Page 7 of The Arrangement

“Yes. Wendy just sent them up from the front desk,” she says. “They’re freaking gorgeous, Chloe. Who are they from?”

“I have no idea.”

She peers around me, then speaks in a hushed tone. “Do these have anything to do with why you were summoned to Jason’s office?”

I laugh out loud. “Definitely not.”

“Well, they smell amazing. Enjoy them,” she says before disappearing around the corner.

Orange and pink roses, yellow carnations, and bright greenery fill a small, square vase. I find the card nestled in the petals and pull it out.

Friday at seven. See you then.

Thomas

Thomas? I roll my eyes but mentally applaud the effort.

“Who are those from?” Jason startles me.

I turn to find him leaning against the doorframe between our offices. He’s trying to appear nonplussed, but I see through the facade. He’s annoyed.Good.

“It’s none of your business,” I say, grinning at him.

He steps out of the doorway, motioning with his arm for me to return to his office. He snatches the card from my hand before I get past him.

“Hey,” I protest, although I don’t try to retrieve it from his palm. The invasion of my privacy is worth his reaction.

The darkness sweeping over his features pulls at a knot in my stomach, releasing a burst of hormones to flood my system. I imagine him grabbing me and shoving me against a wall, his eyes burning into mine. His fingers biting into my flesh as he lifts my shirt?—

“Who is Thomas?” he asks, interrupting my fantasy.

“A friend.”

His jaw sets as he looks up, narrowing his eyes at me. “What’s Friday at seven?”

I narrow my eyes back but fail to remove the puckish smile from my face. “What do you think is Friday at seven?”

“I thought you weren’t dating.”

“No one said anything about dating, Jason.”

He takes a deep breath, his fingers flexing around the thin paper, then marches back to his desk.

I quickly gather my wits and move as confidently across the office. My heart thumps with each step I take. His voice is liquid fire as his words ring through my mind.“I thought you weren’t dating.”

I try to hide my grin.This is way more fun than Thomas is going to be.

“Can I have the card back?” I ask, stretching my hand across his desk.

He makes no move to return it. Instead, he deliberately places it beside his phone. Then he sits down and rocks back in his chair, daring me to take it.

“I didn’t think you were seeing anyone,” he says, resting his chin on steepled fingers.

“I’m not seeing anyone.” I grab the card before he can stop me and then sit across from him. “But just because I don’t want to date anyone doesn’t mean I don’t have needs.”

“And Thomas meets those needs?”

“He’s going to on Friday.”