Guess she got the interview after all.
That makes me damn proud.
“Of all the buildings,” I say. “You walk into mine.”
Quincy looks up from the index card she’s studying. Dark brown eyes lock on mine. Her lips part on an exhale, and the pen she’s holding falls to the floor. Someone a couple chairs over makes an irritated grunt at the loud noise.
“Sebastian?” She blinks. Frowns, then blinks again. “What are you doing here?”
“Oh, you know.” I gesture around us and rock back on my heels. “Figured I’d check out the open Science and Operations Officer position.”
“Hang on.” Quincy stands, our gazes almost even. Her heels make her taller than the sneakers and rain boots she usually wears, and it takes control I didn’t know I had to not look at her long legs. “You want to work for the National Weather Service?”
“Maybe. Could be fun.”
“I’m not following. You applied, right?”
“Not technically.” I fix my tie and shrug. “My buddy called and asked if I wanted to come in for an interview.”
“Wow.” Her laugh is disbelieving. “Leave it to Sebastian Dunn to have the rules broken for him. It must be nice to want something and have it handed to you on a silver platter.”
“Someone thought of me because I’m qualified. It’s not my fault I’d be a good fit for the position.”
Quincy reaches out her hand. I’m glad everyone around us isbusy studying their notes so they can’t see her press a finger to the center of my chest. So they don’t notice the thrill that races through me when her eyes blaze. When she grazes her nails down the front of my shirt.
How pathetic am I that I want her to do that again?
“You might be qualified, but I’m more qualified.” She shakes her head. A piece of hair gets stuck to her bright red lipstick, and she carefully pulls it away. “I have a PhD. I’ve done years of research and submitted articles to the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society. I’ve worked myassoff for a position like this.”
She has. I know she has. There’s a reason why she’s the only woman in the room. Why the late newcomer bursting through the lobby doors catches his breath and gives her—not me—a nod. Because she deserves a spot at the table, even if no one has invited her.
I wrap my fingers around her wrist. Her pulse jumps under my touch. I drop my voice low so no one can hear us. “Truth or Dare?”
“I’m not playing that right now.”
“Truth, then. How mad are you that I’m here? How much do you hate that no matter what we do, we can’t escape each other? High school. College. The National Weather Service. Hurricanes. Tornadoes.” My thumb brushes along the pulse point on her wrist. I must be imagining things, because for half a second, I think she steps closer. “Maybe it’s time to accept our fate, Monroe. You can’t exist without me. We’re soulmates. Star-crossed lovers. A beginning and an end.”
Her cheeks flush a pretty shade of pink. Her breath comes out in a hollowed exhale. There are noises around us: A door opening and closing. A car horn outside the window. Someone’s name being called and murmured offerings ofgood luck, but all I can focus on is her.
The best part? The teeny, tiny detail I’m going to remember when I get home hours from now?
She’s focused on me too.
I’ve spent years vying for her attention, and I finally have it.
“The only thing I want to do is take this job away from you.” Quincy’s fingers move up to my necklace. She gives the chain a tug and I lean forward, impossibly near to her. I could kiss her if I wanted to. One dip of my chin and my mouth would be on hers, and I’m tempted to find out what she tastes like. The sounds she would make if I bit her bottom lip. Another yank on my necklace, and I’m about to drop to my knees. About to beg her to let me have her in all the ways I haven’t been able to stop imagining. “And when I do? I’m going to make sure you know I’m better than you.”
“I can’t wait, Quinny baby.”
“You’re impossible,” she says.
You’re goddamn beautiful, I almost say back.
“And you’re the one touching me. Admit it: you want to keep me around,” I settle on instead.
“Do me a favor.” Quincy’s eyes move to the necklace she’s still holding. She slowly releases the jewelry from her grasp. “Give it your best shot in there. Charm the pants off those guys. It’ll make it so much sweeter for me when I win.”
“Anything else?” I ask. “Now’s your chance to get whatever you want.”
