“I didn’t think it would go over well with the company. I don’t think it’s against a written rule, but they would disapprove, especially since we’re in the same department,” he says, “and since you were the newer hire, it could have jeopardized your job. But mostly I didn’t tell you because I didn’t think you’d be interested.”
“I’ve always thought you were kinda cute,” I confess.
He grimaces. “I had a meeting yesterday, and there’s a good chance I may be offered a promotion to head the department when we hire more people.”
“A manager/employee relationship is definitely against the rules,” I say, understanding now why he looks pained.
Garrett picks up his utensils again and prods at a pile of noodles. “I probably never would have told you how I felt, but I figure after last night, it’s got to be obvious.”
“Not necessarily,” I say. “Your kiss was fire, though.”
The look of pleasure on his face makes me want to lean across the table and kiss him again right now, company rules be damned. When his grin eventually fades away — after several minutes! — I ask, “Were you bothered that Trevor was there?”
Trevor is the elephant in the room, the third wheel on our bicycle, though I can’t bear to think of him as someone who’s extra or unneeded. It feels important to bring him up, because I loved kissing him too, and if I had the opportunity, I’d do it again.
It takes a while for him to answer, and I can tell that he’s choosing his words carefully. “In a way, yes, I was bothered, but it has everything to do with my lack of confidence, not with any kind of possessiveness. I know I have no right to be possessive, anyway. Though it was strange having him there, you and I probably never would have kissed if he hadn’t suggested it.”
“I wasn’t comparing the two of you,” I tell him. “I wouldn’t do that.”
“I know.”
10
Garrett
Back in the car, as I’m about to press the ignition, Autumn puts her hand on mine. When I look at her, she meets my eyes, and then her gaze drifts down to my mouth. She licks her bottom lip, and then, as if unseen forces are drawing us together, suddenly we’re kissing. And it’s not the tender, tentative style of our first kiss, but something closer to how we were by round three last night.
Only now it’s just her and me. There’s no one else here that I have to share her with. There are a steering wheel and a gear shift between us, but I can easily navigate those obstacles when kissing Autumn is the prize.
Shifting in my seat to reach her better, I slide my hand through her hair and cup the back of her head, holding her steady so I can kiss her more deeply. Her lips are so soft, and everything about her feels and tastes so good.
Meanwhile, her hands are exploring my body, one of them sliding up my forearm to my bicep, the other pressing into my thigh.
When she sighs into my mouth, my cock twitches in response, and it’s the reminder that I needed — we’re in public. I want to touch her all over, but this isn’t the place. She deserves privacy.
“We should’ve skipped the meal and spent the whole lunch break doing this,” Autumn says when I force myself to pull back.
“That’s a great idea.”
“I still can’t believe you … are inexperienced like me,” she says. She’s leaning back in her seat, her head against the headrest, looking at me, and she’s so beautiful, it’s all I can do not to drag her into the backseat and have my way with her.
“I’ve had opportunities,” I say, “but it wasn’t something I wanted to do just for the sake of doing it.”
“Me either.”
My head knows we shouldn’t do what we just did. We shouldn’t even be having this conversation, but it’s my dick talking when I ask, “Do you want to come to my place after work?”
Autumn’s eyes widen for a brief second. Is she imagining the same thing I am?
“I’d like to,” she says, biting her lower lip before continuing, “but I really need to prepare for my gig at Rusty’s. They’ve just hired me for one night, and I really want to impress them. I have a hair appointment at five-thirty, and I need to finalize my set list.”
“I’m looking forward to hearing you sing.”
“You’re going to come?”
“Of course,” I say. “I was already planning to, even before … this.” I gesture between us with my hand. Autumn’s voice is beautiful. It’s one of the first things about her that stood out to me when I met her. There’s no way I’d miss her show.
Again, she bites her lip. “I was thinking, though … of going back to Club Red tonight, and I was hoping you’d come with me.”