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“I think she’s making a drink.”
I headed into the kitchen. No sign of her. Confused, I returned to my desk, and as I sat down, I saw her enter the office door and slip into her own seat, her face downcast, her eyes rimmed with red.
A weird, protective instinct took over me, and I was rising to my feet and rushing over to her desk before I was even aware of what I was doing.
“Liv? What’s the matter?” I sank into a crouch next to her chair, laying my hand on her arm. She stared down at her desk, her hands trembling.
“It’s my fault,” she said, her voice small. “I messed up.” She turned to me. “I spent all day setting up my client’s social media account, making it perfect. Then my stupid computer crashed. I lost everything.”
“Oh, bugger.”
“Yeah, that was my reaction. Before I started crying.” She rolled her eyes, her expression dejected. “Idiot.”
“Can I do anything to help?” I asked, stroking her arm.
“No, but thank you.” She smiled tremulously.
“Did you ask Jamie if he could recover any of it?”
“Yeah, but stupid me didn’t save as I went, and it was all lost.” Her bottom lip trembled.
“Liv, you’re not stupid.” I stood up, grabbing her hand. “Come with me.” Glancing around to make sure no one was paying attention, I pulled her through the office door, into the corridor, then opened the door to the stairwell. No one ever used the stairs, so I knew we’d have privacy.
Wrapping my arms around her body, I slanted my mouth across hers, and she melted against me with a breathy sigh. I kissed her deeply, sliding my hand up to cup the back of her neck. When we pulled apart, she rested her head on my chest, hugging me tightly.
“Better?” I kissed the top of her head, running my hands up and down her back.
“Much,” she murmured. “Thank you.” She sighed. “I’m going to have to stay late to redo all my work.”
“Want some company? I’ve got some things I’ve been putting off. It’ll be a good opportunity to get them done while the office is quiet.”
She drew back, a brow raised. “Are we actually going to work, though? Because I need to get this done today, and you’re a bit of a distraction. A very sexy distraction,” she said, licking her lips, her eyes darkening, “but a distraction nonetheless.”
“I promise I’ll behave.” I winked. “I’ll even get us some dinner to eat while we’re working, so you can work without interruption. Fancy shawarma?”
“What’s sha—whatever you just said?”
“Oh, baby, don’t tell me you’ve never had shawarma.” I shook my head in mock-despair.
“You can keep saying that word, but I still have no idea what it is.” She laughed.
“You’re in for a treat. It’s kind of like a gyro. You’ll love it.”
She shrugged. “Sounds good to me. I’ll eat anything.”
“Anything?”
“I know where your mind just went.” She eyed me, smirking. “Maybe later, hey?”
“Later. You can come back to my flat after and we’ll make up for lost time.”
“Deal.”
21
Olivia
Exiting Waterloo station, I slid my huge sunglasses over my eyes, blinking at the sudden brightness. The fresh breeze and sunlight were so welcome on my skin after being crammed in like a sardine on the hot Tube train. I still couldn’t quite believe Luke had asked me out on an actual date. He’d been so adamant that we were only friends with the added benefit of sex, but the lines had become more and more blurred as time went on.
