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“No, I figured I’d surprise you.”

She grinned and pushed her laptop to one side. Then, as if she’d thought better of it, she rose to her feet, coming around to the other side of the desk.

“What goodies did you bring?” she asked.

I walked to the desk, putting the bag down. “Jambalaya. But first, I demand a kiss.”

“Oh, so you’re not doing this out of the goodness of your heart, huh?” she murmured. “You expect payback?”

“Lots of payback.”

I kissed her so damn hard that I pushed her against the desk. Then I deepened it even more. I couldn’t stop exploring her. I sat her on the desk, and she groaned as I put my hands between her knees, trying to push them open so I could step between them.

Grace put a hand on my chest, pulling her head back.

“Zachary,” she whispered. “This skirt is too tight. You’ll rip it.”

“Then take it off,” I growled.

“Oh, you bad man. You want me to take off my clothes right here in the middle of my office?”

I took a deep breath and moved back. “Fuck, you’re right. I don’t even think I remembered we were here.”

She threw her head back, laughing. I leaned in, kissing her neck, then immediately nuzzled down to her collarbone. Hertank top had a V-neckline that very much appealed to me. Before I knew it, I kissed right down to the hem of the fabric. Grace gasped again, and I straightened up.

Fuck, this was a bad idea.“I don’t understand why I can’t keep myself in check.”

“I have a thought,” she said. “Walk back a few steps.”

I did what she said as she rounded her desk, sitting back in her chair.

“How about that, huh?” she asked. “Now we have the desk between us.”

Yeah, that wasn’t going to work, but I didn’t say anything.

“Now, let’s eat.”

I was glad for the distraction. We ate straight out of the carton with the forks I’d brought.

“I don’t think I will ever tire of this jambalaya.”

“You can mention that to the grandmothers on Saturday. They’ll love you even more.”

“How did your family react?” Grace asked, looking up from her food.

“I told Mom and asked her to spread the word.”

She narrowed her eyes. “Interesting tactic.”

“I figured Mom and Dad would be the only ones who wouldn’t know about us. I decided to inform her. But she’d already figured it out.”

Grace’s mouth fell open. “Are you serious?”

“Yeah. That’s just how things work in the family.”

“I’m starting to get a bit jittery,” she said.

“There’s absolutely no reason to be, Grace.”