Page 58 of Backlash

I wave him over and she flashes me a quick smile before she disappears back to her own desk. I can’t help noticing that she’s still watching him. Sterling winds through the maze of desks with the confidence of a man who knows exactly where he’s going and sees no obstacles in his path. He let his five o’clock shadow grow a little longer, leaving a sexy bit of stubble on his jaw. His hair is slicked back, showing off the strong line of his nose and his almost unnaturally blue eyes—eyes that haven’t left me yet. Each step closer sends my heart rate ratcheting up.

“Lost? Or did you feel the need to distract the entire workforce from their jobs?” I ask, dropping my chin into my hands and staring up at him.

“Me? A distraction?” His head swivels around like this is news to him. Throughout the office heads drop, trying to avoid being caught ogling him. He shrugs when he looks back to me. “Everyone seems busy. Maybe I’m only distracting you, Lucky.”

“Fat chance.” I snort and hope it comes off believably. The truth is, as much as I want to return to the manuscript, my body is actively rebelling against me. I squeeze my thighs tighter, trying to control the ticking pulse that started between them when I saw him. I need to get Sterling out of here before I leave a puddle on my seat. “Why are you here?”

“It’s your first day. I brought you a present.” He holds up a brown paper bag.

“You didn’t have to do that.” I hesitate and lean back in my seat. I need to be more direct—more forceful. I can’t let him think that he can smooth talk his way into my heart. “You shouldn’t do that.”

“I know,” he stops me before I can ask him to leave. “I’ve been thinking about what you said and maybe you’re right.”

I clutch the arms of my chair because I need solid proof I’m not dreaming. “Come again?”

“There are things I need to tell you,” he lowers his voice so that no one can hear us. “I can’t tell you everything—” I open my mouth to protest, but he shakes his head, “—not every story is mine to tell.”

“But you’ll tell me about the guy in the hotel and the last five years?”

“Yes,” he says.

“And you thought, hey, this isn’t a big day for Lucky, I’ll just pop by and be as distracting as possible while she tries to make a good first impression…?” I open a desk drawer and rifle through the papers in it.

“Err, sorry,” he asks, looking boyishly sheepish, “What are you doing?”

“Looking for a contract. I want this in writing,” I say.

“Very funny.” He drops the present on top of the manuscript on my desk. “What are you doing tonight?”

I bite my lip. I want answers and I don’t want to wait for them, but Sterling often promises more than he delivers.

“Don’t overthink it,” he says. “Just say you’ll have dinner with me so that we can talk.”

“Okay,” I agree slowly, “but on one condition. Not your place. Not my place. Neutral territory.”

“Deal.” A wide smile steals across his face, momentarily rendering me awestruck. It’s rare to see him genuinely happy, but when he is, I can’t help the swell of joy I feel. He seizes the opportunity to lean down and brush a kiss over my forehead. “I’ll pick you up at five-thirty, Lucky.”

It takes me a second to recover, and he’s halfway to the door before I process what he said. “Six,” I call after him.

He nods, his back on the door, as he pulls out a pair of aviators and slides them on. When he’s finally out of the building, I realize I’m not the only one with my eyes glued to the door. Trish is already back at my desk. “Who was that?”

My biggest mistake? My biggest regret? How do I describe who Sterling is?

“Uh-oh,” she says, dropping to sit on the edge of my desk. “I know that look.”

I manage to tear my attention from the exit. “What look?”

“The look of a woman who’s in love with a man but wishes she wasn’t.”

“Is it that obvious?” I ask with a sigh.

“Only to those of us with eyes,” she assures me. “Word to the wise? Men are like manuscripts, if you love one, fight for it before someone else snatches it up.”

“Is there a lot of competition here?” I ask dryly.

“For manuscripts,” she says before tipping her head toward the door. “But I saw the look on his face. He is one hundred percent in love with you.”

I glance up to her. Is she right? She does pretty much study human nature for a living. “I’m not sure that’s enough.”