Quentin strolled into the kitchen with a limp in one leg.

“You know you should really stay off your feet,” Cindy said.

“Why, because I’m a little banged up?”

“Um, yeah,” she said as a matter of fact.

“Nah, you know that’s not my style.”

“Right, because you’re inhuman.”

“Not at all. If I were, I wouldn’t need your help, now would I?”

Cindy grinned. “Point taken.”

“Thought so.”

Cindy eased around the kitchen comfortably in a pair of denim jeans that squeezed every curve in her shapely figure. The tiny tank top she wore barely covered her entire midriff while one of her spaghetti straps hung off her shoulder leisurely. Quentin had never thought for a moment that he would be considering firing her, but now that idea was a reality. Cindy had been his assistant for five years after he’d had to fire the previous one for trying to dictate his professional life after she’d gotten too comfortable in her position.

Cindy had been a breeze, and for a long time their relationship had been strictly professional. But there was that one lonely night when they were both at the office working late. She’d strolled in casually and perched her butt on his desk, giving him an all-knowing look. He should’ve let it pass, but the curiosity in him made Quentin take their professional relationship into a personal one, and they had sex not once but twice that night. That was two years ago. Within that time, their relationship had gone smoothly with neither one of them making demands or catching feelings. But still, from time to time, they would join each other for another night of boat rocking sex.

Now standing in the kitchen leaning against the counter, Quentin contemplated what he would tell her. They not only had a solid working relationship but a good friendship as well. Quentin squeezed the bottle of water and drank the rest of it. Trying to keep her around and be serious with Phoebe could be a mistake. Even though Cindy had never given Quentin a reason to believe she would grow an attitude if he became serious with someone other than her. It wasn’t like she didn’t know he slept with other women. And she had been just the same as if she didn’t care.

But it might not sit well with Phoebe. It was something he would ask. Quentin had every intention of being honest and open with Phoebe. Phoebe was who he wanted, and no one would come between that.

“What are you over there thinking?” Cindy asked.

“Wondering why you’re walking around with that lil shirt on as cold as it is outside,” he said.

Cindy smiled over at him. “It’s warm in here. I have my slippers on,” she said.

“Are you staying over?”

“Yeah, I thought you wanted me to.”

“That’s fine, just making sure.”

Cindy nodded and prepared their food.

“So, what’s up with you and Phoebe?” she asked casually.

“What do you mean?”

“She seemed a little apprehensive about me coming over today.”

“You think so?”

“Yeah. It was all in the way she said, forget all about what he said, I’ll be over to help him out,” Cindy mimicked. “There was definitely something there.”

“Does that bother you?” Quentin asked.

Cindy strolled across the room with two plates in hand. She sat one in front of Quentin and shrugged.

“I just don’t want to be the butt of an unknown joke.”

Quentin gave her a straightforward gaze. “Elaborate, please.”

“I just want to ask. Are we doing anything here? I mean, we’ve been mixing business with pleasure for some time now. Is this just our thing, should I be looking for more, or?”

Quentin was slightly taken aback, especially after his previous thoughts.

“Do you want more, Cindy?”

He was testing her of course, wanting to know if she was expecting more out of their friendship.

Cindy shrugged. “I want whatever you want.”

Quentin wasn’t sure if that was a proper answer.

“I like the way things are between us,” she added, “and when people decide to turn a friendship into a relationship, it never ends well.”

“You speak as if you’ve experienced this before.”

“Haven’t we all? You think because you get along with someone well for months or years that you could possibly make a perfect couple. Then when things go wrong, trust me, nothing is always good. Things will go wrong, and when they do, your friendship is ruined. Just like that.” She snapped her fingers.

“So all of that history you have with a person no longer matters if things don’t work out between the two?”

Cindy shook her head as she chewed and swallowed her jambalaya.

“It won’t make a difference how long you’ve known each other because the hurt or disagreement will be all that matters. It would ruin everything.”

The kitchen became quiet with only the soft clinging of utensils meeting the plate. Quentin stood across from Cindy eating his food and pondering her words. Pushing thoughts of him and Phoebe to the side, he refocused his attention and asked another question.

“So you’re cool with our arrangement then?”

“Yeah. Are you?”

Quentin exhaled a breath and took a sip of his water.

“Phoebe and I are dating,” he said frankly.

Cindy glanced up from her food.

“Phoebe Alexandria Rose?”

“That’s the one.”

“Wow.”

“Is it that surprising?”

“She just seems a little reserved, not really your type.”

Quentin raised a brow. “What’s my type, you?”

Cindy stared at him for a moment. “I just mean, she seems a little innocent and sweet. Not like the daring, long legged women you chase after.”

“Chase?”

“You know what I mean.”

“Yeah, I think I do.”

“What will you do with a sweet girl like her, huh?”

Quentin had a round of wicked things he wanted to do with Phoebe. But he wouldn’t share those thoughts with Cindy.

“Maybe you should tell me since you know it all.” He took a swig from another bottled water.

“Be nice,” she said.

Quentin choked on the liquid and limped to the sink to grab a paper towel. He cleared his throat hard and patted his chest.

“Are you all right?”

“You trying to kill me with your jokes,” he said gruffly.

“Who’s joking?”

“Am I mean, Cindy?” He turned back to her, and Cindy’s eyes covered his full physique from head to toe.

“Depends on the situation,” she said.

The kitchen grew quiet as Quentin could feel Cindy’s flirtation seeping out of her.

“You know, I think I’m a pretty standup guy. Everyone seems to think I’ll ruin her. What about all of my assets?”

Cindy smirked. “Awe, were your feeling hurt by that truth, Mr. Davidson?”

“So that’s how it is?”

Cindy shrugged. “All I know is whenever you’re feeling the need to loosen up; I’ll be around.” Cindy glided from the table, sauntering over to stand in front of him. “You’ve got something on your lip,” she said, leaning in to stick her tongue out. She licked up his chin to his mouth, and Quentin caught her arms just as she’d wrapped them around his shoulders.

Cindy gave him an odd look. “Is there something wrong?”

“I just told you I’m dating Phoebe.”

Cindy pulled back slightly. “Does that mean you’re celibate, too, because that would just be depressing.”

“Celibate?”

“I told you Phoebe’s a good girl, and she’s definitely an innocent.”

“And by innocent you mean virgin?”

“Ding!” Cindy said. “But do what you must. When you’re ready for some fun, you know where to find me.” Cindy turned around and sashayed to the kitchen sink with a sway in her hips and a whistle on her tongue.

Quentin reached to his chin and wiped her kiss with the pad of his thumb as a flash of their last rendezvous fled through his mind. It was true, he and Cindy had shared some heavy erotic times, and that might just be too big of a problem for his newfound relationship with Phoebe.