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It’s one that he absolutely hated at first. He would try to send me home at five with the other employees, but I told him that I’m not going until he does because the man spends way too much time in the office.

So, he eventually started caving. Not leaving by five but by six each day. Which is fine with me since I don’t have anyone waiting for me at home. Besides, I get paid by the hour while I’m filling in for Lily, and double pay after eight hours a day.

My time at Crawford Holdings is slowly dwindling, and the week before Lily returns to work, I get some good news.

“I got a job!” I exclaim when I burst through Monty’s open office door.

He’s been keeping it open more and more lately, so my taste in music must not be too bad.

“Congratulations,” he mutters without looking away from his laptop screen. “When and where?”

“A CPA’s office in Concord, and I start next week when Lily gets back. If that’s okay with you?”

“Fine,” Monty replies with a sigh when he glances up at me, zeroing in on my lips like usual, even though there hasn’t been any pink icing on them since the day we never speak of. “Don’t forget to send an email to HR. I guess there will be certain…advantages to you no longer being my assistant…”

“Oh, sure,” I say with a grin. “You can finally delete that email you drafted about the breakroom incident that never happened.” When I give him a double wink, he looks away.

“Right,” he agrees.

I hold my breath and wait for him to say more, to say…well, I don’t know what.

When he doesn’t, I show myself out and get back to work.

Later that afternoon, I get bored while I wait for Monty to finish up a Zoom call with an investor in Tokyo behind his door that’s been closed since I told him about my new job. I turn on some Joan Jett on my Hello Kitty speaker and dance around a little while cleaning my desk, removing every single thing, dusting, then putting it all back neatly.

I had just dropped and rolled to the floor to put a folder away in the bottom drawer when I see movement from the corner of my eye.

Monty’s now standing in the open door of his office.

I immediately freeze while Joan continues to rave about her love for Rock ’n’ Roll.

With his arms crossed over his chest, one shoulder leaning against the frame, I can’t interpret the expression on his face.

He doesn’t look angry or even slightly annoyed. He looks hungry and sleepy.

Hunpy.

No. That’s the stupidest portmanteau ever, but it’s the only way to describe the look on Monty’s face.

Or so I thought before he finally speaks and says two simple words, “Keep going.”

That sexy command, combined with the ravenous way he’s looking at me, is all it takes for heat to rush through me.

Monty’s earlier comment about there being certain advantages to me no longer being his assistant takes on a new meaning.

Did he mean what I think he did instead? Is that why he’s suddenly being flirty now?

I think this all over while I finish my cleaning and yes, dancing, feeling the heat of Monty’s gaze on me the entire time.

God, it’s hot. He’s hot. More so than usual when he’s watching me like he wants me and we’re alone in the empty office together.

When I glance over at him again, it looks like maybe he’s doing some math in his head, counting down the seconds until I’m no longer his assistant, his employee.

I’m a little sad when the moment ends and my desk is back to normal again. I turn off the speaker, take a moment to catch my breath, then ask Monty, “Are you ready to go home?”

“If you are,” he replies. Maybe I’m imagining things, but it sounded like that was an underlying offer to come home with him.

“I’m more than ready,” I agree as the pressure in my lower belly intensifies.