Casey’s eyes sparkled. “So are you trying to get me drunk?”
That was flirting.
I let some of the desire I was always so careful to control around him show through. “Do I need to?”
His eyes widened in surprise, but instead of hiding his face, he shook his head. His blush said he wasn’t as unaffected as he was trying to pretend. My shy cutie was finally starting to open up. It was a small step, but it was more than I’d gotten from him before, so I was grateful for it.
“Good. I want you to remember every part of our…evening together.” I let my fingers caress over his hand. I wasn’t willing to let him forget my touch just yet. “Are you ready?”
It was a loaded question, and he knew it.
He seemed to be deciding something. I could see the ideas and words bouncing around in his mind. As quiet as he was, there always seemed to be so much going on in his head. He was like a mystery that kept pulling me back to study it.
If someone would have asked me a year ago if I liked mysteries, I would have told them no—then Casey had crept shyly into my life.
When he finally spoke, there was complete conviction in his quiet voice. “Yes. I’m ready.”
We both ignored the whispers and stares as we headed down to the first floor still holding hands. I couldn’t blame them. They weren’t the most subtle individuals, and they’d been gradually getting nosier about why I hadn’t been dating lately.
But how could I date someone else when I was so drawn to Casey?
Unlike Eli, I’d always done my best to keep my dating life outside of the company. I’d been drawn to men in lingerie for a long time, especially submissive men, but dating someone who worked for Leashes and Lace would have been wrong.
I wouldn’t put anyone in that position. But my belief in keeping my work and love life separate made it hard to date when every lingerie-wearing guy I came across either worked for me or wanted to work for the company.
I wouldn’t claim to be famous by any means, that would be ridiculous, but the kink community was small. When a sexy man came up to me in a club and confessed he liked wearing lingerie, it was usually the start to a job interview, not a date.
Unfortunately.
There had been countless opportunities for Casey to hint that he wanted a turn in front of the camera, but he’d never so much as made a joke about it. But that didn’t mean I couldn’t see the curiosity in his gaze when he looked at the models.
He was just so quiet about what he liked.
Most people, even ones who weren’t into the feminine clothes or in the lifestyle at all, had a thousand questions. Casey had never asked a single one. Had he talked to Lane about the panties that had caught his attention?
“What kind of food did you want?” Casey’s quiet question pulled me out of my mental wandering as we exited the building.
“There’s a good burger place down at the end of the block.” As I gestured, I looked around and tried to come up with some other alternatives. “There’s also a casual diner a few blocks that way. I know there are some other places, but those are the closest.”
I liked the way he thought about it for a moment before answering. He kept a firm grip on my hand as he thought, looking back and forth between the different directions. Casey finally glanced up at me, looking a little unsure. “Both the diner and the burger place sound good, but if you want to keep it casual, the diner would probably be best.”
I smiled and squeezed his hand. “Burgers it is, then.”
There was nothing casual about what I wanted from him.
Bitchycoworker is back, and he still asked for me!!
The fact that it made her insane might have made me just a little happier than it should have. She always bragged that she got the biggest clients but management guy asked for me. Yeah, I’m a terrible person, but that’s okay. I’ll freely admit to being happy that she’s miserable.
Did I tell you she took my lunch out of the fridge again? I know that’s small, but still, it’s petty. She’s such a bitch.
Okay, back to management guy. His voice makes me want to squirm, but since my cubicle isn’t private I had to keep still and look bored like everyone else. Do you think he could guess how crazy he makes me?
I want you to say yes, but I realize I’m nuts. He’s surrounded by all those confident men who seem to be able to do what they’re passionate about. A shy, awkward, slightly kinky accountant isn’t on his radar, but still…I got to hear his voice.
And it’s official…I’ve turned into a moody brooding teenager mooning over the hot guy.
On a more realistic note, I saw one of the models at the grocery store today. He was really polite and made a joke about how nice it was to meet me when he had all his clothes on. We’re going to get coffee later this week. No sparks or anything so I’m thinking it’s just as friends but that’s fine because I need to get out of the house more than I need to date.
Nine months until first date
