Liam rakes his gaze over me with mild disdain, his face contorted like he just chewed on a lemon.
I groan. “Follow me.” I jerk my head in the general direction of Xander’s former office.
“Hating me already,” he says dryly, dragging his feet.
I don’t slow down, marching around the cubicles like my soles are on fire.
“I don’t care about you enough to hate you,” I say over my shoulder. “I hate the situation we’re in.” I open the door to his for-now office, reminding myself it will be mine soon.
“We can pretend we don’t know each other.” He leans against the door frame, one hand in his pocket, a picture of nonchalance.
Unfortunately, a very attractive picture. He steps aside so I can pass, but the space he gives me is narrow. Deliberate.
As I walk by, my arm brushes his torso. My pulse jumps like an idiot.
I’ve worked with a man who is an identical copy of Liam for two years, so why does the sight of this version elicit all sorts of reactions?
Stupid goose bumps.
Warmth swirling in my core.
The need to lick my lips.
No. Absolutely not. My body does not get to be impressed by this man.
“We don’t have to pretend. We don’t know each other.”
He cocks his head and studies me. I don’t know what he is thinking, but his jaw tightens.
He shakes his head and marches past me into the office. “This will do. Before you go, please get me some coffee.”
I flip him off. “Listen to me, asshole, we might be competing for the same thing, but don’t forget people here know me. They value me. If you don’t want to be left without a team to help you, and believe me, I won’t hesitate to reassign everyone, you better play nice.”
A whisper of a smile ghosts his face before he rearranges his features. “I wasn’t aware we’re competing.”
I give him my best fake smile. “Already out of the loop.” I tap my lips. “I guess getting that fifteen percent is going to be very easy. I’ll send IT to hook you up, but don’t make yourself at home. This office isn’t yours yet.”
Or ever.
I turn and pull the door shut. Behind it, I hear his voice—low, almost thoughtful: “We’ll see.”
It shouldn’t rattle me.
But it does.
Chapter 6
Liam
The door clicks shut behind her, yet her presence lingers.
Our unexpected night together turned into a plan this morning. Little Thunder just stepped all over it.
We don’t have to pretend. We don’t know each other.
Was she literal? She didn’t see my face last night, but… she sure as hell doesn’t want that encounter following her into the daylight.
Even if she truly doesn’t know I’m the man from last night, she made it abundantly clear that she despises my presence here.
