Up until…
About two months ago.
When she sent me chocolate because I was having the worst period of my life and decided that my boss needed to know about it.
After that, her messages became vaguely more familiar, many of them carrying flirtatious undertones. I didn’t quite notice until now, because it came on subtly at first. Maybe one suggestive comment every few emails in a conversation thread. Now, with us sending instant messages, it’s rampant.
I thought it was cute.
Fun.
Friendly, flirty banter.
Just what girlies do once they get close.
No big deal.
After all, Ali Montgomery is (probably) a strong independent woman leading an empire. If she doesn’t have a husband, she doesn’t want one. And she’s never crossed a line where any of her comments seem to have gone too far for friends.
I’ve not thought much of it.
Until now.
Looking past my laptop screen, I find Dominic seated on the other side of my living room in the corner of my couch, stone-faced, typing. In this exact moment, he seems every bit theplain and boring guyhe’s convinced he is. I kind of like it, though. The juxtaposition. Thedull for everyone but youvibes.
Right now, I can tell he’s hard at work. Strongly… Independently…
Were I in a higher ranking position at Mont Business and meant to deal with Ali directly, I’d have a clue about what she’s working on right now. I could even track if Dominic disappears around the same times Ali needs to take business calls or join virtual meetings.
A thought hits me, and I blink.
I look back at my computer.
I…wonder…
Opening up Mont Business’s chaos delegation program, I organize the task list by employee, find Ali, and see what she has listed as most imperative right now. According to this, she should be working on auditing a high-profile client’s package…and she has a phone call booked in about ten minutes.
Removing his earbuds, Dominic closes his laptop and rises. “I’m heading out.”
My heart skips a beat. “Where to?”
“I feel like cheese wontons. Would you like me to get us Chinese for lunch?”
I close my own laptop and set it aside. “That sounds great. Let’s go.”
“I don’t mind getting it. What’s your favorite place?” He lifts his phone. “I’ll look it up.”
“It’s a little building in a strip mall off Lincoln Street. Pretty easy to miss. I can drive.”
His attention lifts and settles, watching me. Several long moments pass. Then his stony work expression melts into a smile. “Oh. I see.” He tucks his phone back in his pocket. “You want to go on adate.”
I smile. “Well, wearetechnically dating now, aren’t we?”
“Yes.” He warms, thoroughly. “To think we already have plans to finish watching that anime this evening. How lucky I am to get two dates in the same day. Is there a specific occasion?”
“Infatuation, probably.” I lay a hand to my chest. “My heart’s been at a regular speed for too long, and I’m beginning to get worried.”
“You’re scared it may never race again?”
