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Grayson fully enters and closes the door. Moving comfortably about my office, he grabs a chair from the small table to the left, sets it next to my desk, then drops into it with one smooth, masculine movement. “Not hard, but mentally exhausting. I had several phone calls that lasted a while and took a lot of energy. I thought to myself when I left my office that if you were still here I’d offer that drink again. I think we both could use it.”
It may not be the best idea to have a drink with Grayson, but he’s clearly extending an olive branch for friendship, and honestly, what sane woman could say no to that sexy smile he’s flashing at me right now.
“All right, a drink does sound good. Can you do me a favor, though?”
His smile curves in playful curiosity. “Anything for you.”
“You’re really putting on the charm, aren’t you?”
He laughs but sounds serious when he speaks. “What can I do for you?”
“I’m less than five minutes from finishing this manuscript. You mind waiting while I read?”
He waves his hand and nods, indicating I should finish. “I know what that’s like. There’s no way I’m going to make you wait until tomorrow to finish.”
A smile spreads across my lips. “Thank you.”
Returning my attention to the manuscript, I slip back into the story within a few sentences. My red pen is back between my lips and I’m completely unaware that Grayson is watching me with an expression of contentment and fascination until I finish the last line and look over at him.
“Another good one, huh?”
Dropping my pen and taking a breath, I chuckle. “It was. I’m going to offer the writer representation tomorrow.”
I gather my things and stand at the same time Grayson does.
“Emma.”
Hearing my name stops my movements. “Yeah?”
Grayson raises his hand, licks his thumb, and then brings his hand to my lips. With the touch of his damp finger he awakens my lust.
Standing so close, I can smell his intoxicating cologne. I close my eyes and breathe him in as his thumb rubs my lips. When he pulls his hand away, he’s standing so close I can feel the warmth of his body. His jaw is set tight and his brows lowered. “You had ink on your lip.”
“Yes, of course.” I’m not even embarrassed. There’s no room for it when my body is buzzing. Just the touch of his finger has my center warming to an undesirable level. With his blue-green eyes set on mine, I feel as though he wants to remove the space between us and give into the same thoughts I have, but instead, he clears his throat and takes a step back.
“We should get going.”
There’s a bar two doors down from our office building. With the evening sun descending into the sky, the breeze is cooler than earlier in the day. Walking into the breeze, I shiver from its cold embrace. Grayson brings his hand to my shoulder and gives one long, languid stroke across my back. His touch is warm and affectionate and that chill instantly dissipates from my body. With his hand removed, the chill begins to creep back, but we’ve made it to the entrance of Masco’s and Grayson holds the door open for me.
Manners are something Grayson was definitely raised with. He knows how to treat a woman, and he continues to impress me when he pulls out a bar stool for me to sit before seating himself. The dark wood interior and low lighting make for a relaxed and intimate setting. In the background, instrumental music plays. The pepper-haired bartender, dressed in a button-down, white shirt, and black slacks, approaches with a smile.
“What can I get for you?”
“I’ll take an Old Fashioned,” Grayson tells him.
The bartender’s attention turns to me. “And the lady?”
“A Sangria.”
While the bartender moves about, preparing our drinks, Grayson focuses his attention on me. “What was the story you were reading this afternoon?”
“Romantic suspense. It’s another we can sell. It’s from an author we already represent. It’s her third book and it’s better than her first two.”
“I look forward to your notes and reading some of it.”
The bartender delivers our drinks and departs with a smile.
Taking a sip of the cool, refreshing liquid already has the tension from the workday easing away. “Do you ever read the manuscripts in full?”
