Carter was screwed.

Leticia, the smoking hot one-night stand from Friday, his first one-night stand in… well, ever, was apparently his boss.

Well, damn.

She was as beautiful as he’d remembered, perhaps even more so now that he could see her properly put together and in the light of day. Her thick hair that he’d loved gripping Friday night was now curled into thick ringlets that fell down her back. She was wearing only light makeup, enough to highlight her dark, warm eyes. Instead of a skimpy, clingy dress, she was wearing a plaid vintage dress with dark leggings and wedge booties. It made her look adorable and sexy all at the same time.

But now, he wanted to shove her against a wall all over again. Peel those layers off of her. Tug on that hair. See if he could smudge her makeup and suck some bruises into her creamy skin.

Carter straightened his shoulders. No. He was not going to do that. He was going to be professional. A one-night stand didn’t mean that Leticia was still attracted to him in any way or that she still wanted to sleep with him. And a relationship with his boss… well, even if Molly wasn’t a factor to consider, a workplace romance was probably a bad idea on several levels. What if he fucking screwed it up? This job paid well and got him unfettered access to the beautiful art that he loved. Nothing against his former job, of course—he’d loved opening kids’ minds to art—but this was where his heart really was. He didn’t want to jeopardize that. And God forbid he misstep and get hauled in for workplace harassment.

“Mr. Horowitz told me a bit about what this job would entail when he interviewed me,” he said, “And I’m sure he showed you my resume, but I was hoping you could take some time and tell me about what you’ll expect from me?”

Leticia took a deep breath. Perhaps she, too, was trying to tamp down on any kind of attraction. It was both dangerous and comforting to think that she might still be just as attracted to him as he was to her. “Right. Yes. Follow me?”

It’s good to see you again, Carter wanted to say. He kept his mouth shut instead and nodded as Leticia indicated that they start walking.

Leticia started talking about the art and how she had it all laid out, and what art they weren’t allowed to move, and how they chose the temporary exhibits for the contemporary art. Carter found it hard to concentrate.

What were the odds that the woman he’d randomly met at a club, the one he’d had sex with… out of the entirety of Pittsburgh, was his boss? What were the chances of that? Was it some kind of sign? Or was the universe just laughing at him especially hard right now?

It was almost like somebody was mocking him for deciding to try dating again.

Unless this was a sign that Leticia was the person that he was supposed to be dating.

Nope, nope, way too many ways that could blow up in his face.

Leticia kept talking, but he could hear the determined undertone in her voice and suspected that she was working just as hard to keep things professional as he was. Finally, she stopped and let out a huff of frustration.

“Everything okay?” He asked.

“The guy I slept with on Friday is now my assistant,” Leticia said. “How would you feel?”

“I’m not sure. How would you feel if the woman you slept with on Friday was now your boss?”

Leticia laughed. Carter could feel a band of tension around his chest loosen up a little bit.

“Look, I have no idea what to do with this, either,” he admitted. “Maybe… we can just try and keep things professional? I’m sure we’re not the first two people who’ve ever dealt with something like this.”

Leticia nodded, sobering up. Her forehead puckered in a way that was kind of adorable. “I agree. I really love this job, and I’m sure you want to keep yours. I’d hate for things to get awkward.”

“I’m glad to hear it.” Carter breathed out a slow sigh of relief. “So, tell me about the museum.”

Leticia seemed equal parts relieved and excited, smiling up at the artwork around them. “My pleasure.”

Her face lit up as she talked, her passion clear in the way her hands flew around animatedly, a smile flickering constantly at the corners of her mouth. He’d known that whoever his new boss would be, they had to know a lot about art. He was glad to see that Leticia was passionate about it as well.

She was even more beautiful than that night, he thought, now that he was able to observe her in the light of day. She looked just as much in her element here in the museum as she had in the club. Confidence oozed from every one of her pores.

Dammit. When he’d decided that it might be time to start dating again, he hadn’t meant that as permission to keep being attracted to his coworker. No, not just his coworker—his boss. He really wanted this job and he couldn’t let anything jeopardize it. He was just going to have to find a way to deal with it.

It had to go away eventually, right?