Colton

“Yep. Great. Okay.” I try to quicken the call with my agent by one-word answering him, but he doesn’t take the hint.

By the time we finally hang up, I’ve wandered all the way to the emergency exit door past the restrooms. I turn around and return to the main room of the restaurant, only to find that my lunch companion has fled the premises.

“Christ.” I rub my hand down my face in frustration. “Skylar, you are driving me damn near mad, sweetheart.”

I sit down and finish my sandwich in two minutes.

And then I head for my car. I’ve got a certain white pants suit that’s been dying to be returned to her sexy owner. And I happen to be right by her place of employment.

---

Skylar

I’m back at my desk, still trying to catch my breath after my near-jog back to work, when my phone pings.

I think I’m getting the hang of your MO.

I stare down at my phone, trying to decipher Colton’s message. I can’t tell if he’s pissed off, or just trying to humor me.

Before I can come up with a response that makes me look like less of a jerk, my phone rings.

“Jackass” flashes on the screen. I take a deep fortifying breath, and then I force myself to answer.

“Hey,” I say. “I’m so sorry for leaving like that…again.”

A low chuckle greets me on the other end of the line. “Sparky, I swear to God, you’ve given new meaning to the word ‘run.’ Do you always take off without thinking first?”

Relief washes over me at his understanding. “At first, yes. And then I pretty much hit the panic button and it’s full steam ahead.”

“How’s your panic now?” His tone gentles. “Are you up for a visitor?”

I automatically glance toward my partially-open door. “Are you in the building?”

“Just outside. I won’t come in if you don’t want me to. I actually wanted to return your clothes to you. They were in my car.”

“Oh.” Of course he doesn’t want to actually see where I work or anything. Why would he, after the way I just treated him? “Right. Of course you can come inside. I’ll just meet you in the lobby and bring you up.”

“I’ll be waiting.” He clicks off.

As I stand up from my desk, I slam my knee into the corner of a half-open drawer.

“Ouch!” I hobble around my desk and to the doorway, where I proceed to bang my head into the wall on my way out.

“Crap!” I stumble down the hall and toward the elevator bank.

“What’s wrong?” Ted and Angie are passing me, and both give me a quizzical look.

I wave them off. “Just ran into my desk. I’m fine. I’ll be right back.”

The elevator doors open and I dive inside, pressing the lobby button.

Colton’s standing outside the revolving glass doors. He’s got a garment bag over one arm, and he looks as hot as he did fifteen minutes ago. I wave him inside.

His eyes assess me as he steps into my building. “You all right?” he asks me.

“I’m fine. I might have had a small run-in with my desk. And then I met a wall on the way down here.” I greet the security guard and ask him for a guest pass for Colton.

While we’re waiting, I gesture to the garment bag in Colton’s arm. “Thanks so much for bringing that by,” I say.

“No trouble. I’ll carry it up to your office for you.”

After the guard hands Colton his pass, we ride the elevator up to the ARTWAVE floor.

My nerves are jittery as I walk with Colton to my office, and show him inside.

“It’s tiny,” I say quickly as he looks around. “But I love having the privacy to shut my door.”

“You’ve got a nice big window, too,” he says, glancing out at the neighboring buildings.

“The window is great,” I agree, awkwardly tapping my foot against the desk leg.

He shoves his hands in his jeans pockets and faces me straight on. “You should be damn proud of yourself, Skylar,” he says, his expression serious. “I’m happy you’re letting me see inside your world for a minute.”

“I’m happy you’re here,” I whisper, and the air around us thickens like it always seems to when Colton and I share space.

Colton takes a step closer to me, his cheeks flushing. I can’t break the eye contact, and I shift toward him.

A horn sounds outside, tempering the sexual tension threatening to take over the room. I hurriedly take the garment bag from him and hang it on the back of my door. Before I can decide if I should invite him on a tour of the department, Ted strolls by the open doorway.

His eyes bug out when he spots Colton standing in the middle of my office. I can’t blame him, really. With his football body and striking blond hair, Colton stands out anywhere, but he truly looks too big for this small space—his biceps alone take over the room.

“Hello, Mr. Wild.” With no invitation from me, Ted strides into my office with a huge smile on his face. “So nice to see you again. Keeping dry this time, I hope?”

I glare at him, but he only has eyes for Colton.

Colton’s lip twitches. “I try, but Skylar’s good at getting me wet.”

Oh, my God.

I swat at him with my hand. “No dirty talk! We’re in my place of employment.”

Colton winks. “What was dirty about that?”

Forgetting we have an audience, I grab a fistful of his sweatshirt and pull him closer to me. “You know what I mean.”

