Page 7 of Something Just Like This

Jonathan tousled the kid’s hair and beamed down. Cam puffed up. “Jonathan, I got a real red fireman’s jacket!”

“No way. How am I supposed to top what Chief gave you?” He scratched his head and tried to consider. “Don’t think I can, but at least I have this cool shirt.”

Cam stared at his fancy, long, wool coat, currently covering Jonathan up. “What shirt?”

He winked. “This one.” He unbuttoned his coat and flashed it open. Cam’s eyes widened, and he giggled, tugging at his father’s sleeve.

Alyssa saw the black T-shirt with the bright red logo F--- Cancer scrawled across the front. Paired with his fancy pants and dress shoes, he should have looked ridiculous. Instead, he looked cool. He shrugged off his outerwear and gave Cam’s parents high-fives. A murmur rose from the people surrounding him, and Alyssa caught the gentling of faces as they gazed at the current mayor and Cam together.

Bulbs flashed. It was a great moment meant for viewing and to increase votes. The thing was, Alyssa knew for a fact that Jonathan hadn’t done any of it for attention or the election. He’d been quietly visiting and supporting Cam and the family, along with dozens of other families he’d become close to during his research into childhood cancer. But she knew people would judge anyway, calling him out for making himself seem sympathetic to a hot cause when he’d just announced his run for governor.

Alyssa’s mind went over Jonathan’s mantra that he consistently repeated.

It’s not my business what other people think of me, but in this job, I have to at least be aware.

Balance was key. Already, he’d quietly buttoned his suit jacket back up over the shirt, handing his wool coat to his bodyguard, who pawned it off to his general assistant. He chatted with Cam’s parents for a while, gave the boy a pep talk regarding the sentences he’d practiced to utter into the microphone, then turned toward her.

His warm smile had faded, replaced by his business persona—a mix of professional yet friendly he consistently showed the world. She was used to it, but she couldn’t help it when her gaze probed, dove deep into piercing, ocean-blue eyes, and faltered.

A flash of sizzling heat zinged back at her.

“Where’s your date?” he asked.

She blinked. “Around. Why are you here?”

His shoulders lifted slightly. “Did my required time and made my appearance. Decided this was too important to miss.” His gaze narrowed. “This guy isn’t worth your time.”

Fascinated, she leaned a few inches forward. “Why?”

His jaw clenched. “Because he left you alone for too long. He should know better, Alyssa.”

“Mr. Mayor!” a voice rang out.

In a flash, Jonathan’s smile was back, his gaze once again guarded. “I need to speak to you after the party.” Then he was gone, swallowed up by the crowds. Her mouth fell half-open like a guppy, and a terrible, aching emptiness flooded her insides as if just the nearness of his body heat had filled her from within.

What the hell just happened?

She had no time to process because Paul materialized by her side. “Okay, networking done. You still officially on the clock, or can you take a break?”

Jonathan’s words still echoed in her ears. The sexy, almost commanding comment made her toes curl in her sensible shoes. Desperate to finally feel something with anyone but her boss, she determinedly linked her arm through Paul’s and forced a smile. “Yes, let’s take a walk and get a drink. I need a breather.”

He seemed pleased as he guided her across the room. The tall columns and stacks of books surrounding her bore silent witness to the lie she was already beginning to form. That maybe Paul would be the guy to get her to stop thinking about the mayor.

She hoped. But, unfortunately, she knew the answer already.

The guy was no threat.

At least, not yet.

Jonathan recognized his arrogant thought without flinching and realized that the relief unfurling in his gut was a sign. He’d watched them throughout the evening with eagle-eyed precision, searching for any intimate gestures. Oh, she’d touched the guy many times, causing a primitive surge of testosterone to rear its ugly head inside him, but there wasn’t even a hint of chemistry between the two. She hadn’t tipped up her head and treated him to that half-smile she flashed when she became amused. There was no adorable frown between her brows when she spoke, which told Jonathan that she wasn’t challenged by any of their conversations. She didn’t lean in when they stood side by side, and seemed more interested in doing her job than trying to build a connection.

The knowledge that he still hadn’t lost her shattered the last of his control. These past weeks, he’d been desperately fighting his growing need for more. The look on her face when she’d stared at him half-undressed hinted at a deeper attraction and emotion he’d never dreamt of. Was it possible she was just as good as he was at hiding her true feelings? They’d spent multiple late nights alone together. Constantly worked side by side. But he’d been ruthless about keeping any type of personal relationship separate. Dear God, in a way, he knew nothing about her. Not her parents or upbringing. Not her hopes and dreams or even if she had any. She kept herself locked behind a wall, refusing to give him anything. And for the past two years, it’d been exactly what he wanted.

Until now.

Every voice in his head screamed at him to back off. He’d been so careful to keep himself in check and avoid any type of romantic entanglements at work. Nothing good could come of opening Pandora’s Box. Even if they both copped to having an attraction, the pitfalls of this type of relationship were not merely stumbling blocks. They were complete dead-ends.

Yet…