She sped through the rest of her morning, making sure Anna had everything she needed so Kathy could get away for a while. She left Anna alone often, but Kathy was never out of touch. Today, she wanted to be unreachable.
“You’re sure you can hold down the fort?” she asked Anna again before heading out to pick up lunch.
“For the fourth time, yes. Go. Have a great lunch.” Anna winked and grinned. “And whatever else you have planned. Like maybe a much-needed dessert.”
Kathy’s cheeks flushed. She considered Anna a friend, but they normally didn’t get into personal details. “Thanks. I might just indulge in some dessert today.”
Anna clapped her hands. “Excellent. Get out of here.”
“I’m going. Call if there’s an emergency.”
“Has there ever been an emergency?”
“Well, no, but you never know.”
Anna came around the counter and began pushing Kathy toward the door. “Take the rest of the day off.”
Kathy shot her a look.
“Well, I don’t want to see you again before two o’clock.”
“I don’t think lunch will take that long.”
“Then take a nap. You’ve been working too much lately. You need a break.” She opened the door and shoved Kathy through.
With a deep breath, Kathy went to her car. Anna was right. Although she’d always been available, Anna never called. She was a great employee who knew what she was doing. Kathy stopped at the sandwich shop on the corner and ordered food to go. She wanted something that she could stick in the refrigerator in case she and Kevin were busy doing other things.
She definitely wanted to be busy doing other things.
As soon as she got into her apartment, she put lunch in the fridge and then got antsy. She never had free time in the middle of the day. Her phone buzzed with a text and her stomach sank. She was afraid to look in case Kevin was calling to cancel.
On my way. Be there in ten.
I’m waiting. She responded, trying not to sound too eager. She debated changing into something sexy, but then decided not to. What if he didn’t have a lot of time for lunch and all he really wanted to do was eat? He didn’t run his own business. He had to answer to people. She would feel foolish standing there in a nightie if he had to leave in thirty minutes.
She didn’t expect hours-long sex, but their first time—again—shouldn’t be a quickie. Even if it was a nooner. Her head was spinning out, so she plopped on the couch to wait. It made no sense to make herself crazy. Kevin would be here soon and they’d figure it out.
Together.
She liked the thought of that. For the first time in a long time, she actually felt like she was part of something. It might not be the easiest or smoothest-running thing, but she enjoyed it. Her bell rang and she buzzed Kevin in. She opened the door to see him standing in her hallway in a suit, looking downright sinful.
“Hey,” he said.
“Hey,” she said a little breathlessly before grabbing his hand and pulling him into her apartment. “I’m really glad you made it.”
“Uh-huh.” His eyes stared intently into hers as he closed the door behind him. Then he spun her back against the door and lowered his mouth to hers. His hips pinned hers in place as their tongues tangled.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and ran her fingers through the soft short hair at the back of his head.
He came up for air and studied her face. “Hello.”
“Hi. When do you have to be back at work?”
“Whenever I get there.”
Thank God. She moved against his mouth again and loosened his tie. His fingers skimmed along her waist, pushing her shirt up a few inches, just enough to reveal some skin.
He pulled away again and Kathy almost groaned. “We should probably stop if we’re gonna get to lunch,” he whispered.
“I planned ahead. Lunch is in the fridge. Sandwiches.” She continued to kiss his stubbly jaw and down his neck. She unknotted the tie and began to unbutton his shirt. “Let’s go to the bedroom.”
“What?” He froze and took her hands to stop her.
She swallowed hard and looked up.
“Are you saying what I think you are?” he asked. Lust burned in his eyes and she already felt the hard-on in his neatly pressed pants.
“I’m saying we should go to my bedroom for some much-needed sexual relief.”
“But . . .”
She didn’t wait for him to finish. She cupped him and ran her tongue on his neck.
Grabbing her hands again, he said, “We haven’t had five dates.”
“Close enough,” she answered against his warm skin.
“Kathy.” He waited and then stepped away from her, this time putting an arm’s length between them, still holding her hands.
She lifted an eyebrow and waited.
“Are you sure about this?”
“Have I ever struck you as the kind of person to do something unless I’m sure?”
“No. But you wanted slow. This isn’t exactly slow.”
She took a step but made no attempt to touch him, other than where their hands connected. “I wanted time to get reacquainted. Even with our crazy schedules, I think we’ve been doing a pretty good job. We need this. The talking and texting is great, but we need the physical part too. It’ll give us something for when we’re not together. Don’t you think?”
“Who am I to argue with logic?” He released her hands and began undressing. “Where’s the bed?”
She laughed and stepped around him. “You might want to hang up your clothes so they’re not all wrinkled. Everyone will know what you did on your lunch break.”
“Let them all be jealous that I spent my lunch buried in the most beautiful woman around.”
His words caused more desire to stir through her, and she couldn’t get to the bed fast enough. She walked into her bedroom and opened
