Total pages in book: 66
Estimated words: 62262 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 311(@200wpm)___ 249(@250wpm)___ 208(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 62262 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 311(@200wpm)___ 249(@250wpm)___ 208(@300wpm)
“I’m sure there are all sorts of things in here that are above my pay grade. That doesn’t make them secrets, it makes them none of my business.”
Once we were outside, I pointed to the right and changed the subject. “I’m headed to an awesome food truck that’s half a block away. Want to join me?”
“Thanks for the offer, but I have plans. See you in an hour.”
With that, he took off in the opposite direction. I watched as a beautiful Asian woman with long hair hurried over to him. I thought she might be his sister, until they took off down the sidewalk hand-in-hand.
Oh. Anderson had a girlfriend.
Why did I feel a twinge of disappointment?
CHAPTER 6
ANDY
As Moira took my hand and started dragging me down the sidewalk, she said, “I’m glad you agreed to have lunch with me. I feel like I barely see you anymore, since you’ve been working such long hours.”
“I saw you three times this past weekend.”
“Which is hardly anything.”
“Where are we going?”
“There’s a South Asian café two blocks over that smelled divine when I walked past it. I know you’re a stickler for punctuality, so I’m trying to hurry. God forbid if lunch ran longer than your allotted hour.” She was right, that would bother me.
Once we were seated in the small, jewel-toned restaurant and had placed our order, Moira asked, “Why were you in such a big hurry to leave the bar on Saturday night? I know you said you were tired, but I feel like there’s something you’re not telling me.”
“I saw my coworker at the club, and it threw me for a loop. I didn’t tell you at the time because I felt awkward discussing it in front of Qian.”
“Which coworker?”
“Sam Miller.”
“The doofus?”
“He looked hot, M. His back was to me, and I was totally checking him out. When he turned around, I almost screamed.”
“Did you talk to him?”
I shook my head. “I bolted as soon as I realized who it was.”
“Was he there with a date?”
“I don’t think so. He was dancing by himself.”
A grin spread across her face. “You realize what this means, right?” She braced her hands on the red tablecloth and leaned in. “He’s gay, and he’s probably single, since he was at that club by himself on a Saturday night. You should ask him out.”
“There’s no way!” I hadn’t meant to be so loud. The people at the next table turned to us and stared, and I randomly noticed that one of them was using the power of telekinesis to stir their tea.
I lowered my voice and told Moira, “I can’t ask him out. For one thing, I’m his supervisor, more or less, at least while he’s on temporary assignment to my department. Also, what if he said no? Working together would be unbearably awkward after that.”
“But you like him, don’t you?”
“He’s definitely growing on me,” I admitted. “The archives are a little too quiet and isolated, but when he’s there, I feel better. Knowing he’s nearby gives me a sense of security.”
When our food arrived, I heaped my plate with rice and poured on some of my saag paneer with its creamy spinach sauce. Then Moira and I traded bowls without discussion. I loaded the other half of my plate with chana masala, a flavorful chickpea stew, and we both tucked in.
The meal ended up taking nearly an hour, so I ended up hurrying back to work. When I reached the archives, Sam was waiting to be let in. I murmured, “Sorry to keep you waiting,” as I unlocked the doors.
“No worries.”
I flashed him a shy smile, and he grinned and told me, “I never knew you had dimples.” But then he glanced at me again and gestured at my mouth. “You have something, um…”
I quickly wiped the back of my hand over my lips. “Did I get it?”
“No.”
I speed-walked to the restroom and checked my reflection in the mirror above the sink. That was when I discovered a huge wad of spinach stuck between my front teeth. Fuck my life.
Instead of bolting right at five like usual, Sam stuck around. He did immediately stop working, though.
When I went and found him at seven, he was sitting cross-legged in one of the aisles with an open report on his lap. “I was thinking about getting some dinner,” I said. “Do you want anything?”
“Hell yeah, I’m starving.” He got to his feet and stretched his arms over his head. This made his T-shirt ride up, exposing a couple of inches of skin. The fact that my gaze went right to it made me feel pervy. “If you want, I can go grab us a couple of burritos. I could use the walk.”
“That’d be great. Also, why don’t you use the seating area in my office to read? Sitting on the floor can’t be comfortable.”