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“You didn’t finish your sandwich,” he said, pointing to her plate.

“I always take half home.”

“I’ll go ask for a to-go bag. Do you need a refill on your drink while I’m at it?”

Ohmigod. Is there no end to his politeness? Before, if she’d wanted a refill, Cole would have impatiently waited while she’d gotten it herself.

“Sure. Thanks.” She removed the lid and handed the cup to him. When he took it, their fingertips brushed, but she pretended like she hadn’t noticed.

“Be right back.”

When he walked away, she told herself not to look, but she had to. It was too good an opportunity to pass up. He didn’t walk so much as saunter across the restaurant, easily dodging tables like they weren’t even there. If it had been her, she might have banged into one or bumped someone’s shoulder with her purse.

The company dress code was business casual, and he wore it well. Dark blue pants, a blue and white checked shirt, and brown lace-up shoes never looked so good. The clothes weren’t remarkable in and of themselves, but the wearer made them so.

She felt like she’d gotten away with something, but then she glanced to the side and saw the woman who’d been staring at him earlier. She was also dressed in business clothes and was sitting at a table with a group of people who were probably her coworkers. She narrowed her eyes at Stacy with a scolding look that said, “He’s way too young for you, so just forget about it!” Stacy tore her eyes away from her accuser just as Nick returned to the table with their refills.

“Everything okay?”

“I just don’t want to be late getting back,” she said and quickly stood up.

“Don’t worry. If Fran says anything, you can blame it on me.”

She smiled at his earnestness.

Soon, they were in the relative safety of her car and driving back to the office.

“Thanks for going out with me. The food was really good.”

Going out with you? Is that what they call a business lunch in Florida? “I’m glad you liked it.”

A few minutes later, when they returned to the office, Kelsey and Paige were huddled around Sherry’s desk, the three of them smiling and laughing. When Stacy and Nick approached them, the women looked up with obvious interest.

“How was lunch?” Kelsey asked.

“Great,” Nick replied before Stacy had a chance to speak.

It was just as well because she felt discombobulated under their stares.

“Where’d you take him?” asked Paige.

It sounded like they’d been on a date instead of a business lunch. “Parkside Deli,” she replied.

“We love that place. You’re welcome to join us the next time we all go,” Kelsey said to Nick.

Stacy suppressed the urge to roll her eyes. Kelsey was being so obvious, but Nick took it all in stride.

“Thanks. I might take you up on that.”

“We need to get back to work,” Stacy said, using her business voice. It wasn’t nearly as intimidating as Fran’s, but it was the best she could do.

“Right. Don’t let her ride you too hard,” Kelsey called as Stacy and Nick walked away.

Stacy’s face flamed, and she didn’t dare turn around lest Nick and her friends noticed. She stalked down the hall to her office, thinking of the lecture she was going to give Kelsey after work.

Nick was right on her heels, and once they were in her office, he closed the door behind them. She put away her purse, took off her jacket, and hung it over the back of the chair without looking at him. When she finally met his eyes, he looked both amused and sympathetic.

“If my friends were here, they would have given me a hard time too,” he said.