Page 21 of Playing with the Boss

She gives me a raised brow and then swings her hips around her desk to take a seat. “I have a few quotes to prepare, so if this can wait—”

“Lisa, I’d like to ask you on a date.”

Her shock is clear. As is her apparent joy at the idea. “Would you?”

“I said I’d start again and do it right. So, this is me doing it right.” I unbutton a cuff, making a show of rolling my sleeve. “You know, you really should turn the A/C on in here. Or at least open a window.”

“It’s not hot in here, Mason,” she deadpans.

The woman can do her best to pretend she doesn’t eyeball my forearms as I reveal the other, but I saw it: the switch of her legs, the rigidity of her spine, and the curl of her fingers.

“Are you sure?” I wiggle the knot in my tie. “Because I’m seriously considering loosening this off and undoing a button or two.”

“Okay,” she says with a slight laugh. “I’ll go on a date. You can stop stripping.”

“As if you were going to say no anyway.” I make for the door, pausing before I turn back around for dramatic effect. “Hotel lobby at eight.”

Fuck the rules.