ANDRE

“You’re right. I haven’t been myself.”

Jason looks stunned at my agreement but just then the elevator doors slide open. The head of the agency is waiting there to greet us, with the two lead marketing executives who have been working on our account standing directly behind him. Mya Taylor and Milo Hamilton worked together on the campaign that launched Lavin Bridal into a very successful year.

Approving the campaign for that launch wasn’t nearly so difficult and I can concede that it was entirely due to my state of mind.

Clumsy Girl is gone, as surely as if she was just a figment of my imagination. I’ve heard it from everyone: Jason, my brother and even the bartender at the bar I can’t seem to stay away from.

She’s gone.

It sucks the way things ended but I have to accept that it did end. Casey and I had a brief, magical moment and it changed me.

Maybe that’s all it was meant to do.

I extend my hand. “James, I apologize for arriving so early. I hope we haven’t inconvenienced you too greatly.”

He shakes my hand and then motions to the others. “It’s no problem at all. The team has put together a fantastic presentation for you today.”

As he’s speaking, my eyes are drawn to the reception desk behind him. A young woman stands and then when she notices me, freezes.

But she’s not the one I’m looking at.

No, all of my attention is on the young woman sitting behind the desk, her attention fixed on her computer. She’s wearing some type of headset and her dark hair is twisted up into a bun.

But there’s no mistaking that face.

That adorable, frustrating face.

Clumsy Girl is here.

My feet move forward without my permission as I walk away from James, leaving Jason and Kate to continue with the pleasantries. I’m definitely being rude but that’s something I’ll have to deal with later. After looking for her so long, maybe this is where I finally crack.

Hell, the woman I’m staring at is probably a sixty-year-old grandmother and my mind is simply superimposing the image I’ve longed to see.

Then she looks up and sees me. Her face freezes into a mask of horror. After a few seconds where we stare at each other in mutual disbelief, she murmurs something to the woman next to her.

That’s when I get angry.

“James, please introduce me to your new receptionist. I don’t think I’ve had the pleasure.”

Everyone stills at my command. Or maybe because my voice feels abnormally loud. I clear my throat and smooth my tie, mainly to keep my hands busy so they don’t reach out and grab the woman staring back at me defiantly from behind the desk.

“Of course. Mr. Lavin, this is Cassandra Michaels. She’s been here with us for about two months and has been a great asset to the team.”

While he talks I hold Casey’s gaze, delighted by how her cheeks flush red under the praise. She darts a glance over at me and then does an awkward half wave, as if I’ll settle for that. But I’ve spent the last two months searching for her after she gave me a fake name so I’m not letting her off that easily.

I approach the reception desk with my hand outstretched, knowing that she’ll have to get up and shake it or appear rude.

She swallows, the sound audible. But she stands and walks around the desk. Or at least, she tries to. However, it appears she’s forgotten that her headset is connected to the computer so as she walks away, the cord yanks her back and she lands sprawled on the floor.

Staring right up between my legs.

“Kill me now,” she whispers.

“Are you okay, Casey?” James appears at my elbow with a hand outstretched to help her up.

But there’s no way he’s touching her before I do. So I lean down and extend a hand. She looks hesitant but finally takes it.

When she sees that no one is looking anymore, Casey rips her hand from mine. “What are you doing here?”

“I have a meeting,” I reply, knowing the casual response will annoy her.

She pulls off her headset with a frustrated huff. “Look, what happened between us … We should just forget about it. Right?”

“What am I supposed to forget exactly? How much fun we had talking in the bar that night? Or that we spent hours bringing each other pleasure?”

Her eyes turn pleading. “Please, don’t make a scene. I need this job.”

No matter how pissed I was to wake up alone, I can’t ignore the desperation in her voice.

The others have started walking toward the hallway that leads to the conference room. I can’t stay here too much longer without drawing undue attention which is exactly what Casey has asked me not to do.

“I won’t say anything.”

Her shoulders drop in relief and she lets out a sigh that reminds me a little too much of the sounds she made that night in my arms. It definitely pricks at my ego that she seems to have no problem moving on from the night we shared when I’ve been haunted by it ever since.

Could it be possible that the night that was life changing for me was only average for her?

Then our eyes meet again and she shivers. Heat explodes between us and I have to clench my hands into fists to keep from reaching out for her.

No, she feels this, too. But wants to deny it for some reason.

“Thank you. For not saying anything. You should go. Everyone is staring.”

“I’ll go. But Casey,” I wait until she meets my eyes. “I won’t be forgetting about that night anytime soon. And neither will you.”