said, recovering quickly, a hint of pink coloring her cheeks. “Cheese, sausage, mushrooms. Nothing fancy, but it’s filling.”

I smiled. “Sounds perfect.”

She gestured toward the coffee maker. “I made a fresh pot of coffee. Help yourself. Cups are in the cupboard and cream in the refrigerator.”

I moved to the counter and poured myself a cup, then added a splash of cream, taking a moment to appreciate the simple domesticity of it all. Raina set the casserole on the small table, and I joined her with my coffee, sliding into the chair across from hers.

We served ourselves in comfortable silence, and for a few minutes, we simply ate. The casserole was delicious. Hearty and flavorful, exactly what I needed after last night.

“That game was something else,” I finally said, keeping things light. “The way Miles made that final shot—I don’t think I’ve seen anything like it.”

Raina smiled, some of the tension in her shoulders easing. “He’s been focused on perfecting that move for months. I’ve heard him talk about it, but seeing it work in a real game…” She shook her head. “I nearly lost my voice screaming.”

“I noticed.” I smirked. “Pretty sure you deafened me in my left ear.”

She laughed, a genuine sound that warmed something in my chest. “You were just as loud.”

“Guilty.” I took a sip of coffee. “I’ve loved hockey since I was a kid. My dad used to take my brothers and me to games whenever he could. Some of my best memories are from those nights.”

“That’s sweet,” Raina said softly. “It’s nice that you have that.”

We talked a bit more—about the game, about sports in general, about nothing consequential. But I could see she was holding something back. There was a reservation in her eyes and a carefulness to her words that told me something else was on her mind.

When we’d both finished eating, she set her fork down and looked at me across the table. Her teeth worried her bottom lip.

“Simon… what is this?” she finally asked, indicating a hand between the two of us. “I need to understand where this is going. For you. For us.”

I set down my own fork, giving her my full attention. I considered my words carefully. She deserved honesty, even if I didn’t have all the answers.

“I’m not sure,” I admitted. “I know it’s complicated, given our working relationship. But I don’t have any regrets about last night.” I held her gaze. “Do you?”

She shook her head slowly. “No. I don’t regret it. But I’m concerned about how this might affect things at work. You’re my boss, Simon. If this goes wrong…”

“It doesn’t have to affect anything. We’re adults. We can navigate this.” I said, my practical side emerging. “Besides, there’s no policy against dating coworkers. I should know. I helped write the employee handbook.”

Her lips twitched, but the concern didn’t leave her eyes.

I leaned forward, resting my forearms on the table. “I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want this to happen again. I still want you, Raina. Last night wasn’t a one-time thing for me.”

She processed that for a moment before she rose and started clearing the table, and I stood to help her. We moved around each other in the small kitchen, rinsing plates in the sink, her putting away leftovers. The conversation continued in fragments.

“I just keep thinking about what happens if things end badly,” she said, not looking at me as she scraped the remaining casserole into a container. “If there’s conflict. If you decide you’re done with… whatever this is. Where does that leave me?”

I didn’t miss the worry in her voice, which I understood. “I’m not a complete asshole,” I teased, filling the sink with dish soapand water before turning more serious. “You actually hold all the cards here, Raina. I would never do anything to put your job in jeopardy. Your position is secure regardless of what happens between us.”

She turned on the faucet and started to wash the dishes. I leaned against the counter, watching her.

“That’s what I thought about my last boss,” she muttered, barely audible over the running water.

Regardless, I heard them and I realized, suddenly, that I knew almost nothing about what had happened at her previous job. Kurt had never told me the details, and I’d never asked. Not when she first interviewed, not after I’d hired her. She’d been so competent from day one that I hadn’t given her past much thought because it didn’t matter to me.

But clearly, whatever had happened still haunted her.

“Tell me what happened,” I said quietly.