“Why did you dress up?”
“I need to work for a few hours.”
“You can do that from here. You don’t need clothes.”
“I know it sounds weird, but I concentrate better if I’m wearing office clothes. You, on the other hand, should stay naked. I could use the view today.”
He laughed. “The view?”
“What else would you call all that arm porn you have going on? You get a bonus if you drop your boxers too.”
“Only if you take off your bra.”
I considered this. On the one hand, the constraint of a bra was part of the “work mood.” On the other hand, how the hell could I say no? It was a small price to pay to see Will walking around commando.
I awkwardly removed my bra and threw it on the couch. When Will’s gaze dropped to my chest area, I could see the fault in this plan. My nipples were showing—and they were awake... again—and Will was semihard as he dropped his boxers. This had temptation written all over it. But we were stronger than that, Will and I. Right? Right?
I’d almost convinced myself when he set the bread and knife on the counter and advanced to me.
He gave me a good morning kiss, then also kissed the girls through my pristine white blouse.
“Will,” I groaned. “Maybe this isn’t a good idea. How am I going to get any work done?”
He straightened up, bringing a hand to my face, skimming his thumb over my lips. I couldn’t help myself and opened my mouth, suckling on it.
“If you keep doing this, you won’t.” He pulled back his hand, and I rolled my shoulders.
“I won’t, I promise.”
“Then we won’t have a problem.”
“Are you sure you want me to work from here? I won’t be doing much besides writing e-mails and reports and making phone calls.”
“And I’ll make you breakfast and lunch, and give you massages when you’re too stiff. I’ll do my best not to distract you. No promises, though.”
“What’s in it for you?”
He smiled wickedly. “I didn’t say where I’ll be giving you massages.”
We made sandwiches together, and after breakfast I started on my phone calls right away. I’d given myself a two-week deadline. If I didn’t manage to bring more donors on board, I had to call the ones who had agreed to help and tell them the project wasn’t happening. That prospect was worrying, because I knew once I did that, the likelihood of them collaborating with me in the future was slim. No one wanted to feel they’d wasted their time.
Ashley texted me during the day, which was surprising, because she never worked on weekends.
Ashley: I don’t know what to do about Greg. He’s being even more of an asshole than usual.
I felt for her. His misogynistic streak was evolving into downright emotionally abusive behavior. Ashely and I were considering how to best approach human resources about it.
By the time the afternoon rolled around, I was ready to face-plant on Will’s couch. I’d gotten two vague promises, but even if they followed through, the money they were willing to donate was peanuts. At five o’clock in the afternoon, I curled on the couch and hid my face in the pillow.
“Babe?”
“It’s not going to work out, Will. It just won’t, and it’s killing me. Those people are counting on me. I didn’t make them any promises, but you should have seen the way they were looking at me when I talked to them about the possibility.”
I felt his hand at the back of my neck, applying pressure just where I needed it.
“You’re so good at that,” I whispered into the pillow. “So damn good.”
He sat next to me and I scooted a little to make space for him.