Page 2 of Devil In A Suit, Vol. 3

Chapter 2

I returnto the office with a spring in my step and new energy to don my armor. And when Jared returns from his lunch meeting, striding through the door on his long, muscular legs, I manage to not even look him up and down as he passes me. The effort it takes to remain professional and in control is still difficult as always, but I remind myself that it was Jared who made it clear that this is what he wanted.

Finally, I’m taking the hint and letting go.

But just a few hours later, I’m sitting at my desk, watching the clock tick closer to five, and starting to get nervous. Every day these last few weeks I’ve been working my ass off, which has meant staying as late as Jared, almost as if we’re in some kind of game of office chicken. But tonight I’m leaving at five on the dot. For a date. With Alec.

At 4:45, my cell phone rings. It’s Janet.

“Hey, I have tickets to the Sox game tonight. They’re terrible seats, but they were free, so who cares. You up for hot dogs and beer?”

I roll my eyes. Janet hates sports and all they stand for, but that conviction is only overshadowed by her love of trash food. And ballparks are nothing if not meccas of nachos and corn dogs and cotton candy, which I happen to know are three of her favorite food groups.

“Can’t. I’ve got plans,” I say. I glance over my shoulder, but Jared’s door is still closed.

“Ooooh, plans with the Sex God?”

I cringe. “Nope. No more Sex God.” I keep my voice low. The very last thing I need right now is for Jared to hear about the nickname that’s developed between me and my best friend.

“Damn. Don’t tell me he turned out to be a Sex Dud.”

Hardly, I think, but I don’t want to get into it, especially not here, with the Sex God himself just one closed door away.

“It’s complicated, which is why it’s best that it’s not happening,” I say. “I’m going out with another guy.”

“Ok, well I expect details. But if you call me before 9pm, you’ll have to be prepared to yell over the drunken shouting of a bunch of angry sports fans.”

“You know you’ll be my first call,” I assure her.

I hang up, and then I heart footsteps and see Jared approaching.

As if he knows.

I feel a chill as I wonder just how much he overheard.

“Staying late tonight?” he asks, though there’s very little question in his tone. I can tell it’s bordering on an order, but he’s trying to keep it even.

“Actually no,” I say. “I’ve got plans.”

As if on cue, the elevator doors slide open and Alec steps out. His suit jacket is folded over his arm, the sleeves on his white dress shirt rolled up, and his royal blue tie is already loose at his neck. He smiles as he steps into the lobby.

“Hello Mr. King,” Alec says. I try not to wince at how young he sounds, like a kid brother. Or an intern. He doesn’t wait for Jared to respond, perhaps because history and practice have shown him that Jared has very little to say to those below him. Instead he turns to me. “You ready to go?”

I chance one small glance back at Jared, who now looks to be fully glowering, though he’s trying his best to control it. Only a person looking closely, who knows his body well, would be able to detect the clenching of his jaw, the vein in his neck, and the way his biceps jump.

And boy do I know that body well.

But I choose not to linger on that thought or on him. Tonight is about moving past Jared King. So I gather my bag.

“I think I’m ready,” I reply.

“I thought we’d hit up this new burger place in Cambridge, assuming you don’t mind a train ride,” Alec says.

A snort comes from behind me, but when I turn I see only Jared’s back as he disappears behind his slammed office door.

“He never changes, does?” Alec whispers, his head cocking in the direction of the office door.

I shake my head. “No,” I say. “No he does not.”