Simon

I had a tough time with apologies. They showed weakness, in my opinion. Although I was unhappy that Peyton felt the way she did, I wasn’t sure I was sorry for my actions. They’d served to keep Tom from suspecting anything. However, I did regret this entire situation.

As I drove away from her house, I realized the biggest regret was that I wouldn’t get to see her again outside of work. Something that had such potential had instead completely ended. There’d been no choice. I didn’t mix business with pleasure. For the first time, though, I found myself wishing I could.

By Friday, I’d seen her twice. Both times in meetings and in front of others. I’d been professional and brief, trying in vain not to notice how beautiful she was. Or to recognize how much I missed her laughter. I did observe her late hours along with Jeff’s lack thereof. Not that we were at the interview stage, but I did make a point to take note of people’s habits. You could teach a lot of things, but work ethic wasn’t one of them.

When I looked at the clock turning six, I was well aware that, if things had been otherwise, I would’ve been anxious to get out of the office and pick her up for a second date. I glanced over at Emma who stood in my doorway, her laptop bag in hand.

“I’m heading to the hotel. Uber is waiting outside.”

“Okay.” I’d probably be here awhile yet. Now that we knew the initial discovery work had been completed and the audit thus far had turned up no red flags, we were proceeding towards the end goal of a purchase agreement. So long as the audit cleared by the end of next week, we’d then proceed with the staff interviews.

“I’m getting my own wheels this weekend. Figured it might be fun to try my hand at driving. By the way, Tom left for the airport an hour ago. But Peyton is still here.”

My heart beat faster with the mention of her name. “How do you know?”

“She sent me an email two minutes ago saying she’d have the last remaining items to me by eight.”

Since Friday was the deadline, I shouldn’t have been surprised she was working late, but what did surprise me was how guilty I felt about it.

“I should probably just let her work.”

Emma’s expression softened. “But you want to go down there. Text me if you want me to place an order for some food. I have options for Asian, Tex-Mex—whatever the hell that is—and Italian.”

With her last words, she was out the door, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

 Fuck. I wanted to see Peyton. Find out how she was holding up this week. If I did, would I be able to stay unbiased? Was I now?

I worked for ten more minutes and then cursed out loud. I could have a simple conversation to ask her how it was going. No harm in that. We could be friendly. No fault in that, either.

I made my way downstairs and didn’t see anyone else on the Maddox Consulting floor. As I walked towards her office, thankful I’d received a floor layout to locate it, I could see her light on. Her door was not quite closed. I knocked and heard her call out.

“Come in.”

She glanced up from her computer screen, surprise evident on her face. “Oh, hello.”

“Hi.”

She was wearing glasses and couldn’t have looked sexier in them.

“I emailed Emma to let her know I just about have everything. Only three more items.”

I shut her door, giving us privacy. “I noticed you’ve been working late all week.”

“Yes, well, with so many items on your list plus my regular day job, it’s been busy.”

It was said without heat, matter of factly, but it still bothered me.

“You could’ve asked for an extension.” Most people did. And most of the time, I’d give a day or two. I wasn’t completely heartless.

“I could’ve. I didn’t.”

I sensed there was some pride behind her words. “You wear glasses?”

“Yeah. Sometimes. They’re computer screen glasses. Supposed to help your eyes.”

“You look—I mean do they work?” I’d been about to call her adorable.

She shrugged. “Seem to.”

“How late will you be?”

“Another hour most likely.”

There was the unfamiliar feeling again. Guilt. “What about Cooper?”

“My brother-in-law picked him up. Cooper’s staying the night with the girls.”

I hated the way our conversation was so stilted now. Unnatural. “Have you eaten?”

She studied me as if trying to figure out my motive. “No. Not yet.”

“I could order something in. Or at least ask Emma to. You okay with Italian food?”

“Yeah. Sounds good. Thanks.”

I went back upstairs and sent a message to Emma to order. When I received a text that the delivery was in the lobby, I went down to fetch it from the delivery guy. Grub in hand, I went back up to her office.

“Food’s here.”

Peyton was in the exact place I’d left her twenty minutes ago. She glanced up but didn’t move.

“Thanks. I have one remaining item I need to finish. But I’m not sure how you want the deferred revenue schedules.”

I set the bag down and walked around her desk to see the Excel sheet up on her screen.

She pointed. “If you look here, I have the column for the full amount, then each month and the deferment schedule. Then if it’s recurring, I have it colored coded by year.”

