“All right. Sounds good.” I turn and start toward the door, eager to get away yet reluctant to leave. He makes me uncomfortable. I can’t quite put my finger on exactly how or why, but there it is.

“Violet?”

I wait until I reach the door before I face him once more, reaching out my hand to rest it on the handle. “Yes?”

“Wear the red dress tonight.” He smiles, looking slightly devilish as he lets that wicked gaze roam over me yet again. “I like you in red.” There’s an undercurrent to his request. An unspoken meaning, as if he’s demanding I wear red to please him and no one else.

I’m so startled by his request I can’t answer him. Instead, I push open the door and practically run down the hall back to the elevator. Back to the safety of my floor and my office, back to normalcy and away from those lusty thoughts that swirl within me every time I’m close to Ryder.

But his words echo in my head for the rest of the morning and I find myself restlessly checking my in-box again and again, hitting refresh so many times I start to annoy myself. The fear that nags at me won’t let up. What if he forgets? What if he has to cancel? What if he’s changed his mind and decides he doesn’t want to see me tonight after all?

And why do I want to see him again so badly?

I remember how he touched me last night when he followed me outside. When he rested his hand on my shoulder, his warm fingers slipping just beneath the lacy strap of my dress. My skin tingles just thinking about it, and I wonder what it would feel like if he touched me with more purpose. If he sunk his hands into my hair and held me still, his mouth descending upon mine. I have no doubt he’s an expert kisser. A master at seduction. He’s so tall and muscular, I can only imagine what his body must be like. Not that Zachary has a bad one, but he’s a little soft in spots. It comes with the desk job, and considering Ryder has one, too … but from what I can tell there’s nothing soft on that man’s body whatsoever. Except, perhaps, his hair.

Oh, and his lips.

A shiver moves down my spine at the thought.

An email comes through and I see the familiar name. I click on it eagerly, my heart hammering in anticipation of what it might say. I should be doing a thousand and one things at the moment and instead I’m waiting for emails like a silly teenager waiting for her boyfriend to call.

Clearly I’ve lost my mind. And I can’t blame it on the alcohol any longer. I may be hung over, but I am stone-cold sober.

Violet,

I’ve made arrangements for us to have dinner at Harper’s at seven o’clock. I hope this works for your schedule and isn’t too early. I know you like to stay late at the office on Wednesday nights, so I tried to accommodate you as best I could.

I sink my teeth into my lower lip, my gaze snagged on the last sentence I read. Had Zachary ever tried to accommodate me in any way?

That would be a no.

I figured we could just ride over together. I’ve arranged for a car. Unless you wanted to go home first, which I completely understand. Let me know.

Best,

Ryder

I should make him wait. I should get on that phone call I’ve been meaning to make for the last few days. Fill out the boring paperwork Rose left me with last Friday that I still haven’t done.

Instead, I hit REPLY and immediately type out my response.

Dear Ryder,

That sounds perfect. I haven’t tried Harper’s but I’ve heard it’s delicious. And hopefully on a Wednesday night it will be quiet enough that we’ll be able to discuss the project freely without disturbing anyone. I look forward to our meeting.

Thank you,

Violet

I hit SEND before I can second-guess myself on what I said, but of course, I second-guess myself. Is it wrong that I said Harper’s was delicious? Or that I hoped it was quiet enough? Did I sound like I was implying anything? God, I’m being ridiculous. Absolutely ridiculous—

His reply hits my in-box so quickly it shocks me.

I arranged for us to have a private room so we won’t disturb anyone. I hope you don’t mind. I wanted your undivided attention while I talk to you.

Oh. Swallowing hard, I hit REPLY.

If that’s what you want, then you’ll have it.

I let my finger hover over the mouse for one beat. Two. Before I finally close my eyes and hit SEND.

That’s what I want more than anything. Looking forward to tonight.

R.

The pleasure that blooms within me makes me smile and I cover my face with my hands, shaking my head. I feel like an alien has taken over my body and is making me say these things, think these things. I have never in my life sent any sort of innuendo-filled email to anyone, not even Zachary. A few moments with Ryder and I act like I want him to jump me.

I sort of do want him to jump me.

Dropping my hands from my face, I reach out and pick up the phone, dialing Rose’s extension. She answers on the first ring with a hurried hello, sounding completely distracted.

“I know I just broke up with Zachary …” I pause, and Rose butts in before I can say another word.

“If you’re telling me you’re taking him back I will hang up on you. Right. Now. And I won’t talk to you again, either. I don’t care if we’re sisters. I don’t care if we work together. I won’t let you go back to that tool,” Rose says, sounding fierce, in her typical defensive I will kill anyone who hurts you sisterly way.

“No. No. Don’t worry about that.” I pause, suddenly feeling scared to say anything about Ryder to Rose. She’ll tell me I’m crazy. Warn me that I’m rushing into something I probably can’t handle. He’s too much for me. I know it. I think he knows it, too. But that’s not stopping him.