Chapter Eleven

Life wasn’t getting any easier.

Hailey rubbed her eyes, needing a break from staring at her computer screen. This week had gone from good to hectic in record time. She’d taken to coming in early and staying late just to keep on top of her workload. The only break had been yesterday when Alec had asked her to a quick working lunch. They’d managed to squeeze a lovely hour out of their day, but though Hailey had enjoyed the break, she hadn’t been as excited to spend time with him as she should have been.

A year ago, being asked to lunch would have made her week. Now she found herself thinking about the deal they were working on rather than the sparkle in his blue eyes. She wasn’t sure if the revelation was good or bad. Should she still even want to catch Alec’s attention after what had happened with Caleb?

Just thinking of the other man had heat spiraling through her body.

She dropped her head to her desk, giving herself a moment to regroup before she had to get back to work.

“If this is how you fill your workday, maybe I’m better off not having you as an employee.”

Hailey straightened with a start. She hadn’t imagined it. Caleb stood in her doorway holding a brown paper bag and two coffees.

“What are you doing here?” she said.

“Don’t worry,” he replied, shutting the door behind him. “I stayed far away from Alec’s office. He’ll never know I was here.”

He walked over to her desk and set his offerings on them. “I missed you,” he replied, rounding her desk and leaning over to catch the arms of her chair in each hand. “Did you miss me?”

“It’s only been a few days.”

“Doesn’t matter.”

No, it didn’t seem to.

“Fine,” she said. “Maybe a little bit.”

“And here I am doodling your name in my notebooks. How embarrassing.”

She laughed despite herself. “The day you wax poetic about a woman is something I want to see.”

“You never know,” he replied, leaning forward.

Still smiling, she lifted her face for a kiss.

His lips caught hers, moving over them in a languid hello. He seemed to be in no rush despite the fact that Alec would probably have him thrown out if he were discovered.

Unable to help herself, she cupped his face between her hands and kissed him back. The tension drained from her body as if Caleb were the cure she’d been needing for her stress.

“Hello, gorgeous,” he said, pulling back.

“You came all this way for a kiss?” she asked.

“Yep. And a coffee.” He dropped into the chair across from her desk. “Unless you want to invite me for a quickie. Does your door lock?”

She rolled her eyes. “What kind of coffee?”

He handed her a take-out cup and she took a small sip. It was less sweet than last time. He’d remembered.

“Much better,” she said, reaching for the paper bag.

“My week has been busy,” he said. “I figured it’d be the same for you. I had to come to this side of town on business so I decided I could take fifteen minutes to see my girlfriend.”

She tried to ignore how much she liked the way that sounded.

“And you came bearing treats.”

“Are you going to try to tell me you don’t work through lunch when you’re under the gun?”

“Think you know me, hmm?”

“Definitely trying.” He reached into the bag and pulled out a biscotto to snack on. “There’s also a chocolate croissant in there I figured you could save for later.”

Warmth spread through her. He cared. Not just enough to fit her into their busy schedule but also to try to take care of her in some small way.

“Thank you,” she said.

“Drink your coffee before it gets cold.”

He waited till she took a large sip before saying, “So have you been dreaming about me?”

She choked, coffee burning her throat.

Caleb just grinned, biting off another piece of biscotto.

“I should say no. Deflate that ego a little bit.”

“But you took an oath to uphold truth, justice, and the American way. Or was that Superman?”

She grabbed a biscotto for herself. “Yes, okay? You made an impression.”

He leaned back in his chair looking utterly satisfied with himself. “That’s exactly what I wanted to hear.”

She sighed. “How will your head ever fit through my door when you leave?”

“Guess I’d just have to stay then.”

“Probably not a great idea.” She sipped her coffee.

“Because the sainted Alec wanders these halls.”

“And probably wouldn’t take too kindly to you being here.”

He stared down into his coffee cup. “I suppose I should pay for this time with some other tidbits about my former friend.”

That had been their deal. But even so, she hesitated. Right now, it felt too good having him here. She didn’t want to invite anyone else into this moment.

“I think we can let it slide this time,” she said.

A slow smile spread across his face. “Falling for me yet, sweetheart?”

“Unlikely.”

“A man can dream.”

“When are we getting together again?” she asked, before biting her lip. She wasn’t supposed to want to see him.

