I glance up as my assistant pokes her head in my door. I don’t have time for this interruption with the mounds of work dogging my heels. “What is it?” I ask.

“Quinn’s downstairs at reception.”

I immediately think the worst. “Is everything okay? Is Quinn in trouble?”

“I’m sure she’s fine, boss. Calm down. Should I let her up? I know you’re busy—”

I shake my head. “I always have time for her,” I say, realizing that it’s true.

I stand and go to the mirror, running a hand over my hair, tucking any flyaways back into my coif. I straighten my tie and walk back to my desk.

I’ve reread the same document twice when I finally hear voices in the hallway. I get up and go to the door as it opens. Quinn stands on the threshold, face turned behind her as she smiles at my assistant.

“Thanks, Kelsey. It’s great to see—”

“Are you alright?” I interrupt, taking her hand.

Quinn turns to me. “I’m fine.” She slowly takes back her hand, then closes the door. “We need to talk.”

A lump takes up residence in my throat. “We need to talk” coming from a woman is the mark of death. I try reading her face but get nowhere. “How about we get comfortable first?” I suggest, motioning toward the couch.

Quinn nods, walks over, and takes the chair farthest from the couch.

We’re going from bad to worse here.

I settle into the couch and wait for her to say what’s on her mind, though I don’t have to ask to know what it is. Asking her live with me crossed the line, and now she’s here to break up with me, or—

“I’ve decided to live with you,” Quinn says.

“Really?” I say, letting my breath out. “Man, East, you really had me worried there…” I pause. From the way Quinn’s chewing her lip, maybe it’s not so great. “Are you okay?”

She shrugs.

“Are you sure you want this?”

She snaps her head up. “Yes. Why—have you changed your mind?”

“Not all,” I answer carefully, “but you sound like you’re telling me that my goldfish has died.”

“Oh.” Quinn crosses, then uncrosses her legs. “It was a hard decision, that’s all.”

I know. I’ve been waiting for her answer for four days.

“Why was it so hard?” I ask. “Seemed pretty clear-cut to me.”

“I’m still unsure what this means,” she says vaguely.

“What means?”

Quinn sighs. “You. Me. Us.”

“We’re…” I grasp for the right word “…friends.”

She drags her eyes to mine. “That’s what I’m afraid of.”

“Christ, am I really that annoying?”

“No! Well, yes…but I’m not sure how to act around you anymore.”

I smirk. “You mean after you propositioned me twice in one night?”

Her cheeks turn pink. “That may have something to do with it.”

“Don’t worry, East,” I say, leaning back and stretching my arms over my head. I smile as her eyes dart across my tight shirt. “I’m a handsome guy. It happens more than you think.” I wink at her, and she grimaces.

“Glad to see my fiancé is a modest man.”

She’s dropped the “fake.”

“In all seriousness,” I say, “you were drunk…it was late… It was a one-time thing.”

“I’m no so sure,” Quinn mumbles under her breath. My mind goes wild at that. “So, when should I move in?” she asks, changing the subject.

“Right now,” I say.

“Right now?”

“Why waste time?”

Quinn opens and closes her mouth.

“Exactly,” I say, satisfied.

“Wait a second,” she says, “I haven’t packed, for starters, and it’s the middle of a Thursday. Oh, and I don’t own a truck or car, nor have I reserved movers—”

I brush aside these obstacles with a wave of my hand. “Got it covered.”

“You do?”

“I’ll help you pack. You call out of work—this is your other job, East—I have a car, and Kelsey will schedule movers to come by this afternoon.”

Quinn gapes at me. My prowess at getting what I want tends to overwhelm, but when I see something I want, nothing stands in my way. Right now, I want Quinn in my penthouse.

“East?” I prompt. Quinn tilts her head down in what I interpret as a nod. “Great,” I say, already thinking of how to reshuffle my afternoon so I can get out of the office sooner. Kelsey is going to kill me.

I sigh. It’s times like these that make bringing on a partner sound tantalizing. I am coming around to the idea. I promised my father that I’d look into the list he so graciously sent over (unsolicited by me). But first, Quinn.

I smile to myself. I have a nagging suspicion that I’ll be saying that a lot more from now on. “How many movers?” I ask, glancing at her.

Quinn jumps in her seat. “What? Oh, um, I don’t know. You’ve seen my dinky place. You call it.”

Perfect. Just how I like it.

Quinn glances back at Kelsey’s now-empty desk. “Are you sure Kelsey’s going to be okay with helping me?”

“Of course.” I take out my cell and start putting together a list of things I need to get done before leaving today.

“You work her too hard, Stratton. I’m sure she’s got better things to do.”

