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“Good planning always has rewards.” He shrugs. “Yours will come. I think you swayed Martin. After him, the other two should be a piece of cake. Honestly, I think they’ll green-light you to start the focus groups quickly.”

“That would be awesome. I still can’t believe how well it went. If the project gets approved, that will really help me refine the whole scope. With the feedback from the focus groups, I can capture what patrons in the identified demographics will want. If the data bears out my thoughts and these locations actually open, these will be more family-oriented than our current locations, but will⁠—”

Noah grabs my hand. “Sugar, you don’t have to sell me. You persuaded me a long time ago.”

“Thanks for believing I could.” I bite my lip.

“I never doubted it.”

I can’t resist falling into his smile. His eyes sparkle with affection and sincerity. Basking in that expression at point-blank range, I’m star struck. His stare hits me square in the chest. God, he’s so beautiful, it hurts. It would be so easy to believe…

Forcing myself to look away, I suck in a breath. No. I can’t start thinking that maybe he’s into me. It’s too dangerous to my heart.

But Noah still holds my hand in his. Warm. Slightly calloused. Large and long-fingered. He’s standing nearer than ever. Dangerously close. And he’s looking straight down at me. The room is suddenly thick with silence.

I swallow.

The moment my stranger slid deep in my body while I fantasized about Noah rushes back to me. Mr. Mysterious’s touch made my blood hot, but when I conjure up a vision of Noah, he cranks up my blood to a roiling boil. The thought of him wanting me, binding me under him, and compelling me to accept his passion sent me over the edge, headfirst into pleasure as sharp as a machete and so hot, lava feels like ice cubes by comparison.

Even remembering my fantasies makes me blush.

“What are you thinking?” he asks, wearing a mischievous smile.

Oh, no. Does he have any idea that I’m thinking about sex? With him?

Time to lie like hell.

“A million things.” I discreetly tug from his grasp and cross the room to stuff the papers I brought from the meeting in my laptop case. “Gosh, doing well at this meeting was like a head rush, as amazing as an upside-down rollercoaster ride.”

“The idea of beating up on Martin’s intellect makes you blush? And here I thought maybe it was being close to me. I must be slipping.”

I snap my gaze his way again. His teasing grin makes my heart stop. Noah isn’t slipping, not even a little.

Since the day I became aware of him as a man a couple of years ago, he’s become devastatingly effective against my resistance. If he ever turns the full force of his charm on me, he’ll be lethal to my heart. After all, Noah has left a string of younger, sturdier ones in his wake. I can’t be stupid enough to add mine to his collection.

“I know you too well to fall for all that charm, so…” I shrug and toss him a light smile, then quickly segue to another subject by glancing at my watch. “Wow, look at the time. I didn’t realize it was already almost eleven. I think I’ll treat myself to an early lunch. Bye.”

“Wait. Let me take you out. You’ve more than earned it.” He crosses the room to me again. “You can even have a glass of wine. I won’t tell the boss.”

When he winks, I force a laugh. What I really want to do is tear his clothes off.

Bad, bad, bad idea.

My head tells me to refuse. My mouth has a mind of its own. “All right. Let’s go.”

He settles a hand at the small of my back. His touch feels possessive as he guides me out the door. For an instant, my eyes slide shut. I melt into him. My nipples harden.

Gathering my wits again, I take a discreet half step away. “I need to collect my purse and stop at the restroom.”

“I’ll meet you in front of your desk in five.”

Nodding, I dart to the bathroom. Inside, I’m blessedly alone and stare at myself in the mirror. The upswept do is professional. My suit impeccable, thanks to my sister’s great taste in clothing. The jewelry helps bring the look together for a casual sophistication that really is perfect for this office.

Unfortunately, my flushed cheeks, swollen lips, and dilated eyes all scream “fuck me.”

Deep breaths, one after the other. I can do this. The two of us are just going to lunch. Noah likes to tease people, always has. His banter means nothing. The fact that I want his flirtation to mean something…well, that’s my problem.

Quickly, I use the facilities, wash my hands, return to my desk, and retrieve my purse. Noah stands quietly, waiting, watching. His gaze seems to drill me. Hot. Almost…like he wants to strip me down and spend the afternoon between my legs. Surely he doesn’t mean to look at me that way. Impossible.