Claimed

To think how he’d groveled and pleaded for Emily to take him back. Recalling it now still left him sick with humiliation. She had cut him to the bone with that restraining order, but, as his mother had been fond of saying, everything happens for a reason.

After the breakup, James had promised himself he would wait until he found the right girl—a kindred spirit who understood that true love was all-encompassing and for life. Emily’s betrayal had been the best thing that ever happened to him, as it left his heart free for Kelsey.

Now he just needed to find a way to let her know they could be together, even if he was her superior at work. Soon, soon, he promised himself, he would find the right moment to make his move. Then he would make all his dreams, and hers, come true.

The moment came sooner than he’d expected. It was the last Thursday of the month, and the crew was going out for their usual monthly happy hour excursion. James suspected the tradition had evolved for Thursdays instead of Fridays because his colleagues saved their Fridays for their real friends, but he had kept this perhaps uncharitable speculation to himself. James always forced himself to attend this event for at least a few minutes, aware he needed to be seen as accessible by his staff. Today, however, was no hardship, as Kelsey was also going. She’d glanced at him, smiling shyly after she’d told Anna Green, who sat just behind her in the office, that she would be joining them for a couple of beers that evening.

The rest of the day passed with agonizing slowness, the minutes inching forward like hours as James waited restlessly for five o’clock. There were seven of them going to Sal’s Pub that evening, and they all walked together to the elevator and rode down to the lobby. James stood beside Kelsey, keenly aware of the fresh scent of her shampoo, and her shoulder lightly touching his arm in the crowded elevator car.

Once at Sal’s, they were ushered to a large booth near the bar by the waitress. James was deeply annoyed when Mark pushed his way past James and plopped down beside Kelsey.

James consoled himself by sliding into the opposite side of the booth so he could at least face the girl of his dreams. Their knees were nearly touching beneath the table. If he’d dared, he could have reached over and touched her. The thought sent a jolt of electricity to his cock. Kelsey chose that moment to look up at him. As she graced him with her angelic smile, he knew, in his bones, that there was something between them. And tonight was the night they would make it real.

It took all his self-control not to warn Mark to keep his hands, his dirty thoughts and his eyes to himself. He had overheard the bastard talking about Kelsey in the men’s restroom to Albert from accounting, unaware James was sitting in a stall.

“You seen the new girl? She’s hot, man. I think she’s into me.”

Albert, bless him, had laughed. “You think every girl in this place is into you, Mark. What’s Beth got to say about that?”

“My wife’s interested in a three-way,” Mark had claimed, though James, who had met the tight-lipped, perennially pissed-off Beth, highly doubted this.

They ordered pizza and two pitchers of beer. Jackets were discarded and ties loosened as the pitchers were emptied and filled again. Mark kept refilling the mugs of the three women at the table, though his attentions were clearly most focused on Kelsey, which annoyed the shit out of James. He decided he would quietly see about getting Mark transferred out of his department, even if he had to lie to get it done.

A few of the party left after the pizza was gone, and then a few more, until only James, Mark and Kelsey remained. James glanced pointedly at his watch. “It’s nearly eight. Won’t your wife be wondering where you are?”

Mark started to deny this, but just then his cell phone chirped. He glanced at it with a scowl, but took the call. Though he turned away from them, James could still make out his words. “Yeah, honey. Long day at the office, but sure, I’ll be home soon. Yeah, I won’t forget the bread and milk. Okay. Yes, okay. See you soon.”

He swiveled back toward them with a rueful grin. “Guess I’ll leave you single folks to it. Duty calls.” He slid out of the booth and reached into his jacket. Pulling out his wallet, he extracted a few bills and dropped them on the table. “See you tomorrow.”

Once he was gone, Kelsey pulled out her cell phone and glanced down at it. “Wow, I didn’t realize it was so late. I have to be going too. I don’t want to get stranded downtown after the last bus.”