Page 19 of Time To Learn

Well, crap.

“Pretty much,” he answers, his voice a little rough.

Ignoring his flirting, I nod briskly. “Good.”

He takes a file from a black bookshelf under the counter and points to the other end of theshop.

“Why don’t you take a seat and look through these?”

I turn in the direction he’s pointing. There’s a small seating area in the back, and I look at the plush, black leather couches placed there. They look comfortable.

Taking the file from his hand, Inod.

“Perfect, thanks. I won’t get in yourway.”

“Oh, I doubt I’d mind if youdid.”

Doublecrap.

“Are you flirting with me?” I blurtout.

He grins, eyes twinkling with mirth.

“Absolutely.”

I don’t have a flippant remark ready. Instead, I frown at his blatant honesty, and walk to the seating area. With my back to him, I sit down, mentally kicking myself for even asking himthat.

I don’t want him to get the wrong idea about me. Once upon a time, I was quite good at the cat and mouse game played by men and women, but those days are gone. I don’t want a man in my life. I don’t want anyone.

Opening the folder, I give myself a good talking to. A small seed of regret seeps into my bones, chilling me to my core, but I can’t relent. Kristian may be a nice bloke—not to mention incredibly gorgeous—but I don’t want his attention. Not even if my lady bits seem to think otherwise.

* * *

Kristian

Fuck me,thoseeyes.

Light grey, stormy eyes that seem young yet old at the same time. Eyes that flickered with a thousand different emotions when they met mine. The interest I saw when I admitted to flirting with her shut down immediately, and I could’ve bitten my tongue.

I try not to squirm in my seat as I keep stealing glances at Laura’s bent head from my seat at the counter. Pen in hand, I’m aimlessly drawing, all the while attempting to tamp down my rising need. As usual, my cock won’t listen. Why the hell does she intrigueme?

Frowning, I look down at the drawing in my hand when the door to Alex’s office opens, and he walks out. He shrugs on his leather jacket and leans towards the mirror. I shake my head at the way he fiddles with his bow-tie—blue today—and runs a hand through his salt-and-pepperhair.

That man is more worried about his looks than most women.

“I’m going to head out, get our food,” he says as he turns around. He raises his eyebrows at me. “Everythinggood?”

I nod and then tilt my head in Laura’s direction. “Yeah, just waiting for a possible client rightnow.”

He looks at her back and nods before he turns to thedoor.

“Okay, I’ll see you in abit.”

“Sure.”

The bell dings above the door as he leaves, and my eyes are drawn back to Laura.

Bloody hell, get a grip, man.