Page 6 of The Arrangement

I drop the tissue in the trash and head down the corridor. “I can’t do that. Think the worst, and you’re probably on track.”

“You’re no fun.”

Jason’s oversized door looms ahead. But instead of going straight to the end of the hall, I make a slight detour and stop in my office. Jason is silent on the other side of the wall connecting our spaces.

I flip on the light and pull a mirror from my desk. I'm ready to see him after a quick once-over and a fresh coat of lip gloss.

A pulse of excitement races through my veins. It doesn’t matter that I’ve worked for Brewer Air for three years, spent seven months as his EA, and have known him most of my life—or that I consider him as much a friend as I do my boss. There’s no real way to prepare for those green eyes and sexy smile.

I smooth my dress, straighten my powder-pink cardigan, and set my shoulders back.

Here goes nothing …

“You wanted to see me?” I ask, swinging our adjoining door open without so much as a knock.

He leans against a wide desk crafted from the same dark wood as Brandi’s, with one arm crossed over his thick chest. The other hand reaches his mouth, his thumb feathering against his lips as he waits for me to approach him.

My God, he’s handsome.

His expression is controlled and unreadable. It’s a game he plays. He tries to throw me off with his aloofness.

He should know by now that it won’t work on me.

“You’re already getting on my nerves today,” I say.

This earns me a slight, crooked grin.

“Nickie says there’s a rumor that we’re preparing for a layoff,” I say, moving across his office to the windows overlooking Nashville. “I assured her it was just gossip.”

“I heard.”

I look at him over my shoulder. “You heard the gossip?”

“No, I heard you telling her it was gossip.”

“Eavesdropping is a nasty habit, Mr. Brewer.”

He smiles cheekily. “So is telling your coworkers you would doanythingfor your boss.”

My core melts as I absorb the heat in his eyes.

“Is that what you think I said?” I ask, lifting a brow. “Because I think you’re hearing what you want to hear.”

“Are you saying you wouldn’t do anything I asked?”

I grin. “Are you saying that’s not what you want to hear?”

The air thickens as we let the tension settle around us.

Our relationship is unusual, but it works. Sure, working so closely with an old friend that I’m crazily attracted to has its drawbacks. I’m jealous when women flirt with him. I worry about his well-being. And I’ve considered packing an extra set of panties in my purse for the days he wears my favorite black suit and tie.

But it also has its perks. I know Jason well enough to anticipate his needs. We trust one another, which providesa more relaxed working environment. And Jason and I communicate effortlessly, respect one another, and value the same things.

We might flirt in private for fun, but when it’s time to work, no one is more productive and efficient as us.

I glance over my shoulder into my adjoining office as Brandi sets a vase of flowers on my desk. The burst of color looks pretty next to the iced coffee Jason brought me this morning, although I have no idea who they’re from. So I make a beeline for her.

“Are those for me?” I ask.