Page 24 of The Auction Block

I pull it out and open the new messages.

2:15p Caleb: That's awesome dude. You've been single for too damn long. Just make sure Miranda doesn't fuck this one up.

2:17p Blake: Ha, I'm pretty sure Lily would bitch slap her.

I burst out laughing, shattering the quietness of the room. Blake lightly bangs his hand on his desk, his office phone still on his ear. My face heats and I mouth the word,'Sorry'as I slide my phone back in its holder. He raises his eyebrows at me, and I look back at my book, trying to compose myself.

Looks like Blake knows me better than I thought.

I clear my throat, swallowing another round of laughter. This would be a lot less funny if he knew his messages were being sent to my phone. I focus on my reading and space out, vaguely keeping track of Blake's conference call.

†††

"You ready for lunch?"

I close the book and stand, raising my arms above my head to stretch. Blake lets his eyes roam over my body and I quickly drop my arms and step around him. He sighs and I hold my breath, opening his office door. He walks past me, his body coming too close to mine.

"Michelle, I'm going out for lunch. No one in the office and take messages, don't forward any calls to my cell today."

Her eyes dart from me to him, shock filling them. "Yes, sir."

"Lily."

I fall in stride next to him, pulling my cell phone out again.

"We won't need Jameson to drive us. The place we're going is less than a block away."

I press the button for his cell anyway.

"Black Mamba."

"We're walking to get lunch. Go get yourself something."

"Will do."

"Mamba?"

"Yeah?"

"Be careful."

"Of course, Viper."

I hit the end button and stick the phone back in its case, glancing up at Blake.

"Mamba?"

"His codename is Black Mamba."

"Ah. Do you all have names like that?"

We step into the elevator. "Yes."

"So, you're Viper, Vlad's Rattlesnake. Jameson is Mamba. What about the others? You guys are like the real-life version of G.I. Joe or Kill Bill." Blake laughs and I can't help but snicker.

I run my hand through my hair as the elevator doors open. Blake and I walk quickly down the street. A few minutes later, he stops in front of a small café, holding the door open for me. I walk in and we're greeted by silence. The place is empty except for two elderly woman standing behind a counter.

Blake smiles at them and moves to sit at a table near the far wall. It's a small two top with little room underneath. He sits with his feet separated, giving me somewhere to put mine. This is really . . . intimate.