“This property is just the beginning,” Griffin said. “As advancements are made in clean energy and green technology, we can reduce Louisiana’s carbon footprint and be an example for the rest of the country. Sykes-Wilcox’s partnership with the city of New Orleans has the potential to turn this city into one others around the world will want to emulate.”
His anxiety slowly lessened as he surveyed the room. There were actual smiles on their faces as the city leaders enthusiastically discussed the presentation. Griffin shook the hands of each member of the city planning commission as they exited the room, then turned to his boss.
“How was that, Mark?” Griffin asked.
“Phenomenal,” Mark Sykes answered. “A simply phenomenal presentation. I felt pretty confident about landing this contract before, but after what you and your team just did, I have no doubts it’s ours.”
“I thought it was your job to manage expectations,” Griffin asked with a laugh.
“No need. This contract is in the bag. Now if only I can convince Ms. Holmes here to join Sykes-Wilcox full time, my day will be complete,” he said, motioning for Indina to join them.
“You can forget that,” Griffin said. “From what I’ve seen, she spends most of her day turning down offers from other architectural firms trying to lure her to join them.”
“Are you two talking about me?” Indina asked as she sidled up next to Mark.
“Yes, we are,” his boss said. “I was just telling Griffin that it’s time for you to stop toying with us and just get on the payroll at Sykes-Wilcox already. You, Griffin and Jason make a dynamic team.”
“I think today’s presentation proves that I don’t have to be on the payroll in order to be a part of this dynamic team,” Indina said.
Mark wagged his finger at her. “Be careful with this one, Griff. She’s sharp.”
“That she is,” Griffin said. “Which is why I’m content with having her any way I can get her.” He paused just long enough to catch Indina narrowing her eyes at him. “On our team,” Griffin finished.
“You’re right about that,” Mark said. “Sykes-Wilcox is happy to pay your steep hourly rate, Ms. Holmes. Anything to keep this team together.”
“I am very satisfied with our contractual relationship,” Indina said. “I have no intentions of going anywhere else.”
“Now that’s what I want to here,” Mark said. He tapped them both on the back. “Good job today. You too, Jason. You all need to take the rest of the day off and go out to celebrate.”
“Only if we get to use the company credit card,” Griffin replied.
“You always have to go that extra step, don’t you?” Mark said with a laugh. The moment his boss walked away, Griffin turned to Indina and hooked a thumb back toward Mark. He spoke before she did, not wanting to give her the chance to call him on his earlier comment about having her any way he could get her. He knew he’d toed the line with that one, just as he’d done with that wink he’d given her earlier. Public displays of affection were not welcomed.
“In the four years I’ve worked for him, I’ve never seen Mark so infatuated,” Griffin said. “Not that I can blame him. You were in rock star mode throughout the entire presentation. Congratulations.”
“Thank you,” she said. “Normally, I’d say it’s too early for congratulations, but based on the commission members’ reactions, I think Mark is right. This one is in the bag.”
“Of course it’s in the bag. We kicked ass today.”
“We did, didn’t we?” She thrust her hand out to him. “Nice work.”
Griffin glanced at her hand, and then brought his eyes back to hers. “Do you remember how many hours we put into this? What we accomplished here today at least warrants a congratulatory hug, doesn’t it?”
“Griffin?” she hedged.
He lowered his voice. “C’mon, Indina. I know we have this no PDAs in the workplace rule, but what’s a simple hug after all the work we did on this project?”
She hesitated for just a moment before stepping into his embrace. The awkward, impersonal hug completely gutted him. He barely had the chance to feel her against him before she backed away and mumbled something about going over to help Jason pack up the 3-D model.
Griffin studied her as she walked over to the conference table. Even after all these months together, he had no idea what to make of her.
Just a few hours ago he’d been buried deep inside her. He’d licked his way around her body, from that piece of heaven between her thighs, up to her soft, slightly rounded belly, and her full, delectable breasts. She’d done the same to him. So why was it so damn hard for her to show him any kind of affection outside of the bedroom?
The better question was, why was he surprised? That’s the way things had always been between him and Indina.
Back when they’d first started this no-strings-attached thing, they’d both been in a place where a real relationship just didn’t fit in with their lifestyles. But things had changed for Griffin over the last few months. The emotionless hook-ups—while physically gratifying as hell—just weren’t enough for him anymore. He wanted more.
Indina, unfortunately, did not.
She’d told him so from the very beginning, and she hadn’t given any indication that her feelings had changed regarding their relationship—or whatever one called this arrangement between them.
Indina had her own name for it. They were fuck buddies. Plain and simple.
It was hard for Griffin to accept that this was all they would ever be to each other, but he also wasn’t stupid enough to jeopardize what they had going just because he wanted more than Indina was willing to give. That’s why whenever that text popped up on his phone, asking if he wanted to get together, he kept his mouth shut and just enjoyed it. Great sex was great sex, and if he could get
