Most Likely To… Deny Love

MIA

Mia entered the office with Emilia on Monday morning, completely refreshed and happy. She was looking forward to seeing Jack and could hardly keep the smile off her face. To her surprise, he was waiting for her by the elevators. Heat flickered in his eyes when he smiled at her.

“I’m not taking the stairs,” Emilia said abruptly. “I won’t. I’m not.”

Mia laughed and gave her cousin the side-eye. “It’s fine. Just come up in the elevator with us like a normal person.”

Emilia mumbled something under her breath about coming in elevators, but since they’d reached the spot where Jack was standing, Mia didn’t push it. She did feel the blood rise in her cheeks, though.

“Good morning,” Jack said cheerfully. “How was your weekend?”

“Fine, thank you. And yours?”

“Oh boy,” Emilia said, rolling her eyes. She’d been out of sorts when Mia had gotten home last night, but hadn’t wanted to talk about it, so Mia had dropped it. She sent her a warning look. The three of them silently entered the elevator, not looking at each other the whole way up to their floor.

Emilia hurried off towards her desk as soon as the doors opened, her head down. Mia watched her go, frowning in concern. Then Jack subtly squeezed her hand before exiting in front of her. She felt the piece of paper in her hand and looked down.

You look so hot. I want you.

Heat pooled in her belly, and she had to smile, knowing that he’d written the note before even seeing her that day. This one wasn’t going in her drawer, though. She pulled her bag away from her shoulder and placed the note carefully inside.

When she sat down at her desk, she noticed another post-it, another arrow pointing down, indicating she should look under the desk. When had he done these? Mia thought to herself, grinning. She looked under the desk and actually laughed out loud. Raising her head, she turned to see Jack watching her. The underside of her desk was full of sticky notes.

Pulling the first one off, she blushed as she read it.

I had a dream. You were in it. We weren’t wearing much.

Before she could get to the others, her phone started ringing, an internal call, so Emilia didn’t have to vet it, unless Mia didn’t answer. This kept up for most of the morning, a typical Monday morning for Mia, but she was hyper-aware of the notes she hadn’t read yet.

And Jack’s eyes were on her every time she looked his way, which was way too often if she was honest. She was sure she was also smiling like an idiot, but she couldn’t help it. That afternoon, she gave him a nod and made her way to the kitchen, hoping he’d follow her.

Her coffee was almost ready by the time he finally came in. He gave her a quick, careful kiss on her cheek and then took some very deliberate steps away.

“If I stay near you, I won’t be able to help myself,” he leaned on the windowsill and crossed his legs at the ankles, looking incredibly hot to Mia, as always. His sleeves were rolled up and she couldn’t help remembering all the things those hands had made her feel just twenty-four hours before.

“Agreed, but I wanted to ask you something.”

“Shoot.” His brown eyes were watching her carefully, and Mia didn’t know why she was suddenly nervous.

“Dinner tonight, at yours?” She looked over her shoulder at him to gauge his reaction and saw him grinning, just like he had that morning. Like the cat that got the cream.

“Ooooh, you don’t want a wait period?”

She lifted her chin at the teasing in his voice. “No,” she said simply, which wiped all teasing from his face.

“God, Mia, you’re so g—” before he could finish, the kitchen door swung open and one of their colleagues strolled in. They all made small talk for a bit and before it could get awkward, since Mia had long since finished making her coffee, she smiled at Jack ruefully before leaving the kitchen.

By the time she got back to her desk, her internal messenger was blinking with a message from Jack.

Jack: Gorgeous. Gorgeous is what I wanted to say before we were interrupted. 7pm? Should I pick you up? I want to pick you up, all gentleman-like.

Mia: How are you writing this? You’re not at your desk.

Jack: Have to be available at all times, writing from my phone. 7pm? And should I pick you up?

Mia: 7pm is perfect and I think I should have my car there… just in case I decide to stay the night..

Jack: So hot, Emerson. Okay.