Page 69 of Playing Mr. Perfect

“I have no doubt you will.” Clay motions around the lab. “I hear this is where the magic happens.”

“More science than magic, but yes,” I say, trying to sound casual.

“Don’t let the boss fool you,” Ravi says. “Plenty of magic happens here.”

“Scientific magic,” Min chimes in, perkier than usual.

“Are you guys done for the night? We were just talking about all of us grabbing dinner together,” Clay says.

“Oh.” There’s no hiding the surprise in my voice. I don’t know what I expected this evening, but it certainly didn’t include everyone else.

“It’s probably the only time in my life I’ll get to have dinner with one of my sports heroes,” Min says excitedly.

“You have sports heroes?” I didn’t even know she liked sports.

“Doesn’t everyone?” Min says, like I’ve asked a ridiculous question.

“Chris got her into football a few years ago. They watch all the games together. She knows all my stats,” Clay says. “Pretty cool, huh?”

“Yeah.” I didn’t even know Chris and Min spent time together outside of work. Why does Clay know so much about them?

“When we watch his team, Min wears his jersey,” Chris says.

What the…? Jealousy snaps my brain into gear. No wonder she’s mooning over him. “Really? How fun.”

“And to think you didn’t know you had a Giants fan under your roof all this time,” Clay says. “They said there’s a good Italian restaurant around the corner that we can walk to. What do you say? Can you two get away?” He looks at me and Ravi, clearly extending the invitation to both of us.

“We told him that you usually eat at your desk and rarely leave the office before eight,” Min says to me.

“We don’t have anything pressing tonight,” Ravi announces, his dark eyes urging me to accept. “It’ll be a nice break, and I’d like to get to know Clay.”

“Sure,” I say, uncomfortable with the idea. Before I sit around a table with everyone, I have to find out what Clay told them about us. “I just need to get my coat. Clay, why don’t you come with me to my office so we can catch up, and we’ll meet them in the lobby.”

We head down the hall, and as soon as we’re out of earshot of the others, I say, “Please tell me you didn’t tell them about Paris.”

“They know we were both in Paris, but give me a little credit. Did you really think I was going to tell them that I had you tied to my bed while I ravaged you?”

My entire body ignites, and I hurry into my office. Clay closes the door behind us, his expression serious as he turns to me and says, “You failed to mention that you and Ravi work together. Are you two still an item? Is that why you didn’t want to see me?”

I can’t hide my shock. “Do you really think I’d sleep with you if I were in a relationship with Ravi or anyone else?”

“I don’t know what to think right now. Plenty of women conveniently forget that they’re in relationships when they’re around me.”

My jaw drops. “You’ve slept with women who are cheating on their boyfriends or husbands?”

“Not intentionally, but yes. It happened a time or two when I was too young and too stupid to realize it. But I learned my lesson. I’m not proud of being a player or of being played. I don’t condone that behavior. I respect relationships. My parents and grandparents have been married forever, and that’s what I eventually want.”

I appreciate his honesty. He could’ve lied about sleeping with women who were in relationships, but the rest of what he said gives me pause. “You do?”

He rakes a hand through his hair, averting his eyes, and makes an incredulous sound. “Yes, I do, and based on that look on your face, it shocks you as much as it shocks me. I didn’t realize how much I wanted that until just now.” He scrubs a hand down his face, and his gaze softens with a hint of confusion. “What are you doing to me, Reckless?”

My heart squeezes, but I remind myself to be smart. “I could ask the same of you, showing up here unannounced, bringing me flowers. They’re gorgeous, by the way. Thank you.”

“So are you.” He closes the gap between us and slips his arm around my waist, gently pulling me against him, holding me loose enough that I can step away if I want to.

I don’t.

“When I thought you and Ravi were a couple, I nearly lost my mind.” His tone is gruff but somehow also tender. “I tried to glean what I could from Chris and Min about you two without being obvious, but learning how close you and Ravi are only made it worse.”