Page 79 of Miss Manage

She agreed easily, and I slid into place beside Charlotte.

Her brows lifted. “What are you doing?”

I buckled in, perfectly at ease. “Sitting next to my boss on the plane so we can discuss work before we get into the office.”

Her lips quirked enough to hint at amusement.

That was the thing about Charlotte. Every reaction had to be earned. And for reasons I didn’t want to dissect too closely, I liked earning them.

After takeoff, I turned in my seat, letting my shoulder angle toward her, so I could catch the delicate line of her profile as she worked on her iPad.

“What time is Austin’s game tomorrow?”

“Ten o’clock. I’ll send you the address of the field.”

“Thanks. I’m looking forward to seeing him play. You want to come over for dinner tonight?” The words slipped out before I could dress them up as something safer.

Her head turned, her eyes narrowing. “Like a date?”

“Yes. I’ll even cook. Don’t get too excited, though. My culinary repertoire consists of exactly one dish. Hardly Michelin-star-worthy, but my mom swears learning at least one pasta dish is my crowning achievement, so at least she can be proud I learned something in the kitchen. Spoiler alert, it’s baked ziti.”

Her lips twitched but then flattened again. “It’s not a good idea.”

“It’s a great idea.” I wanted a night where things could be proactive instead of reactive. Where we could drink wine, eat dinner, and just enjoy each other’s company.

“It might be a better idea to wait.”

I told myself I understood her hesitation. Hell, after how her ex had weaponized her ambition, she had every right to be on her guard. But knowing her reasons didn’t make it sting any less. “Or we could continue to keep work and personal separate.”

“Right, because we’re doing such a great job of it.”

“There have been some gray areas, sure. But know that nothing changes,” I reminded her, my voice low, steady. “Not for me. No matter how the decision falls.” I let the words hang, watching her throat work as she swallowed.

She sighed, clearly uncomfortable in having this whispered conversation. “I’ve heard the owners are flying into town next week for the final round of interviews.”

“Yes. I’ve heard the same. My guess is we’ll know the decision in the next two weeks.”

I’d never been so anxious to have time go by quickly.

I leaned closer, close enough that the warmth of her skin brushed against the edge of my breath. God, I wanted to taste her again. “Two weeks is too damn long to wait. Come over tonight after work. I’ll make dinner. And…maybe you should pack a bag. Stay the night.”

So much for exerting patience. I was pushing and couldn’t help myself.

Her lips pursed. “Do women ever tell you no?”

A chuckle rumbled in my chest. “My boss says it quite often, actually.”

Her lips twitched. “She sounds like a smart woman.”

“The smartest. Which is why she says yes when she knows it matters.”

For a heartbeat it appeared she might object, and remind me again of rules and boundaries. Instead, she whispered, “Okay. Fine. I’ll come over tonight.”