“I finished up what I needed to do and hurried back.”Lucas turned to me.“Hello, Valerie.I’m glad you joined everyone.”
Those darn blue eyes of his focused on me, and I almost forgot where I was.Lucas did that to me.
Be strong, woman.He’s just another man.
“I’m learning a lot.”That wasn’t a lie.Learning about the company they worked for interested me, and it gave me a new appreciation for Fantasies, Inc.and its people.
“Are you two corrupting her?”Lucas turned his gaze to Josh and Dean.
The men held their hands up.“She asked us what Operations did, so we told her,” Dean said.
“What FI does is niche, and I find it fascinating.”There was so much more to Fantasies, Inc.than I realized.But these people—and how hard they worked—explained why they were so successful.
“I’m glad.”Lucas smiled at the server as she placed his beer in front of him.“Thank you.”
“Of course.”She winked at him, then walked away.
To Lucas’ credit, he didn’t even respond to the server’s flirtation.Had he changed?No.Don’t go there.Not flirting one time doesn’t constitute change.Remember the phone call you overheard.
“How was the rest of your day?”Lucas asked her quietly.
“Good.We do need to have a chat on Monday.”
“About?”
“I found something off with this new company, even with just a light look-over.”
Lucas nodded.“Monday it is.I’m glad you came tonight.”
“To be honest, if I’d known you were going to be here, I probably wouldn’t have.”
“Why not?”
Glancing around the table, I saw everyone was talking to each other.Still, I kept my voice low.“Come on, Lucas.We’ve been working this entire week with tension thick in the office.”I took a sip of my soda.“Why did you pick me for this job?”
“I didn’t.John Boyd picked you because everyone said you were the best.”
My face flushed.“But you weren’t surprised to see me when I arrived Monday.”
“No.John told me that morning when I came in.I didn’t see any reason for you not to work at FI.”
“Is working together really a good idea?”I was doubting my own sanity for staying this week even though I found the job exciting and intriguing.
Lucas frowned.“I want it to be.”He reached out to take my hand.Not ready for that, I moved it to my lap, clutching my other hand tight to keep the desire from slipping out.
“Valerie, I know I screwed up back then.I would like a chance to…get to know you again.For you to know the new me.I’ve changed.”
“For the better?”The dig slipped out before I could stop myself.
“I deserve that, and I hope so.”He swallowed.“I’m not a bad guy.”
“I never said you were a bad guy.”
“Then why are you thinking about leaving?”
“How?”
“Hazel mentioned it in passing.She said you told her you weren’t sure if you could stay.”
