I obviously couldn’t see him, but I heard his smile in just two words. “Fuck yeah.”
I laughed. “You’re bad.”
“Why don’t you go lock the door to your office and let me tell you the things I want to do to you while you slip your hand down into those lacy panties I know you have on.”
Damn, I kind of wished I were still at the office now. “Tempting…but no can do. I’m not at the office.”
“Where are you?”
“At a bar a few blocks away with Maggie. She’s trying to get me drunk.”
“Nice. I’m glad you left the office at a decent hour tonight.”
“I still have a lot of catching up to do.”
“Well, get it done. Because once I’m back, I’ll come carry your ass out if you’re working too late. You promised me a summer, and I’m not taking just weekends.”
I smiled. “I’ll try.”
“Alright. I’ll let you go so you can enjoy your time with your friend.”
“You’re flying home tomorrow, right?”
“Shit—no. That’s what I called for. You made me forget by telling me you wanted me to eat you while you sat at your desk.”
I laughed. “I did not say that.”
“I heard it in your voice. But anyway, I called to tell you my dinner with the owner was rescheduled to Saturday night. His daughter had a baby a few weeks early, so he flew out to wherever she lives. He’s coming back Saturday, so I had to change my flight to Sunday. I have to cancel our plans for Saturday. I’m sorry.”
“Oh, okay.”
“Unless you want to get your ass on a plane after work tomorrow. There’s a desk in my suite. I can make due.”
“Tempting. But I really can’t.”
Maggie returned, carrying two glasses of wine and a phone number scribbled on a napkin. I shook my head, pointed to the phone, and mouthed Max.
He was quiet for a bit. “I miss waking up to you.”
My heart squeezed. “I miss waking up to you, too.”
“There’s a simple way we could both be out of our misery…”
I smiled. “I know. I just have too much to catch up on at work to jump on a flight tomorrow afternoon.”
“Okay. But if you change your mind, let me know. I’ll get you a ticket.”
“Thanks, Max.”
“Have a good night. Stay safe.”
“You, too.”
I pulled the phone away from my ear to swipe, and Maggie grabbed it from my hand.
“Max? Are you still there? It’s Maggie.” She grinned at me. “Oh, hey. Listen, buy the ticket. I’ll get her ass on that plane.”
“Give me that phone,” I said.
She leaned back, as if that would keep me from reaching.
“That’s a good idea. Thanks, Max.” She wiggled her fingers at the phone even though he obviously couldn’t see her. “Toodle-oo.”
Maggie swiped to end the call and held my phone against her chest, looking all dreamy-eyed. “He told you he missed waking up to you. You have to go.”
I shook my head. “I wish I could, but I can’t. I have so much to do at the office.”
“Let me ask you something… Is this man as sweet as he seems from the little I’ve been around him?”
I sighed. “He really is. Under that tough-guy, hockey-player-who-hits-people-with-a-stick exterior is a real softie.”
“And how’s the sex?”
I smiled just thinking about it. “He checks that sweetness at the bedroom door. And when he kisses me, he wraps his big hand around my throat. It’s very dominant and probably should scare me a little, but I kind of love it.”
“How long is he gone?”
“He was supposed to come back tomorrow afternoon. But something came up, and now he won’t be back until Sunday.”
My phone chimed from Maggie’s hand. She held it out to check the screen and then looked to the two glasses of wine in front of me on the table. “You better finish that wine and get started on the next one.”
My brows furrowed. “Why?”
She turned my phone around and showed me the screen. “Because Max just sent you a ticket. I need to get you drunk enough to talk you into getting on the plane tomorrow afternoon.”
? ? ?
“I’m going to jump in the shower,” Max said to my reflection in the bathroom mirror. “Breakfast should be here in a few minutes.”
I set the blow dryer down. “Okay. I’m done. The bathroom is all yours.”