My gaze focused on what she was showing me. However, my body was reacting to being so near to her. Hunched down over her shoulder and inches from her face.

“Do you mind if I take a closer look?”

“Nope.” She slid out of her chair, allowing me to sit and take over the mouse. I couldn’t help noticing her desk was a complete disaster with paper everywhere. I tried not to let the clutter make me twitch. The light floral scent of her was a nice distraction.

I clicked through her spreadsheet and saw how her deferment schedule for revenue was laid out. I might not be an accountant, but I knew numbers. This was an impressive way of keeping track. “This doesn’t come out of the financial system?”

“Unfortunately, our accounting software is ancient. Which means we have to keep track manually in Excel and upload the deferments each month. There are less than forty, but if the number grows, it’d be best to invest in a better accounting system.”

“This looks good. Your last one?”

“At least until the questions and walk through starts on Monday. I don’t suppose you have someone other than Tom I’d get to deal with?”

“You’re in luck. We have a forensic accountant named Lyle who’s coming on Monday. He’ll be the one you’ll work with. Tom supervises him but doesn’t get his hands dirty in the details.”

“Thank God.” She smirked as she watched me gaze over her desk, piled high with folders and papers.

“Is my mess making you uncomfortable?”

“No. It’s fine.”

“Uh-huh. I can practically see you organizing it all in your mind.”

I grinned as I’d been doing just that. “How can you possibly find anything?”

She shrugged. “It works for me. It might look like chaos, but I can locate everything.”

“If you say so. Did you unblock my number?” For some reason it bothered me to no end that she’d done so.

Her lips twitched. “Did you want me to?”

“Yes.” I didn’t elaborate.

“I unblocked you the other night,” she admitted.

“Good.” It was silly, but I suppose I needed to know the connection was available again.

“Emma seems nice.”

I stood up to give her the chair back and, in the process, realized how tight was the space behind her desk. “Only with people she likes. The population is small.”

She moved closer to her chair, making us now mere inches apart. “Guess I should feel lucky. How long have you worked together?”

“Eight years.” I should have scooted past her. She backed up to the wall in order to give me room. But instead I stood rooted to the spot.

“She’s very beautiful.”

My hand moved as though it had its own agenda, cupping her face. “I think of her like a sister. She feels the same.”

“So there’s never been anything between the two of you?” She winced. “Sorry. That wasn’t an appropriate question.”

I answered anyway. “No. Nothing.”

Before I could think about consequences or the fact we were in her office, I closed the small gap between us, my mouth crashing down on hers. Gone was the slow burn from our first kiss, and instead, it was an explosion. As if we’d both been starving for the taste of one another over the last few days. She parted her lips, allowing my tongue access to claim her fully.

My hands moved to her ass, lifting her up while I turned to place her on the desk, scattering paperwork in the process. When I stepped between her thighs, she took the opportunity to wrap her legs around my waist, pulling me into her center. Deepening the kiss, I wanted nothing more than to sink deep inside of her.

But then, suddenly, the vision of fucking her on this desk, in the same office where a multi-million-dollar deal was in the balance, had me panicking. Pulling myself away was a monumental effort. One I forced myself to do.

I put my forehead against hers as both of us fought to control our breathing. I spoke first. “I didn’t mean for that to happen.”

“I kind of figured.”

I stepped back, giving her my hand to help her scoot off her desk and then bending down to fetch the scattered papers on the floor. “It can’t happen again.”

When I rose up, I could see temper flickering in her eyes as she straightened out her dress. “Got it. Thanks for dinner, but I think I’ll send this last schedule and get home.”

The prize of biggest arse on the planet now belonged to me. I’d come down here without agenda, but I hadn’t been able to keep my hands off her. “Let me help you straighten the papers.”

I bent down to pick up three more sheets and handed them over.

“I’m good. Just leave it and go, please.”

It pained me to do so, but undoubtedly, she wanted me out.

“At least take your dinner home with you.”

She took her seat, eyes already fixed on her computer and clearly trying to avoid mine. “Okay. Thanks.”

“Peyton, look, I didn’t mean—”

She held up a hand. “You made that very clear. Have a good night, Simon.”

“Good night.”

I was annoyed with the situation and especially with myself. I didn’t lose control. I took it. And I most definitely didn’t break rules. Especially sacred ones such as not kissing a woman I needed to interview.