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I smile too. “Wouldn’t want my boss to get mad if I’m late tomorrow.”
“Who’s your boss? He sounds like a total jerk.”
“Ah, he’s all right once you get to know him.”
We’re both laughing as we climb back into the car. The air between us is electric, buzzing with life and happiness. There’s a lightness that feels like relief—the relief of finally leaning into this thing that’s been building between us, almost painful in the anticipation it held.
As we pull out of the parking lot, Liam rolls down the windows and the sweet spring air swirls through the vehicle. His hand reaches for mine. “Hey, Annie?”
“Yes?”
“How would you feel about coming to Luke and Mindy’s wedding?” He pauses. “With me, I mean?”
Butterflies fill my stomach to the brim. He wants me there?
“And here I was, hoping Legs was the one inviting me,” I joke.
“Oh, believe me, I’m just getting in there before she asks you.”
I tuck my mussed up hair behind my ears as I consider Liam’s question. “I’d love to come, but is that… allowed? Us going to the wedding together?”
He runs his teeth over his bottom lip. “Technically, yes. The rules state that romantic connections in the workplace are not encouraged… but we wouldn’t be at work, would we?”
“We would not.” I grin at him. “Look at you, taking my data to heart and finding a little flexibility with the rules.”
“I can readily admit now that you were right and I was wrong about that,” he says gallantly.
“Wow. I’m going to need you to say that again.”
“I was wrong.” Liam smirks. “And I say we write the flexibility feature into the V2 launch as a definite.”
“Told you—data doesn’t lie.” I smile so big, it hurts my cheeks. But then, I have a thought. Something we need to address. “Um, speaking about work and the investment and everything, I’d imagine it’s best for both of us if we kept, um… well, if we kept a bit quiet about”—I tip my head towards him and swallow before continuing—“what just happened while we’re at the office.”
I say this because it’s what I think Liam would want, sure. I know that getting SITL's HR in order is important, and the boss suddenly dating an employee might not look too wonderful.
But I also say it because it’s a layer of protection for me. What if everyone found out about the two of us, and then Liam decides he doesn’t want anything else to do with me? Aside from the actual heartbreak of that potential scenario, I can’t bear to be the subject of everyone’s pity again.
I can’t do it.
I like Liam. Like him so much, it almost hurts. But I’m also all too aware how much my past mistakes hurt.
“I agree,” Liam’s voice cuts through my thoughts, stilling them. “But that being said… I’d very much like for what just happened to happen again.”
My heart leaps at these words. “That makes two of us.”
35
ANNIE
The week that follows those earth-shattering kisses is a whirlwind of Liam in every form.
There’s the Liam who strides into the office in the morning with frightening purpose. Spends hours in the boardroom with Luke, face pinched and eyes focused as the investment pitch comes to a head. There’s the Liam who asks how my day is going, listens intently to my ideas, compliments my work.
And then, there’s the Liam who gives me lingering sideways glances in the hallway, texts me sweet little messages when no one’s looking (technically not a rule break). Who sneaks his hand onto my leg under the desk in meetings, moving his fingertips in dizzying patterns (also, technically, not a rule break). The Liam who drags me into the copy room when the coast is clear to kiss me senseless (okay, definitely a rule break. But well worth it).
This is also the Liam who insists on having lunch with my parents to officially meet them before whisking me away to his brother’s destination wedding.
He’s old-fashioned like that, apparently.
