He allowed himself a small show of public affection as he rested his hand over hers briefly. “Yeah, it’s fine. Things have just been hectic this morning. Speaking of, I heard about the latest delay with the cameras. Are you still looking at finishing on Friday?”
“That’s the plan. I know you’re ready to have your office back,” she joked.
“I’m also ready to have you under me again. Is that also part of your plan?”
Mia took a sharp breath, looking completely floored by his comment. He had been a bit surprised when he said it out loud as well, but it was the truth. It had been far too long since they had been together and he could barely think of anything other than sliding into her hot body again. “Yes, that is a big part of my plan. I would love nothing better than to go back to your office and fulfill your fantasy of bending me over the desk.”
Seth felt his c**k harden at her provocative comment. She even had the gall to lick her lips in a slow, tortuous display. Fuck! It looked like the gloves were coming off. The next forty-eight hours were going to be a strain on his self-control, especially if Mia wanted to tease him. He had started a verbal wordplay with her that might just end up burning him. He discreetly adjusted himself under the table before telling her, “Be a good girl or Margie might see more than she bargained for this afternoon.”
Mia grimaced, saying, “Something tells me it wouldn’t offend her.”
“That’s an even more disturbing thought,” Seth groaned. “How about we try to keep it together until Friday night and then all bets are off?”
She ran her hand over his thigh for a brief moment before whispering, “Oh, you are so totally on.”
Chapter Ten
“You know that’s gonna cost you another lunch, right?”
Mia smiled at Kyle, as he walked toward her from his UPS delivery truck. They had long ago formed a relationship based on bribery and threats. She bribed him with food and he threatened to leave her shipment until last if she didn’t. She loved him and his wife, Sandy, to death. Since he made daily deliveries to Danvers, she saw him more than she saw her own family. Despite their kidding around, she knew that when she was under a time crunch, he would make her his first stop of the day. Truly, he was the one man who had never let her down. “Wow, I was going to spring for dinner, but if you are going to let me off with just lunch, hey, I’m not arguing.”
Kyle raised his brow saying, “Dinner? Boy, this must be an important delivery. It’s not that I’m complaining about the usual Taco Bell, but I wouldn’t say no to a steak every once in a while.”
She staggered back dramatically like the thought was killing her, but she made a mental note to get him and Sandy a gift certificate to somewhere fancy, maybe even the Oceanix Resort. “I’ll see what I can do since once again, you are saving my ass.” In truth, she wanted to break out her victory dance. Getting the delivery of cameras first thing that morning ensured that they were going to be able to wrap things up a day earlier as she had hoped. Everyone on the team would be thrilled. Several had put off their vacations when the install ran later than planned. She waved as Kyle backed away from the loading dock. The shipping department was used to her running down to check shipments when she was expecting a delivery. They had even made her Employee of the Month for their department once because she usually stayed to help them sort the boxes before she went back to her office.
She ran into Hank coming out of the break room. He had a donut in one hand and a Diet Coke in the other. He saw her smirking at the combination and said, “There is no reason to add insult to injury, kid. When I go to the gym after work, I’ll only have to work the donut off. So, how are we looking at the Oceanix? We on schedule to finally get the hell out of there tomorrow?”
Mia wiggled her eyebrows and said, “I’ll give you one better, boss; we should be done today.”
He finished chewing his bite of the powdered-sugar treat before saying, “No shit, that’s good. Who did you have to bribe to accomplish it this time?”
She chuckled and said, “You know I never reveal my sources. As soon as I have Danny load the boxes in the van, I’ll be on my way.” She felt herself blush when she asked, “Um . . . are you okay with me taking a personal day off on Friday if there are no problems on the job?”
When Hank looked down at his shoes, she knew that the reason for her request wasn’t lost on him. Shit, how embarrassing. For all she knew, Seth had something important going on Friday and wouldn’t be able to spend the day in bed as she was hoping. It never hurt to be prepared though, right? She never took all of her vacation or personal days so she had plenty to work with.
“Sure, no problem. You better get going if you are going to finish today, though.” Her mouth dropped when he threw over his shoulder, “Give Jackson my best.” Yeah, the reason for her request hadn’t escaped him at all. Oh, well, a little embarrassment was well worth a day of Seth . . . naked.
***
Seth had cursed at his desk when he realized that he would have to miss lunch with Mia. He was scheduled to meet with the bank to discuss the possibility of building another Oceanix in Myrtle Beach. There was easily enough tourism and local traffic to support a second location. He was friends with his banker, Miles Keaton, which was not good when you wanted to keep a meeting brief. After meeting in his office at the bank for an hour, they were now settling down to lunch at a nearby bistro. He had already let Margie know that it would be the afternoon before he would be back in the office and he had asked her to let Mia know as well.
He had also failed to cancel his dinner date with Ashley. She had texted him earlier to let him know that she was picking up the ingredients for spaghetti and would be cooking for him at the penthouse tonight. She knew that was one of his favorite meals and after all of her trouble, he hadn’t been able to bring himself to cancel on her. After all, they were friends first and foremost. He had alternated between feeling like he was cheating on Mia for having dinner with Ashley and feeling pissed at himself. They had had sex once. There was no relationship. Sure, he was going to see her again tomorrow night, but there was nothing exclusive between them. Maybe he needed to see Ashley to drive that point home. This thing with Mia was messing with his head and he was tired of it. He didn’t want to feel anything for her other than lust. Sex was something he understood, and the sooner things were back on that track, the better. Maybe Ashley’s visit couldn’t have come at a better time.