“She’s fine,” I say distractedly. “She’d be glad to help.”

“I’d rather you ask her, not tell her. She barely knows me, and I doubt she’ll want to take time to help a stranger move.”

I put down my phone and study Quinn. She begins to fidget under my stare. “You really don’t know how you affect people, do you?”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

I stand up, walk to my desk, pick up my phone, and press Kelsey’s extension.

“What are you doing?” Quinn asks.

“You’ll see,” I say, waiting for Kelsey to pick up. It rings a few times, then forwards to her cell. I hit speaker phone when she picks up.

“Hi, boss,” she says.

“Where are you?” I ask.

“Getting coffee. Do you and Quinn want some?”

I look at Quinn, and she shakes her head. She mouths “be nice!” and I scowl. “No…but thanks,” I add. I’m rewarded by a pleased smile from Quinn. “I need you to book a moving company for this afternoon—make it four o’clock. They’ll need to pack, as well.”

Kelsey sighs into the phone. “Fine, boss, but I wish you told me you were moving sooner. I would’ve done this weeks ago.”

“It’s for Quinn.”

“Really?” Kelsey says, her voice lighting up.

“Really,” I repeat, smirking at Quinn. “We’re moving in together.”

Quinn and I jump as my assistant lets out a squeal. “Oh my God, that’s great news! I’ll totally help. Does Quinn have boxes and tape and packaging material? You know what? I’ll go ahead and order some. You can never have—”

“Kelsey,” I interrupt. “Just work out the details with Quinn before she leaves today.”

“Got it,” she replies, all business mode. “Does she need help? I’d be happy to take a half day.”

“No,” I say, loving the look on Quinn’s face. “I’ll be over there helping later today.”

“Right, so I need to order a truck and then move your schedule around.” Kelsey squeals again. “Thanks so much for asking me, boss!”

Kelsey clicks off. I meet Quinn’s wide eyes.

“She just…thanked you for more work,” Quinn says. She shakes her head. “That’s crazy.”

I shrug. “She likes you, East. Everyone likes you.”

Quinn gives me a look.

“I mean it. People instantly warm to you. It’s an impressive skill.”

She squirms under the compliment. “Well, it’s not on purpose. I don’t have an agenda with people.”

“Exactly. It’s effortless and genuine.” I lean back in my chair. “People in my line of work would pay good money to have what comes naturally to you.”

Quinn rolls her eyes. “Aw, you’re just buttering me up so I remember this later when we’re at each other’s throats over some mundane thing like—”

“What throw pillows match my curtains?” I finish for her.

“Exactly.”

“That’s a mundane conversation I’d cherish with you,” I state, making her blush. I turn to my computer and open my calendar. “I can probably get out of here by two o’clock, swing by my place to change, and then be there by three. Does that work?”

I look up when she doesn’t answer.

“What do I do with my apartment?” she asks, keeping her eyes on the floor.

“Uh, I hadn’t thought about it,” I admit.

“I know,” Quinn declares, getting up from her chair. She starts pacing. “Neither of us is thinking about this. Do I keep my place, sublet it, or get rid of it completely?”

I hadn’t thought about it because it never crossed my mind Quinn would go back to her apartment. Not if I have my way.

“It’s up to you,” I say, trying not to offer an opinion.

Quinn faces me. “But it’s not. How long are we going to stay engaged?”

Forever?

“Right after your father’s elected,” she continues, “or do we pretend things are going downhill for a little bit so it’s not such a surprise to everyone?” She comes back to my desk. “And do I live with you that whole time?”

“I don’t know, Quinn,” I say irritably. A knot is forming in my gut, and every hard question she asks twists it tighter.

Quinn takes the chair facing my desk. “I don’t either, but it’s questions like these that keep me up at night.”

It’s the thought of you that keeps me up at night.

Before I can answer, Kelsey bursts into my office. “Quinn!” she pants. “Glad you’re still here.”

Kelsey offers Quinn one of the to-go cups in her hands. “I got you a black tea,” she says, clutching her side. “You’ll need the caffeine for the packing party.”

“Did you run here?” I ask, taking in my assistant’s twisted skirt and wild hair.

“Kinda,” Kelsey admits, pushing her glasses up her nose. “I didn’t want to miss Quinn.”

Quinn shakes her head at my assistant. “Archer’s lucky to have you.”

I grunt, winning a peeved look from my fiancée. “See you after three,” Quinn says, heading for the door. “And thanks,” she adds, sending me a look that sends my pulse soaring.

I wait for the door to close before letting out all the air in my lungs. I’m not sure I’ve made the wisest choice asking Quinn to move in with me. Every touch, every look, every movement of those full lips sends my thoughts racing or straight to my pants.