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After that, I stood from the wall and turned to face the vending machine, giving the conference room my back. It wasn’t a clear view, but as I pretended to study the snack options, I focused on the reflection coming from behind me. I saw Leo shift forward to rest his forearms on his thighs as he read my newest message. I bit my lip to keep myself from grinning when I saw him slowly lift his head from his lap, not facing the men in the meeting, but facing where I was standing across the way.

I couldn’t stop my grin from peeking out then, because even through the glass wall of the conference room, across the way from the open hallway, I could feel his gaze on me. I could feel his eyes take in exactly what I was wearing today.

Another pencil skirt.

Something I now knew got to him.

So when I let him get his fill of me standing there, pretending to decide on my choice, I went the extra mile by bending a little at the waist, as if reading the names of the snacks on the lower levels of the machine.

Giving Leo Turner an unobstructed view of my ass in this skirt, my knees bending just enough to make the pose look less suspicious to anyone passing by.

I glanced up to the conference room’s reflection in the glass of the vending machine, just in time to see Leo rub a hand over his mouth. His eyes locked on me. Well, my ass, probably.

I stood tall again, propping a hand on my lower back as if pretending to stretch out, and I got to see Leo drop his head as he thumbed away on his phone.

Leo: You’re going to need to save up some money for a new wardrobe.

I frowned, keeping him at my back as I finally left the hallway and made my way to my office.

Me: Why is that?

Leo: Because after work I’m going to rip that skirt off of you with my teeth.

I gasped as I read his newest message, my hand coming up to rest against my racing heart as I entered my office. Heat coursed through me.

I didn’t think I could come back from this.

* * *

I had just lockedmy computer and shouldered my purse when my phone vibrated again. It wasn’t until I rushed it out of my bag and pulled open my newest message that I realized I was hoping it was Leo, confirming the plans we alluded to earlier today.

Instead, it was Marco.

Marco: I’m just checking in to make sure you’re alive since I’m single-handedly maintaining our sibling relationship.

I laughed as I left my office, but the sound of another door shutting across the way made me lift my eyes away from my phone.

Leo was locking the door to his own office, his eyes slowly dragging from the tips of my toes to the top of my head. I felt his gaze as if I was standing in front of a heat lamp, warming me up for him.

“Hi,” I whispered.

Leo’s lips twitched in the corners, “Hi.”

I pressed my lips together while scrambling to respond to my brother, then tossed my phone in my bag.

“Are you finished with your workday?” Leo asked, falling into step with me as we walked down the hallway. He kept about a foot of distance between us, but my heart reacted as if he was rubbing up on me in the office.

“I am.” I nodded.

“Are you taking the lift down?” His face was guarded, his expression perfectly masked. This was the face of a coworker shooting the shit with another coworker.

“I’m taking theelevatordown, yes.” I fought against a smile.

His eyes danced over to me, narrowing as we turned the corner to find the elevators.

“You mean thelift?” He emphasized the word, “No need to add more syllables than necessary.”

I snorted, pushing the button, “I’m not beingliftedanywhere. If anything, I’m being lowered.” We both walked into the elevator, and Leo removed one of his hands from his pockets to reach his long index finger toward the buttons.