Page 69 of Getting Down to Business

“You don’t have a car.”

“I used to. And I might want one again, if I had a safe place to park it.”

“They have a sizable budget for safety upgrades.”

“Good plan,” he agreed with a nod while leaning over the eggs on the stove, the slope of his back inviting her to lean up against him.

“It’s also convenient.” She hopped up on the counter next to him before laying out her plan. “They need to spend more money in advertising. I’m going to suggest they get the extra income by not going to trade shows. According to the data, they’re not getting enough of a return in that area.”

“But they will from advertising?” He sounded doubtful.

“I spoke with marketing and got a plan. If they spend it in key locations, it can pay off.” He nodded at this and they both went off to get dressed.

“So what locations?” he picked up the earlier conversation as they walked to work.

“I actually came up an idea that Diana in marketing loved. I’m thinking the subway. When you’re crammed in on the train, everybody wishes they had a car. I’m going to suggest some less expensive spots on the platform. Seeing that option day in and day out might make more of an impression than throwing their advertising dollars all over the place.”

“That’s a really good idea.” He held the door open and smiled.

There was something in that smile. Something comfortable. She nudged his arm with her elbow.

“Thanks for the coffee.”

“Thanks for the crappy toothbrush.” He winked as they got on the elevator and rode up together.

Grayson was good to his word. After their morning meeting, he came in her office to hear her presentation. He made comments and suggestions that were actually helpful.

“Maybe ease them into the new statement format in stages rather than dumping that on them right out of the gate. People like to feel as though they can trust someone before they’re open to change,” he suggested, taking it very seriously. “Well, most people like to trust someone. Maybe not you.” He gave her a wink.

“It’s not that I don’t want to trust someone. It’s more that I…can’t.”

“You trust me, right? I mean you moved in with me, trusting in the fact I wasn’t going to steal your stuff or hurt you.”

“You did steal my toothbrush.” She raised a brow.

“Still. There had to be trust there on some level.”

“Maybe,” she allowed reluctantly. “A very small level.”

“Whatever. I’m going to count it as an accomplishment.”

By lunchtime, Gray’s attention began to wane. He was no longer offering suggestions of the accounting nature, but was still offering suggestions in the naked department.

“Would you like to go home for lunch?” he whispered by her ear while she tried to type.

For a second, she let the joy of the moment envelop her. This was what she would have wanted. A man to support her ambitions as well as make her smile.

She took a breath and let that dream flow out of her as she exhaled and took the thing she could have. Sex.

“Sure. Let’s go.”

* * * *

“Let’s go out,” she said as they left work for the night.

“Out?”

“A club. Do you remember the place where you go to hang out with people and socialize?” Of course he remembered. He just didn’t see why he needed to go to a club when Alyssa lived with him. They could have a drink and socialize in the comfort of their own home.