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Snorting a laugh, Jo started toward the back. “Give me ten. I’ll change.” She made her way to the restroom at the back of the garage, peeling off her grease-stained T-shirt and swapping it for a clean, fitted black one. She ran her fingers through her hair, giving herself a once-over in the mirror. She looked the same as always. Confident, casual, and ready for a good time.So why does this feel different? she wondered and frowned at her reflection.Damnit, it’s only been a week. I can’t be that hooked already. Right?Shaking off the thought, she took one last look at herself and headed back to the garage. Mica was already waiting by the side exit door, grinning like she had won something. Jo shook her head but smiled. “Let’s go. Time to remind everyone why I’m the reigning champion ofSapphire.”

“Oh, I can’t wait to see this,” Mica said, rubbing her hands together.

Jo chuckled, but as they stepped outside, a small voice in the back of her mind whispered that maybe the night wouldn’t be as fun as it used to be.

Evelyn sat at her desk, her eyes scanning the data on the monitor in front of her. The numbers blurred, and the graphs were meaningless as her mind drifted, once again, to Jo. She sighed, rubbing her temples.Focus, she commanded herself.You have a board presentation to finish. Unfortunately, her brain had other ideas. Specifically, ideas about Jo’s hands on her body, and the way she always looked at Evelyn like she was something…What? Special?That didn’t feel like the right word.Fun? Maybe even pretty?Then a realization came to her.She looks at me like I’m something she wants.

Swallowing hard, Evelyn shifted in her chair to help ease the tingle inside her.This is ridiculous, she thought.I’m at work. I need to stop thinking about her.And her hands. And her mouth. And…She exhaled sharply and forced her attention back to the presentation, determined to make progress. Dr. Wong had been clear. The presentation needed to be flawless. Evelyn had never been one to miss a deadline, and she wasn’t about to start now, no matter how distracting a certain leather-jacket-wearing mechanic might be.

Just as she started to regain her focus, a knock at her office door made her jump. She looked up to see Oliver standing there, holding a brown paper bag with the logo of the Thai place down the street on it.

“Hi,” he said, offering an awkward smile. “I figured you might be working late, so I grabbed some takeout. Thought you could use a break.”

“Oh,” Evelyn said after a beat. Oliver’s visit was entirely unexpected. “That’s really thoughtful. Thank you.”

Oliver stepped inside, setting the bag on the small table near the window. “No problem,” he said, pushing his glasses up with his index finger. “I mean, I know how intense these board presentations can be. Figured you could use some fuel.” He smiled shyly. “The brain uses a lot of calories.”

Touched by the gesture, Evelyn smiled. “I appreciate it.” She stood, stretching before walking to the table and opening the bag. The scent of exotic spices wafted up, making her stomach grumble. “This smells amazing.”

Taking a seat across from her, Oliver smiled widely. “I got your usual,” he said. “Spicy eggplant with tofu.”

Even more surprised, Evelyn’s eyebrows lifted. “You remembered?”

“Yeah, well,” Oliver said with a shrug, looking a little bashful. “We’ve worked together for a while now.”

“I suppose that’s true,” Evelyn said, taking a seat and opening the containers.

They ate in comfortable silence for a few minutes, the quiet hum of the office filling the space between them. Evelyn felt herself relax a little, grateful for the break. After a moment, Oliver cleared his throat. “So, um…” He hesitated, then set his chopsticks down. “I was thinking, since we both work late all the time, that maybe we could grab dinner sometime? Outside of work, I mean.”

Evelyn froze, her stomach twisting. “Oliver…” She set her container down carefully, looking at her coworker with gentle but firm resolve.

He winced under her gaze. “Too much?” he asked, and Evelyn sighed, offering him a small smile.

“You’re a great coworker, Oliver,” she said. “And a great friend. But I don’t date people I work with.”

Exhaling, Oliver nodded quickly. “Right,” he said. “Yeah. I figured that might be the case.” He let out a small laugh. “Can’t blame a guy for trying, right?”

Reaching across the table, Evelyn gave his hand a reassuring squeeze. “I really do appreciate the food,” she said. “And you.”

There was a flicker of disappointment in Oliver’s eyes, but he managed a smile. “Yeah. No worries.” He picked up his chopsticks again, focusing intently on his food. Before Evelyn could say anything else, the sharp click of heels echoed from the hallway.

A moment later, Dr. Wong appeared in the doorway, her arms crossed. “Evelyn,” she said, her tone brisk. “I trust you’re making progress on the presentation?”

Evelyn straightened immediately. “Yes, Dr. Wong,” she answered. “I was only taking a quick break.”

Dr. Wong’s sharp gaze flickered to the takeout containers before returning to Evelyn. “Good. Because I expect the final draft on my desk by Monday morning.”

“I understand,” Evelyn said. Dr. Wong gave a single, approving nod before turning on her heel and striding away. Evelyn let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. She glanced at Oliver.

He gave her a sympathetic look. “She’s intense,” he said, and Evelyn smiled wryly.

“That’s an understatement.”

After another few quick bites of the food, she checked the time on her phone, surprised it was almost nine. Her stomach dipped slightly when she saw she had no new messages. Nothing from Jo. She bit her lip, debating whether or not to text first.She’s probably just busy, Evelyn reasoned.After all, it is Friday night.She hesitated for another moment before finally typing a quick message. “Hope your day wasn’t too exhausting. Thinking about you.” She hit send, then set her phone down, trying notto overthink it. Minutes passed with no reply. Evelyn frowned.That’s weird. Where is she?Then a thought crept in before she could stop it.Did she go to the bar?

She had no reason to be upset if she had. Jo was free to do whatever she wanted. They barely knew each other.But still…she thought. Evelyn sighed, leaning back in her chair. She trusted Jo wasn’t toying with her and that she wouldn’t be looking for some other hook-up tonight.Right?She glanced at her phone again, willing it to light up with a response. Nothing. With a frustrated sigh, she pushed her food aside. “Time to get back to work,” she told Oliver as she collected the empty containers.

“Is everything okay?” Oliver asked, helping to clean up.