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“You know she’s married, right?” Myles questions, her voice low and serious.
My eyes flit to hers. “Of course. Why does everyone keep asking that?”
She holds my gaze for far longer than I’m comfortable with. Finally, she says, “If she means anything to you—and I know she does—tread carefully.”
I exhale slowly before giving her a single nod of understanding. Then, trying to steady my voice, I offer, “Look, whatever it was you think you saw, it was nothing, okay?”
Myles stares at me as if trying to read something in my expression that will give away the truth. Finally, she sighs heavily and slumps back in her seat.
“Fine,” she mutters. “But I can tell you this—if anything is going on between you two, you need to be careful or it could make things super awkward around here. Clear?”
Again, I nod, ignoring the twinge of guilt that pings through me because it feels like I’m lying to her. However, digging into the truth wouldn't do any good either.
“Crystal clear," I say softly before turning back to my computer screen and focusing on work again.
I know what Myles is saying and it's not something I needed reminding of—I am all too aware of the risk of letting anything happen with Lily. It's a slippery slope, and if I'm not careful, I could end up ruining both our lives.
I want to think it was the atmosphere upstairs. The upper tier has such a sexual vibe that it can get to the most steadfast of people—even when no one else is there doing unspeakable things.
It lives and breathes in the spaces up there.
I’ve even noticed it.
But that doesn't mean Lily and I can't still be friends and work together on this event. Right?
With that thought in mind, I exhale slowly and rub the back of my neck. I need to keep things professional between us, no matter how difficult that might be.
She’s off-limits.
Myles’ voice breaks into my thoughts as she stands up from her chair and taps the edge of my desk with the tip of her middle finger. “Just remember what I said, okay?”
I look up at her and nod slowly in response.
She gives me a curt tip of the head before walking out without another word. I watch her until she disappears beyond my office door before leaning forward and running my hands over my face in frustration.
A tiny part of me wishes I'd never bumped into Lily.
It was easier having her be a hypothetical in my head. But now, here she is—real and tangible—and all I want is to be closer to her—and to stay as far away as possible—all at the same time.
It's hard not to feel something for her when we have so much history between us. It’s a past that has been dormant for far too long. And that onus is on me. I get that.
Even now, it's like we're on the same wavelength—and it just feels so natural when we work together. Like no time has passed since we last saw each other, and that scares me a little because it means that despite everything, we’re still intricately connected.
I take a ragged breath and try to push these thoughts out of my head and refocus on the task at hand. After all, Lily will be here soon and I need to get my other work finished before then.
With a deep breath and a renewed sense of determination, I sit up straighter in my chair and turn my attention back to the tasks at hand.
I make quick work of reviewing and signing off on documents for the upcoming event that Lily and I will be working on together.
My thoughts only stray once or twice.
Thank fuck.
Eventually, though, I rein them all in and finish up the work that needs to be done before Lily comes in with her usual enthusiasm and puts a smile on everyone’s face.
My phone dings, drawing my attention to it. When I turn it over, my stomach flutters more than is masculine when I see Lily’s name across the screen.
Swallowing hard, I open my phone and read her text.
