Page 88 of Here & Now

“Promise me something.”

“What?”

“You’ll call me if you need to.”

She frowned, unsure why she’d need to. “We’ll be in a public place. Why are you so worried?”

“Don’t you think it’s a bit strange that he’s meeting you outside of the office and at night?”

“He said he does that with all his clients.”

“Especially the pretty ones,” he muttered.

She smiled and attempted to lighten the mood. “You almost sound jealous.”

“Not of Scott, but that he’ll be with you tonight.”

“It’s not a date. It’s—”

“Business, I know, but I still don’t like it.”

“For the record, I would rather be going out to dinner with you.”

“Yeah?”

“Yes.”

“I thought about you a lot today.”

His admission gave her a warm, tingly feeling all over.

“Tell me I’m not the only one.”

“You’re not the only one.”

“Thank you,” he said with an exaggerated sigh.

She laughed.

“I know you’re busy packing and everything, but I’d like a repeat of last night.”

Her breath caught, but she managed to say, “Me too.”

“When?”

The urgency in his voice gave her a thrill. “Soon.”

“I’m holding you to that.”

She liked the thought of him holding her literally. Suddenly she felt overly warm, and she fanned her face with her hand. “I should probably go.” Time was slipping away, and soon she’d have to meet Scott. “What will you do for dinner tonight?”

“I’m not sure. Maybe I’ll go out with Marco.”

She scowled; glad he couldn’t see her. She had nothing against Marco, but the two of them together attracted a lot of female attention. Before, she could joke about it, but not now.

“If I go out with Marco, it won’t be for any other reason than to eat dinner,” he assured her.

“Okay.”