The box tilted in her arms, she gasped, juggling it for a split second. Before I could step forward and catch it, she couldn’t hold on anymore. Papers and folders cascaded to the floor in a multicolored avalanche.
“Fuck,” She burst out, dropping to her knees immediately to gather the scattered documents.
I knelt beside her without hesitation, collecting papers and sorting them by their colored tabs. What the fuck was this? Folders on everyone in her team, with piles of blank forms attached. She was taking this home to work on tonight? For what purpose?
Before I could ask, she snatched the files from my hand and dumped them in the box, her movements quick and flustered. “I’ve got it.”
“Let me help,” I bit out, more than a little impatient.
As she leaned forward to reach for a folder that had slid farther away, I couldn’t help but glance down at the V of her blouse, which gaped open just enough to reveal the lace trim of her bra and the soft curve of her breasts. Heat rushed through me, and I immediately jerked my gaze away.Get it together, Sullivan. She’s your employee, for christ’s sake.
Then our fingers brushed as we reached for the folder and my pulse leapt at the simple touch. Mia pulled back instantly, a flush creeping up her neck. I pretended not to notice, focusing instead on the task at hand, waiting for my heart rate to settle.
As the last papers were gathered, I stacked them neatly back into the box. “Heading to your car?”
“Yes.”
I picked up the box before she could argue. “I’ve got it.”
For a moment, she looked like she might argue, then seemed to reconsider. “Thank you.”
We walked through the sliding doors and across the parking lot in yet more silence. The evening air was cool, the sky darkening to deep blue overhead. Security lights cast harsh shadows across the pavement, illuminating our path in intervals of bright white and darkness.
As we approached her little blue honda, my steps slowed. “Your presentation yesterday... The customer archetypes you developed were impressive.”
She glanced up, clearly surprised. “Oh, um, thank you.”
“I’d like to discuss this further. Could you come to my office tomorrow morning? Just whenever you have time?”
Pride flared in her eyes, quickly smothered. “Of course. I’ll bring the complete data set.”
She unlocked her car and opened the trunk. I set the box inside carefully, then stepped back.
“Thank you for your help, Mr. Sullivan.”
“Jack.” The word escaped before I could second guess myself. Something about hearing her call me Mr. Sullivan in the darkness of the parking lot felt wrong.
Her gray eyes widened slightly. “Sorry?”
“After hours, I think we can dispense with formalities.” I kept my tone casual, professional, hiding how much I suddenly wanted to hear my name on her lips. “Unless you prefer them.”
“Oh, that’s nice.” She hesitated, then offered a small smile as she pulled her car door open and slid behind the wheel. “Jack. And it’s Mia, then.”
“Drive safely… Mia.”
“I will. Have a good night. Jack.”
As she drove away, I stood there like an idiot, still feeling the ghost of her fingers against mine. Mr. Sullivan and Ms. Harris would be back tomorrow, but for a few seconds tonight, we’d been Jack and Mia. And damn if I didn’t want more of that.
MIA
“You look fine.” Emily glanced at me as she applied another coat of mascara, somehow managing not to stab herself in the eye despite the car being parked at a red light. “Better than fine. You look hot.”
I tugged at the hem of my navy wrap dress, wondering if maybe I should have gone with something less fitted. “She’s going to say something. She always does.”
“Then I’ll dump wine in her lap.” Emily tossed her mascara into her purse as the light turned green. “Oops, so clumsy, Aunt Helen! My bad!”
I laughed despite the knot in my stomach. “Don’t tempt me.”
