Page 45 of Boss of Attraction

A slight pang of disappointment hit me, knowing the night was ending. “Yeah, I should do the same.”

We stepped up to the bar, and the bartender came over, flashing a smile at Declan. “You want another drink, handsome?” she asked.

He shook his head. “Nah, we’re both heading out.”

The bartender gave me a quick glance and then turned her attention back to Declan. “Are you calling it a night or going somewhere else?”

“Just going home.”

She settled our tabs and handed us our receipts to sign. “I get off in an hour if you’re not ready to call it a night.”

Declan smiled. “Ah, thanks. But I think I’m going to pass. It’s been a long week.”

She wrote something down on his receipt and slid it to Declan. “There’s my number if you change your mind.”

“Here you go.” I pushed the restaurant copy of my receipt across the bar with a little more force than necessary and then turned to Declan. “Ready?”

“Uh … sure.”

I spun on my heel and weaved through the tables and out the door.

“What was that all about?” Declan asked once we were outside.

I couldn’t believe I let my jealousy show. Especially when I knew he wasn’t interested in her. But even if it had been a guy who’d caught Declan’s eye, he could do whatever he wanted. It wasn’t as though anything was going on between us that would or should stop him.

I couldn’t admit to him I’d been jealous, so I said, “Just didn’t want her to feel bad when you turned down her offer again.”

He chuckled. “I’m sure she would have been okay.”

“Probably.” I shrugged. “And I shouldn’t have stepped in.”

“No worries. It was a little awkward having her hit on me in front of you.”

I didn’t know how to respond, but we were already back at our building. I was about to tell him to have a good weekend when he followed me to the elevator. “Are you going up to the office?”

“Yeah. I need to grab my things.”

“Okay. I left my stuff there too.”

As soon as the elevator doors closed behind us, I couldn’t stop thinking about the kiss we’d shared inside the confined space. I glanced at Declan from the corner of my eye, wondering if he was also remembering the moment.

Fortunately—or maybe it was unfortunate—the elevator didn’t have any problems, and once on our floor, we headed toward Declan’s desk.

“I’m going to grab my stuff, and then I’ll walk out with you,” I said and hurried to my office, not waiting for his response. Not bothering to turn on my lights, I grabbed my briefcase and spun around to leave, only to find Declan leaning in the doorway. “You ready to go?” I asked.

He pushed off the doorframe and closed the door behind him. “In a minute. But first, I need to ask you a question.”

“Okay?”

He moved toward me. “Were you really trying to protect the bartender’s feelings back there, or were you jealous?”

My pulse raced as I thought about my answer. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Are you sure?” He smirked. “Because I didn’t miss the look you threw my way in the elevator. And if I had to guess, you were thinking about our kiss.”

I swallowed. “I may have been thinking about it.”

“Were you thinking about doing it again?”