I Spy a Dark Obsession by Jo Davis

their own accord, his eyes dipped to the sight of her shapely ass gently swinging, hugged by a pair of crisp, tan dress pants as she walked in front of him. God, what a view. And he was too damned starved for hot, willing flesh to drive himself—
    Abruptly, she stopped and turned. “It’s too loud and crowded in here. Want to go somewhere else?”
    He barely kept from running over her. “Let’s eat in my office,” he said hoarsely. Then cleared his throat. And let’s ditch the food.
    “Okay.”
    During the brief walk, he wondered whether he was so pent up, sexually frustrated, and starved for attention that any beautiful body would do to help him unwind. The sad answer to that was probably yes, but . . . Katrina was more than a pretty face.
    She was intelligent, possessed a sharp wit, and was poised and confident. For the past few weeks he’d noticed she had a way of looking at him, as though she’d like to learn his every secret, that made his balls tighten and his breathing hitch. And he realized he wanted to answer all the questions in those sultry eyes, and do some learning of his own.
    This was not a woman to be fucked and forgotten. And why did the idea of any man treating her like an object make him want to punch someone?
    Striding past his curious secretary, he led her into his office and closed the door behind them. The large conference table was clear, so he headed for the nearest spot at the end, set down his tray, and took a seat. Katrina settled beside him, at the head of the table, making it easy for them to talk. Cozy.
    “Your office is bigger than Michael’s,” she observed, sticking her straw in a plastic glass of lemonade. “How’d you get so lucky?”
    “When Michael gave me the promotion, we ordered the conference table for closed-door meetings, but he didn’t want the table in his office. He doesn’t like having meetings there.”
    “And you get to be the one to put up with the foot traffic in and out.” Her lips turned up. “Smart of him.”
    He shrugged. “It’s not that bad. I don’t really mind, because the meetings are usually scheduled in advance, unless a crisis arises.”
    “Well, that gives you about ten whole minutes of peace per day,” she teased.
    “Maybe fifteen. Remind me why I wanted this job?”
    “Because it makes you the boss of me? And you’ve got a great view? ”
    Taking a bite of his salad, he pretended to consider. “Both very good reasons. Too bad I don’t get hazard pay anymore, though.”
    “Why not?”
    “I’m no longer in the field. I’m an office drone.”
    “That’s hardly fair when you’re in just as much danger as you were before,” she said, scowling.
    “I’d get extra money if I went on assignment, but that doesn’t happen often in my position.” He grinned. “You’re pretty when you’re huffy. And I shouldn’t have said that out loud.”
    “Hey, you won’t hear me complain about receiving a compliment from a sexy man, whether he’s my boss or not.” She gave him a pointed look, the meaning of which was perfectly clear. “And I shouldn’t have said that out loud. Do you mind that I did?”
    “Not at all,” he managed. While his looks wouldn’t break a mirror, it was on the tip of his tongue to say he was far from sexy, but he didn’t want her to think he was fishing. After picking at his salad for a minute, he asked, “We’re friends, right?”
    “Of course. We have been for a while, and it’s not like this is the first time we’ve caught lunch together.” Cocking her head, she looked at him in open curiosity. “Why do you ask?”
    “But it’s the first time we’ve ever eaten alone and enjoyed any sort of privacy. Now I’m wondering why we haven’t before.”
    “It is rather nice, isn’t it?” She smiled.
    “Very.” He hesitated. “Is it just me, or does it feel like something is . . . changing. Between us.”
    Abandoning her fork, she reached over and laid her hand on his. “I feel it, too. To be