He inclines his head so we’re nearly at eye level. “No, I’m not sure. Tell me what you mean.”

I’m so close to him now I can smell his aftershave. That was a mistake.

I jump backward, only to land on Ted’s foot, because Ted has moved closer to the action, so he can get a good view.

I step away from both of them, but Ted’s mouth has curved into a stunned “o” as he gasps.

“You”—he points at Colton—“and you”—another point at me—“are you two—”

“No!” I say immediately, as Colton breaks into a laugh. “We aren’t.”

Ted tilts his head and stares at both of us. “You guys make one hot couple,” he finally says. “I don’t know if you’re just fucking, or actually dating, but…”

“Ted.” I nod at the door. “Go.”

“Sure thing.” He extends his hand to Colton, who shakes it. “Did Sky invite you to our annual FUN party tonight?”

“No,” I say immediately. “I didn’t. That’s for station employees only.”

“Not true,” Ted says. “At our last staff meeting, Glenn said the more the merrier. Remember? He said to bring significant others, kids, friends.” He scans Colton’s body. “Lovers, too, of course.”

I cross my arms over my chest. “Colton’s busy tonight.”

Colton glances from me to Ted. “I appreciate the invitation,” he says. “If my evening frees up, I’ll be sure to drop by.”

“Cool,” Ted says. “We’re hanging at the Santa Monica pier; come and act like a kid again with us. Ride the Ferris wheel, eat crap food, if you’re allowed during the off-season, and engage in general debauchery.” He salutes Colton, sticks his tongue out at me, and departs.

I close my office door, leaning my back against it wearily. “Sorry about that. Ted’s amazing out in the field, but when he’s inside these walls, his professionalism goes right out the window.” I bite my thumbnail as I look at Colton. “So you’re busy tonight?”

Colton doesn’t take his eyes off me. “Sounded like you wanted me to be busy.”

My attention drifts to his mouth—to those full lips that manage to be both soft and masculine at the same time. I return my gaze to his eyes. “I—are you saying you’re free?”

His dimple makes an appearance. “I might be.”

“Oh, really?” I don’t miss the way my voice rises flirtatiously. “Well, maybe I’d like to see you.”

“At your work party?” His eyes scan my face. “Are you sure?”

“Did you tell Ted you were busy because you thought that’s what I wanted?”

He reaches out and tugs at a strand of my hair. “Yes,” he says simply.

My chest clenches. “Thank you, Colt. That was really sweet of you. When Ted invited you, at first I didn’t think I wanted to spend time together in front of my work colleagues.”

“I understand.”

“But then…”

His blue eyes get bluer. “Then…”

“I changed my mind.”

He licks his lips.

God, that’s distracting.

“So you want me to go with you tonight?”

I kick at the desk leg and avert my gaze. “Yes. If you’d like to.”

Before I realize what’s happening, he’s crowded into my space and has lifted my chin with his thumb and forefinger. “I want to be anywhere you are, Sky.”

My skin ghosts with goose bumps.

“What time should I pick you up?” Colton’s mouth gets closer to mine.

“Um…” Now I’m forgetting how to talk. Or even what his question was.

His mouth lands on mine.

And nothing exists but him. I fist his sweatshirt and let out a moan as I tug him closer to me. He pulls my body flush up against his, his hand going to the curve of my ass. He tastes like mint, and his tongue is gentle but insistent. And I’m all in. I part my lips, taking as much as I give.

I needed a reason to get close to Colton again physically. After four weeks apart, I had built up my walls. But the way he always puts me first breaks me down in all the best ways. Rather than using Ted’s invitation to his advantage, Colton let me choose what I wanted, giving me hope that not all men are manipulative assholes.

He exhales heavily as he pulls away. “I honestly didn’t mean to show up here and make out with you in your office. I don’t want to get you in trouble.”

I smooth my shirt. “You didn’t. But you’re right. I should probably get back to work.”

I tell him I’ll text him later about what time tonight.

He gives me one last quick peck, opens the door, and he’s gone.

My hands are shaking as I return to my desk and sink into the chair. A second chance with Colton Wild? I don’t know what I did to deserve this, but I really hope I don’t screw it up. Because I’m not ready like he is. I know myself too well. I need to make sure I continue to keep things slow-paced enough that I don’t run again. Keeping things slow and steady with Colton Wild almost feels like it goes against the laws of the universe. Getting together in a group setting tonight feels like the perfect start.

But I’m going to stay in the friends zone with Colton tonight. No kissing. No writhing against him. No rated R touching. Just friends.