“Not too bad.”
“You getting all the framework together for your app?”
“It’s coming along nicely.”
He grinned. “Glad to hear it.”
“How about you?” she asked. “Your day going well?”
“Not too bad. Too much paperwork.”
“You’d rather be out doing your jumping jacks or something?”
“Always.” He spun his chair back to face his desk and pushed bits of paper around with his finger. “Whereas you were always the bookworm. Did you go straight to college from school?”
“Yes, I did,” she answered.
“Did well and stayed there for years, I bet.” He didn’t know why he was asking when he knew what her answer would be.
“Yeah.”
It was the brevity of the answer that bothered him. He waited, but she wasn’t volunteering anything extra. His eyes narrowed as he spotted a small rectangular card poking out of his in-tray. He reached forward and grinned as he read the invite. “There’s an art exhibition opening on Saturday night,” he said. “You want to come with me?”
His heart stopped for half a beat—was he really nervous about her reply?
“Of course I want to come with you. But you’re going to an art exhibition?”
He chuckled at the flirt in her voice, but he was less amused at the audible shock about the exhibition. “Why so surprised? One of my gym clients is a sculptor. From what I’ve heard, talented too.”
“Oh. Okay. That would be great. Thank you.”
“I’ll pick you up at seven.”
“Okay, uh, what’s the lesson going to be this time?”
“Lesson?” He frowned, then remembered. This was meant to be one of their tutoring sessions. Hell, he’d forgotten. “Ah…you’ll see. Saturday.”
He hung up. Should be satisfied. Saturday was three days away. Plenty of time to have the space he needed.
Perfect.
Twenty-four hours later he tossed his phone onto his desk, not giving a damn if the screen cracked. He couldn’t stand it anymore. He was thinking about her all the fucking time. What he needed was fresh air.
It was only a short walk to her office and before he knew it, he was there. He got the receptionist to phone Nadia, who gave him security clearance to go up to their floor. So it was easy to spin Abbi on her seat and surprise her.
“Hey.”
“What are you doing here?” She looked pleased. He loved the way she sparkled when she saw him.
“You had lunch yet?” he asked.
She brightened more at his suggestion. “No. Give me a second.”
She disappeared for a couple of minutes and looked so bright-eyed when she returned, he couldn’t resist kissing her. Just a brief touch of his lips to hers. Forty seconds later he had to stop and get them out of the building before he really lost it.
Apparently making out in cubicles was frowned on by management.
Abbi chuckled and reached up to kiss him again as soon as they got out onto the pavement. Giving in to temptation, he gripped her hips and pulled her closer. He swept his hands over her butt, sliding over the silky fabric of her skirt.
His heart stopped. “You’re not wearing any panties.”
She pulled back and arched her brows. “You told me not to. First lesson. I took them off upstairs two minutes ago.”
He was finding it difficult to breathe.
She thought he’d come to her for lunchtime quickie? He hadn’t. Though he wouldn’t say no, and yes he’d been thinking about having sex with her all morning. But that really wasn’t why he’d—hell.
She didn’t expect to see him for any other reason. And why should she? That was the arrangement and that was okay, wasn’t it?
She ran a finger down his chest, bringing him back to the moment. “You taught me the lesson about anticipation already. And spontaneity. What’s the message here?”
“Sorry.” He didn’t want to disappoint her, but he was gonna have to. “I can’t mess you up for the office. You have to work all afternoon and I have a meeting.”
“And I thought you were a wild one.”
He laughed. “Oh no. I was always discreet. Never did anything to compromise anyone or get myself into trouble.”
“Except for making me come at the game the other night.”
“Yeah, except for that.” He still didn’t feel sorry for it. But it was out of character for him. “I’m gonna have to rescind the lunch offer though. I can’t be held responsible for my actions if we stay here longer and I really don’t want to mess you up.” Though right now it felt like he was the one getting messed up.
“Then I’ll see you later,” she said, her voice husky, teasing.
She put her hand in his and turned to walk back into the office. He curled his fingers around her small ones.When she left him in the lobby he couldn’t resist lingering to watch her walk to the stairs. Damned if she didn’t have the peachiest ass he’d ever seen. Knowing there was nothing under that pretty silk drove him crazy. He was a lunatic for letting her walk away.
With an irritated sigh he turned and found Nadia standing just to the side of him, watching him knowingly. He hadn’t even seen her leave the building earlier.
“I know,” she murmured. “Believe me, I know.”
Joe cleared his throat.
“Don’t fuck with her though,” Nadia said.
No. He didn’t want to do that at all. “Someone else has already done that.”
“Yeah, and she doesn’t need a repeat. He did enough to her self-esteem. She’s just now getting back on her feet. Don’t undo the good that’s been done, that’s all I’m saying.”
Joe lifted his hands. “I’m just now starting to fully understand what a fucknut her ex was.” He eyed Nadia speculatively and decided to try fishing for info. “She’s not that easy to get to know.” Which she wasn’t. She’d spent time physically pleasing him, list
ening to him waffle on about the old days, but now that he thought about it she hadn’t offered up much about herself—only some minor info about her breakup and hating Elle Manning in high school.
Nadia turned an impassive face toward him. “Try harder.”
Joe grinned as Nadia walked away. He should’ve known he had no chance of getting Nadia to confide any of Abbi’s secrets. She was way too good a friend.
Abbi was the kind of person to attract good friends. Protective friends. Because Abbi wasn’t just a sexpot in training. She was a sweetheart.
Damn it.
Chapter Fifteen
“Go for subtle sexy. It’s better to be overdressed than underdressed.”
At 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, Abbi rolled her eyes at her reflection. This was the third dress she’d tried on and there was no way she was going without panties. It had been fine for that five-minute flirt in the bar, while knowing full well she’d be off somewhere private with him super quick. But for an art exhibition? With lots of other people?
She was wearing panties. But Joe had told her not to wear them.
She looked at her reflection again. No-brainer. His punishment wouldn’t be anything awful; in fact, it might even be enjoyable.
She grinned wickedly at her reflection. Oh yeah, she was ready to test him out.
He picked her up right on time, looking hot as ever in jeans again. The guy did casual so well.
“I really like this dress,” he complimented. “I’m looking forward to taking it off.”
“Thanks.” She swatted his arm as she walked with him out to his car. “So what kind of sculpture—marble, metal, clay?”
“No clue. We’ll be surprised together.” He laughed.
It turned out to be amazing—giant metalwork pieces showcased in a huge converted warehouse. Apparently the artist attended Joe’s most hard-core muscle training classes, and Abbi could see why he needed to if he worked on lumps of metal this size.
Joe walked around each piece with her, holding her hand. She had no idea what he had planned for tonight’s lesson, but her anticipation levels were rising with every minute. And her happiness meter as well, because the guy was gorgeously attentive.