“No.” Her straightforward answer was vintage Kelly. “I don’t have regrets. I do what I want and deal with the fallout later. With one exception.” Her lips twitched. “I wish I’d password-protected my sex list. Or used a far more complicated phone passcode.”
Much to his shock, he laughed. “I don’t. It was very…illuminating.”
“Mmm-hmm.”Other women might’ve waited for him to apologize but she continued before he had a chance to, even if he’d been so inclined. “So anyway, I decided to spend my night working rather than playing.” She swept her arm out. “Easier to reorganize without interruptions.”
“You punched in, right? You’re getting paid for this.”
“I figured it was therapy as much as work. Just consider it another benefit to you of my employment here.”
“I’ll sign you in and out. You’ll get paid.”
“Oh yeah? And make people wonder why we were here alone together in the middle of the night?”
He almost changed his mind. She was right. His computer would record being connected to the server and Marcia checked the log and timecards against employees’ schedules. She’d probably realize they’d been here together, just as Kelly had said. Though he trusted his sister not to blab, the last thing he wanted to deal with were her questions.
Then there was the list on the phone stashed in his antique cigar chest at home. Plenty of supposition was floating around about them already.
Regardless, Kelly deserved compensation.
“Let them wonder,” he said, shocked to hear those words come out of his own mouth.
Ever since Diana, he’d toed the line. But now that line seemed a lot shakier.
Kelly’s priceless reaction—wide eyes, parted lips—made any risk worth it. “Really?”
“Really.” He wanted to keep that look on her face, especially when it morphed into a glow of pleasure. “It’s only a problem if we let it be.” More precisely, he couldn’t give her up, so he’d have to make this work. Somehow. “We’re mature adults.”
“Very mature, especially in your case.” She laughed when he swatted her behind and hauled her against him for another kiss.
So much for self-restraint.
“I’m thirty-five,” he said into her mouth. “Not forty. Not forty-five.”
“Oh I know. I’ve made it my business to learn all about you, Mr. Galvin.” She fluttered her lashes teasingly. “Well, as much as I could. You’re not easy to find out stuff about.”
He slid his lips along her jaw. She’d dabbed some of her scent here too. “Should I be flattered or concerned?”
“Both.” She patted his chest and stepped out of the circle of his arms. “I go after what I want. Even if what I want isn’t particularly good for me.”
Spencer dipped his hands into his pockets. Despite her casual clothes and her dusty pigtails, the gleam of purpose in her eyes was unnerving. “So you keep saying. Kelly, you know we’re playing with fire here.”
“I like it hot.” She turned around to pick up an unopened carton of books. “Although I have to admit, on a night like tonight the store’s air-conditioning is a godsend.”
He glanced toward the hallway that led back to his office. That’s where he should be right now, making up for lost time. Not taking a seat beside her on the floor and opening the carton of books. She looked as surprised as he felt but she didn’t comment.
They spent a few minutes in easy silence, unpacking and shelving books according to her new system. “You don’t have A/C at your apartment?”
“It’s hit or miss.”
“Should tell the super.”
“I have. He’ll get around to it eventually.”
Silence reigned again until she grabbed his box cutter and opened a second box. When he reached for another stack of books, she raised an eyebrow. “Why are you hanging here with me? If you came back this late, I’m assuming you have work to do.”
“Yeah.” He blew out a breath and thought of the spreadsheets and mindless correspondence waiting for him. He’d done the stuff he enjoyed first so that only left the drudgery. Well, other than tinkering with the floor plan of the Roanoke store, which he’d already tinkered with ten times. “I do.”
“Want an assistant? I only have these last few boxes to shelve then I can clock out and be your little helper monkey.” Her saucy grin reinvigorated the erection still bulging against his zipper.