I walked into work the next day with a smile on my face and a new kind of stride in my step. I was going to ask Eliza out to dinner. I had decided. I liked her. I mean I really, really liked her, in a way that was different from the women I usually fancied only casually. I didn’t just want her to think I was cool, or like my body and how I was in the bedroom, I wanted to spend time with her. I wanted to get to know her and be her friend as well.

 The way she had responded at the meeting yesterday was clue enough for me. Sure, she had rushed out of the room, but it wasn’t an escape, it was for the sake of decency, a good girl trying to hide an overwhelming rush of sudden arousal that she just was not used to, especially in a work environment. I had watched with careful eyes yesterday morning as she responded to my suggestions with her body…the way she bit her lip and censored her breathing, how she had touched her hands together and crossed her legs. She was at least interested in me sexually. But romantically? That was more of a long shot, as I thought back to the man in her Instagram photo. Who was he, anyways? Not that it mattered. This was Seattle. And Seattle was my city, and he wasn’t here.

 I sat down in the reception room for a moment to tidy up my briefcase when Kirk sat down next to me. Kirk was the top lawyer at Torver Corporation, and a real sweet guy, if not a bit of a nerd. He had recently started dating Marissa Hayes, one of our most prominent board members, and had been happy as a clam ever since. Which to be honest, was a little annoying sometimes. He and Johnathan and their girlfriends and their cuteness could be insufferable.

 “Hey man,” Kirk said, sitting down next to me.

 “Hey,” I said. “How are things?”

 “Pretty good.”

 “Good,” I said.

 “Hey um,” Kirk said, suddenly looking uncomfortable for a moment. “Marissa is a little concerned about you.”

 I scoffed. “She is? Why?”

 “Well,” Kirk said. “You know how protective women are of each other.”

 I stared at him confusedly. “Yes? And?”

 “Well, she’s concerned now that you and the new girl…Eliza Cameron, that is, are getting close, that um, maybe…”

 I was suddenly offended. “That maybe what?”

 Kirk winced. “That maybe you don’t have the purest of intentions with her?”

 I sighed. “Seriously, mate?”

 Kirk nodded. “No offense man, but you do kind of have a history…and a reputation.”

 “Yeah,” I admitted. “You’re right. But look, um—“ I paused, unsure of how much I wanted to confess to Kirk. “Eliza is different to me. She means something to me, something different.”

 Kirk smiled at me. “I’m glad.”

 “You tell Marissa I’ll treat her well, if I’m lucky enough to get the chance,” I said, getting up. “I promise.”

 “Good,” Kirk said, clearly relieved to have this awkward conversation his girlfriend asked for well over with. “See you later, Cassidy.”

 I waved Kirk goodbye as he headed to his office, and then decided to stay seated. Eliza and Sabryna usually arrived together any minute now, and I wanted to catch Eliza before the workday got into full gear.

 The door opened and I watched as Sabryna and Eliza walked in. As soon as Sabryna saw me there waiting, she smiled at Eliza and quickly scampered off to her desk, clearly intending to leave the two of us alone. I was convinced that she was rooting for the two of us for some reason, and I appreciated her support.

 “Eliza!” I said a little too quickly as she made her way in. “Good morning.”

 “Good morning,” Eliza said, clearly curious as to why I was sitting in the reception area by myself. She was wearing the same purple flowered dress she had worn that day in the supply closet, and frankly, she still looked absolutely stunning in it. Her hair fell down in brown curls around her shoulders, and a blush was high on her cheeks, despite it being so early in the morning.

 “So um,” I said, standing up and lowering my voice. “I was wondering if maybe you’d like to go out with me sometime. On a date. A real, proper date, I’ll bring flowers and everything.”

 “Really?” Eliza said, looking a bit flabbergasted, to be honest. “You’re asking me on a date?”

 “Are you so surprised?” I replied. “I would think men would request the pleasure of your company on the regular.”

 “No,” Eliza stammered, blushing and rolling her eyes. “I just…uh. I don’t know. I didn’t think you were interested in me like that.”

 “Like what?”

 “Like,” she paused, choosing her words delicately. “Like beyond the supply closet, you know what I mean?”

 “Ah,” I said. “I suppose Sabryna must have alluded to my um…reputation.”

 Eliza raised an eyebrow. “Maybe a bit.”

 “Well,” I said, moving closer to her and looking into her eyes intently. “I promise you that my intentions with you are…different. I really, truly, fancy you Eliza Cameron, and I want to spend time with you and get to know you better. What do you say?”

 Eliza blushed and looked down again, brushing her hair back behind her ear. She shot her head up with a smile and practically giggled. “Why not?” she said, shrugging. “It sounds nice.”

 “There will also be free food,” I added with a wink.

 “Well,” Eliza joked. “That’s the only reason I’m going, you know. I find you hideous and repulsive.”

 “Most women do,” I said with a sly wink.

 Eliza wrote her mobile phone number down on a slip of paper and put it in the palm of my hand with a smile on her face. “Text me when you have a plan,” she said, and sauntered off to her own office with that confidence that only sudden desirability can get you.

 “I will,” I said, indulging in a quick fist pump as she disappeared into the hallway. Our date was set.