If he thought lifting his coffee to his lips would hide his smile he was mistaken. “Next week?” he suggested. “I have a feeling this will be a busy weekend for both of us. Unless you want to invite me over to your place. You know, to…work.”

“Next week is fine,” she replied firmly.

He finished the last of his coffee and tossed it in her waste bin. “I look forward to it.”

She pushed to her feet as he did. “Thanks for the snack.”

He leaned across the desk, his hand cupping her cheek. “Don’t work too hard,” he murmured, running his thumb gently along the dark circles beneath her eyes. “There’s more to life.”

“Tell that to my boss.”

“Sounds like you need a new one.” His fingers wrapped around the back of her neck as he pulled her closer. Putting one hand on the desk to balance, she leaned into him and met his lips. His mouth brushed over hers in a tender caress that was about more than just tangled sheets and sweat-slicked skin. She sighed against his lips. It’d be so much easier if all she wanted from him was sex.

What was happening to her?

“Good luck this week,” he whispered to her.

“You, too.”

He grabbed another biscotto from her desk and exited her office with a last teasing grin.

Hailey slowly sank back down in her chair, staring at her coffee in bemusement. He was supposed to be a playboy who cared for nothing and no one.

So why was he making her feel more special than anyone who’d come before him?

“Eyes on the prize, Mitchel,” she told herself.

Alec was her end goal.

Wasn’t he?

…

Caleb couldn’t help smiling as he left Hailey’s office. It wasn’t like him to take time out of a day, especially a busy one, to check in with someone, but he’d simply wanted to see her. What a fanciful notion.

Shaking his head, he checked his watch. There was still time before the meeting that had brought him to this corner of town. Which left him just long enough to pursue his second reason for coming to Charr Industries today.

Grabbing the closest elevator, he dropped down to HR’s floor and went hunting for his quarry. Luckily for him, she was in her office.

“Julie,” he said, leaning against her doorjamb.

A lovely blonde looked up from her desk and smiled. “Caleb,” she said, her voice a purr. “It’s been a while.”

“How have you been?” he said, walking over to her desk.

“Missing you,” she replied. “Care to rectify that situation?”

He grinned. “You know I’d love to, darling. But I’m a little tied up this month.”

She leaned back in her chair. “Sounds fun.”

“Not what I meant.”

“I know your schedule rules your life. That’s fine. I can be patient.”

His smile didn’t slip at her persistence. “I don’t know how my present situation will unfold,” he said.

She reached into a drawer and pulled out a large brown envelope. “Yet you had time to call me about this.”

His gaze zeroed in on what he’d come to this building to get. “You did it.”

“I’m not opposed to bending the rules to ensure that powerful men owe me favors,” she replied. “But you know this could get me fired.”

“No one will ever know.”

“I’m sure.” She waved the envelope back and forth. “Still, this is no little thing.”

“What do you want?”

“A date when your schedule clears.”

He didn’t want to. Which made no sense. Julie had what he needed. It would be easy to make the promise. Easy to date a woman who wasn’t Hailey.

Or at least, it should be.

“Not a problem.” The words tasted bitter on his tongue.

“Excellent. If you cancel on me, Langston, you owe me two favors.”

“Deal.”

She held out the envelope, which he was quick to snatch from her.

“What’s so special about Hailey Mitchel anyway?” she asked. “She always seemed a bit too Goody Two-shoes to me. Why do you need a copy of her contract?”

“She’s a damn good lawyer.”

“Ah. A little corporate poaching, hmm? Good luck there. I doubt you’ll woo that girl away.”

Just what he feared.

“Thanks, Julie. I’ll give you a call next month.”

“Looking forward to it.”

As he strode from her office, he ran a soft finger against the seal of the envelope.

Information was power. It was a lesson he’d learned young, and in his hands was the key to her professional life. With this contract he could better understand his competition. Better design a package that would woo her into leaving Charr Industries. It wouldn’t deal the same sort of blow to Alec, but it would be something, at least.

And it’d free him. He could date her with no ulterior motives.

He could be with her for the right reasons.

Except he’d have to break the seal. Have to use information he should never have had access to. Information Hailey would feel betrayed to find in his hands.

He hissed out a breath, stepping into the waiting elevator. This contract would be his solution. Hailey never had to know.

So why was he hesitating to rip it open?