Page 83 of Yours to Keep

She slid them into water, stepping back to inspect her work. Obviously satisfied, she grabbed plates from the cupboard and nodded toward the small dining table near her window. “Let’s eat before this gets cold.”

I carried the takeout containers to the table while she moved around me easily, pulling out forks, napkins, and two glasses of water, the domestic ease of it all unsettling and addictive all at once. We sat across from each other, unpacking noodles, dumplings, and whatever fusion dish I’d panic-ordered when I’d walked into the restaurant. She groaned when she opened the container it was in.

“This smells amazing,” she said.

“All the credit has to go entirely to the chef,” I said. “I only handled the logistics.”

“Ah, yes.” She grinned. “Your specialty.”

I smirked, watching her take her first bite. She closed her eyes briefly and hummed approval under her breath, making something inside me purr with quiet satisfaction. For a few minutes, we just ate in an easy, comfortable silence, but eventually, I set my fork down.

“When can I take you out on a real date?” I asked.

She blinked, pausing mid-sip and placing her water back down after she’d swallowed. “We went to the Bahamas together.”

“That was practically a kidnapping with some sunscreen and swimsuits involved,” I joked, only growing serious again when she lifted her gaze back to mine. “I mean a real date. I want to show you off to the world.”

Color crept into her cheeks, and for a second, she looked genuinely flattered. It softened her entire face before reality snapped back into place behind her eyes. “Sullivan…”

“I’m serious.”

“I know you are and it means a lot that you want that. Really, but I still don’t want the people I work with knowing about us.”

My shoulders stiffened. “Do you think they’d judge you that badly?”

“I know they would.” She met my gaze steadily. “I know you’re not just the evil businessman they all think you are, but they don’t see you the way I do. They’ll hate me for dating you.”

I opened my mouth, but she kept going. “A good relationship should make both people’s lives better, so if you want to give this a real try, being with you can’t make my work life impossible.”

I leaned back in chair, folding my arms as I lowered my chin. “I can’t make all those people like me, Bree.”

“No, but you didn’t have to make them all hate you.”

My jaw tightened. “I don’t think about that kind of stuff when I make business decisions.”

“Yeah,” she said dryly. “I remember your opening speech. You literally said you don’t give a fuck if people love you or hate you.”

I lifted one shoulder in a shrug I didn’t feel. “See? At least I’m consistent.”

Her eyes narrowed, but amusement flickered behind it. “You don’t seem to understand that morale is important.”

“You don’t seem to understand business,” I shot back. “Show me on the spreadsheet where to put good vibes, and then I’ll factor it in.”

She snorted, shaking her head. “God, you’re impossible.”

“No, I’m efficient,” I corrected.

She pointed her fork at me. “Also, let’s not forget that you don’t want HR finding out you’re dating an employee either. That’s way against the rules. So put that in your spreadsheet, you cold-hearted monster.”

I scoffed. “Cold-hearted, huh?”

“You’ve been changing structures that have been in place for decades like it’s no more important than rearranging furniture,” she said, though her voice had softened, teasing threading through it.

“And yet, you keep letting me into your apartment.”

Her lips parted slightly. “That might just be my tragic character flaw.”

“Lucky me.”