ough Crestwood Marketing's glass doors at 7:30 AM. Her stomach churned not just from the three cups

orner to her desk

white shirt slightly rumpled as if he'd slept in it. Dark circles sh

e said, thrusting

d her watch.

s own cup, his throat working as he swallowed. "We've g

electricity shot up her arm, making her jerk back slightly. If Liam n

he coffee-black with just a hint of cinnamo

graphy with obsessive precision while Emma rehearsed her talking points u

mitted, studying the fin

luttering. "Think it's en

een eyes startlingly intense. "T

ah appeared in the doorway. "T

mouth we

elbow-just the briefest

ch was f

ls wowed the clients, his quiet explanations drawing nods of approval. When they finished,

haking their hands, "is exact

breath she hadn't realized she was holdi

ou," he

"Don't let it g

ds. "Drinks tonight to

Twinkling lights draped the walls, and a garish tree in the corner dripped with tinsel. She'd changed i

to the crowded bar. "Champag

lass, scanning the r

te, as usual. He ha

was laughing with coworkers when the doo

d his usual button-down for a charcoal-gray suit that hugged his br

called. "Get ove

ting a beer from Sarah but keeping his ey

er veins. "You don't lo

uirked. "Hi

fading around them. Then Sarah shoved another dri

blurred a

, and somehow ended up pressed against Liam's side as

nnounced as they reached E

ut Liam was already handing t

d. "You don'

aid, but there w

ser, the scent of his cologne d

darkened.

ore she did something

off her heels whe

You for

d-her scarf, dra

Can you bri

ould drop

leapt into h

s you're alr

, her pulse racing. This

I'm s

s later, her

nowflakes melting in his hair.

heir fingers bru

her m

kled with tension. Emma's

stepped clo

rning she got before

cupped her face, his touch surprisingly gentle for someone usually s

s, Liam rested his forehead against hers.

ooped. "You *hated

geous grin. "Hate's not the opposi

ave sent him home. Instead, she pulled him

empty bed and the scent of coffee. She pulled on a robe and padd

patula in han

d at the memory of

evening hanging between them. Then Liam's phone buzzed. He

ded. "Rig

over them. What did you sa

kissing her soundly as he le

him. Emma touched her lips,

r phone

We shou

omach d

a: A

peared, disappeare

Last

moment he'd say it was a mistake, tha

breath and typed:

nd-guess herself. Whatever happened next, one thing was ce