Page 51 of Getting Down to Business

Using the remnants of her willpower she reached under the table and removed his hand from her leg, placing it back in his own lap. While doing so she grazed something hard and swallowed.

They were in a business meeting for Christ’s sake. Her first meeting in her new position. She needed to pay attention, but for the life of her all she could do was wonder if she would be able to sneak into his office for a quickie.

When the meeting was over, neither of them moved. She thought Grayson might have a physical reason for not getting out of his chair. Gray’s friend Doug murmured something about playing with fire as he left the room.

“I shouldn’t have touched you like that in a meeting. I’m sorry.” His voice was low and serious. “You looked nervous and I only know the one way to make you relax. Though obviously that is not office-appropriate.”

“Are you really apologizing to me, or are you sorry because you can’t stand up right now.”

“Yes.” So both. She nodded. At least he was remorseful for his actions.

“I think it would be a good idea if we kept our distance at work,” she suggested.

“I agree to your terms.”

She nodded and stood.

“Liss?” When she paused he glanced up at her. “It’s now time for lunch, and we can make it to our place and back in an hour. Even if we have to fix your hair afterward.”

She swallowed and pressed her lips together to keep from smiling.

“Last one there has to do all the work.” And with that she headed straight for her office to get her purse while he laughed behind her.

* * * *

Chanda was working the early shift on Monday. The lunch crowd usually consisted of the up-and-comers from the business district. They wore expensive suits and were hideous tippers. No rounding up with this bunch. Oh. No. They could do the exact math in their heads.

She was heading over to a table of eight when she recognized one of the members of the group. She’d seen Doug in his work clothes many times, but not in his work demeanor.

He looked up from a serious conversation and his eyes flared in surprise as she walked closer. He looked away and then back at her, not meeting her eyes.

What was this?

Her heart fell as she slowly realized why he hadn’t greeted her with his usual smile. He was pretending not to notice her. Aside from the subtle headshake he gave her when she first approached, he wouldn’t even look at her. She took the headshake to mean, “Don’t.”

Apparently, sleeping with the wild Asian bartender with the lip ring was hot on the weekends, but not acceptable with his starched shirt colleagues.

She bit back the pain in her heart and forced a smile to the group.

“My name is Chanda. I’ll be helping you today. Can I start you off with some drinks?”

One by one, she went around the table taking everyone’s order, not needing to write it down. She never forgot. Doug asked for water with no lemon. She’d see about that.

A few minutes later, she returned with everyone’s drinks. Including Doug’s, which was stuffed so full of lemons there was probably only a half cup of water in the glass.

“Uh, thanks,” he said, looking at the glass in confusion.

Everyone ordered sandwiches or burgers except Doug who ordered a salad with no onions. She brought him a burger with extra onions.

It was obvious even to her she was being immature, but he’d hurt her feelings and giving him the wrong food made her feel slightly better.

“Thanks,” he said as she put it down.

“I thought you ordered a salad,” the guy next to him pointed out.

“This is good.”

“So much for that diet, huh?” the other man chuckled while elbowing Doug in the ribs. She’d thought he was better than this. She glared at Doug and headed back to the kitchen.