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Tiana pulled her face back, her bright brown eyes sparkling as she gave Sam a cocky, teasing look. Then the wide grin grew mischievous before she dipped her head down and kissed her.

Sam smiled, laughing through the kiss that she also half-expected.

A moment later, Tiana pulled back, unhooking her legs as Sam lowered her to the ground.

She shrugged, her arms dropping, but still holding onto the sides of her t-shirt. “I missed you,” she said with a wide smile. “I couldn’t wait.”

“Right,” Sam replied with a laugh, shaking her head. “I thought you were staying in Dallas for another month?”

Tiana gave her a teasing push. “Dallas got boring quick. I was ready to come home.”

Sam snorted, reaching down to pick up her backpack. “Everywhere is boring to you after a couple months.”

“Exactly,” Tiana replied with a smirk, crossing her arms over her tight sky blue tank top. “Which means it was a perfect time to come back here for a little while.”

Sam smiled as she rolled her eyes.“Of course it was.”

Tiana laughed, lightly shoving her shoulder. “Oh, don’t act like you’re not ecstatic to see me.”

Caleb cleared his throat as he turned the corner toward them.

Sam shook her head, giving him a semi-apologetic smile. “Caleb, this is Tiana.”

Tiana wrapped an arm around her waist, leaning her head into Sam’s shoulder. “Old friends.”

Caleb nodded slowly, raising one eyebrow as he gave Sam a questioning look.

“Sort of grew up together,” Sam elaborated. “We were in the same foster home for a while.”

“Oh,” Caleb replied with a small nod.

Tiana laughed and Sam watched his professional demeanor finally begin to soften, the way people always did around her warmth.

She glanced around the office. “So if this company is such a big deal, why do you have like zero people working?”

“Most are working remotely,” Caleb answered before Sam could.

Tiana nodded. “Well, could you use one more amazing employee in the office?” she asked, shooting Sam a broad grin.

Sam smirked, shaking her head as she caught the slightly horrified look Caleb threw her way. “How did I know that question was coming?”

“Because,” Tiana replied with a coy smile, “you know I’d be the best hire you could ever get. Really, I’d be helping you out.”

Sam chuckled. “That’s so kind of you.”

She glanced back at Caleb, who gave her a look that saidabsolutely not.

“It’s his call,” she said, nodding toward him. “He does the hiring.”

But before Tiana even looked back at him, Sam already knew how it would end up. When she wanted something, most people couldn’t resist her charm.

To his credit, Caleb kept his usual tough demeanor in place for at least a few seconds before finally giving in.

He loosed a breath, tilting his head back in defeat. “Fine.”

Tiana smiled widely, turning back to Sam as she pushed up onto her tiptoes and pressed a quick kiss against her cheek. “Thanks.”

She pulled away and ambled back to the desk she’d been sitting on before grabbing a large duffel bag off the floor that Sam eyed warily.