Page 33 of Just a Little Tempted

“Yes,” he said simply.

He positioned himself at my side, one hand resting on my desk, the other on the back of my chair. He’d shed his suit jacket at some point during the afternoon—the way he usually didas the day wore on—and his black button-down shirt stretched across his broad shoulders in a way that made my mouth go dry.

I forced myself to focus on the sketchbook as I flipped to another page, and I saw the recognition in Simon’s eyes.

“It’s Kurt,” he said.

I nodded, because he was right. The drawing showed my brother from the waist up, his body angled slightly to one side with his head turned. His arms were folded loosely across his chest, and a crooked half smile played at the corner of his mouth—the kind he always wore when he thought he’d gotten away with something. I’d managed to capture the warmth in his eyes, along with the quiet confidence that had always made people gravitate toward him.

Simon leaned closer to get a better look, and I found my gaze drifting back to him despite my best efforts. He was so frustratingly handsome. I wished he wasn’t—it would make everything so much easier. But I couldn’t stop noticing the sharp line of his jaw, the way his dark hair fell across his forehead, and the full curve of his lips that I now knew felt intimately against mine.

I reached for the sketchbook to turn to the next page at the same moment Simon did. Our fingers brushed, and his eyes snapped to mine, and the air between us thickened, charged with something electric. I thought about what he’d said this morning—about kissing me when hewantedto—and I couldn’t help wondering if it was about to happen. Right here. Right now.Hopingit would happen.

The elevator chimed at the end of the hall, shattering the moment.

The only offices on this floor belonged to Simon and Liam. Since Liam was working at GalvaTech today, whoever had arrived was almost certainly here for Simon.

I looked down the corridor and smiled in surprise when I saw Hazel heading our way. She was wearing a tailored pantsuit with a full face of camera-ready makeup, which meant she’d either just finished recording an interview or was about to do one.

Simon stepped back from my desk, putting professional distance between us just as Hazel reached us. I pushed my chair back and stood.

“Hey,” I said, noting the white envelope in her hand. “I wasn’t expecting you. Is everything okay?”

Hazel flashed her brilliant smile. “Of course. I just wanted to give you something. I hope it’s okay that I stopped by.”

Her eyes shifted to Simon, and I realized he was watching her curiously.

“Simon, this is Hazel,” I said, making the introductions. “She’s dating my brother Miles. Hazel, this is my boss, Simon Powers.”

“Nice to meet you,” Hazel said, extending her hand.

Hazel was stunning, the kind of beautiful that made heads turn wherever she went. It was something that drove Miles crazy, knowing that pretty much every man they encountered noticed his girlfriend. But he really had nothing to worry about. Anyone could see that Hazel was completely devoted to my brother.

Still, I found myself watching Simon as they shook hands, searching for any sign that he found her attractive. It felt petty to even care—we were only fake dating for Alexander’s benefit—but relief washed through me when I saw no indication that he was even the slightest bit interested.

“So, what did you want to give me?” I asked.

Hazel held out the white envelope. “Tickets to the Lynx game this weekend. I was planning to go, but I have to head out of town Thursday for work.”

This wasn’t unusual. As a journalist, Hazel sometimes traveled for stories. She liked to attend all of Miles’s home games when possible, so she always had two tickets—one for her and one for a friend so she wouldn’t have to sit alone. When she couldn’t use them, she’d pass them along.

“Thanks,” I said, opening the envelope to find premium seats. Unsurprising. Miles would want Hazel positioned where she’d have the best view of him on the ice—and where he could easily spot her in the crowd.

“Well, I’d better get going,” Hazel said, checking her watch. “I’ve got an interview in twenty minutes.”

I thanked her again, and she headed for the elevator. The moment she was gone, Simon moved to stand in front of me, a peculiar smile playing at the corners of his mouth.

“This is perfect,” he said. “You can take me to the hockey game.”

I arched an eyebrow at his presumptuous assertion. “Excuse me?”

He shrugged. “I’m a huge Lynx fan. And this will be good practice for us before the resort trip. We need to be comfortable together, and convincing. Spending time outside the office will help with that.”

I considered his words, trying to read past the surface. “So… this would be our first date.”

I aimed for a joking tone and missed by a mile. Probably because a part of me desperately wished it could be real.

Simon’s expression gave nothing away. “It’s a chance to get to know each other better outside of a work environment. Build the kind of ease that Alexander will expect to see between a real couple. The last thing we need is to show up at Neptune’s Kingdom and have him sense that something’s off.”