Somewhat irritated that I couldn’t find the email, I closed the computer to sleep and stood up to see who had come in first. My heart did a somersault and I jerked back from seeing Max, nearly stumbling out of my chair and almost falling flat on my bottom as the rolling chair behind me pushed away from me. He stood up swiftly, seemingly to help me, but luckily I broke the fall.

Totally unexpected, I got a glimpse of his radiating smile, the kind of smile that made me lose my breath and voice.

Max comfortably sat back down. “Hello, lunch buddy.”

I glared at him and didn’t say a word as I stood there with my fist on my desk.

His happy grin disappeared, now looking impassive. He sat up straight. “I’m sorry. I should’ve told you, but—”

“Yes, you should’ve,” I snapped. Oh God! I am being rude to my boss. Wait. Is he even my boss, or my boss’s son? Suddenly remembering the meeting, I managed to calm down.

“I was swept away by you, so it didn’t cross my mind. I wanted to get to know you. I didn’t want to talk about me,” he stated.

What did he just say? I think I dropped my jaw as my gaze on him continued to linger, unable to say anything. Finally, I blinked, ran my hand through my hair, and changed the subject. “I think we should get ready for the meeting.”

He didn’t respond. Instead, he stood up and held my gaze as he paced to me. My mind told my body to move, but I couldn’t move my legs. Approaching me the way he did put me in a trance, and I gasped lightly when his body was just inches away from mine. “This is our meeting, Ms. Mefferd.”

Oh, no, he didn’t! It was no wonder I couldn’t find the email, because there was no meeting. I didn’t know whether to be furious or to be flattered. Regardless, what he did was not professional. “What are we meeting about, Mr. Knight? And I think you’re standing way too close for a meeting; or are all of your meetings this way?”

He looked amused, and curled the corner of his lips into a sly smile. “Only with you. I’m not adjourning this meeting until you agree to have dinner with me.”

Dinner? He is asking me out? Thrilled that he had finally asked, I almost smiled, but suppressed it instead. Too overwhelmed with his proximity, I wanted to sit back down in my chair, but I didn’t, just to prove I was not affected by him. Instead, I extended my hand to his chest to push him back, but that was a mistake. A funny tingle ran through my inside from simply touching him. Unexpectedly, Max grasped both of my hands and held them tenderly.

“I can’t go out to dinner with you,” I said sharply, yanking my hands away.

“And why not?” he asked softy.

“I don’t do my boss.” That didn’t come out right. I was hoping he would overlook it.

His brows arched. “Do? So you’re thinking of going to bed with me already?”

“No!” I squealed. “I had no such thoughts.” My face flushed, remembering the dreams I’d had about him once or twice…or way too many times. It is way too hot in here.

“Really? It didn’t even cross your mind?” His body pressed closer, making me step to the side, and I accidently sat on my desk. “Even the roses didn’t remind you of me?”

Suddenly I felt bad for being rude, and cleared my throat. “Oh, umm, by the way, thank you for the beautiful roses, the Rice Krispies Treats, and the surprise lunch on my desk. You really didn’t have to.” My tone became soft.

“I know, but I wanted to. So, will you allow me to take you out to dinner?”

“No,” I whispered, shivering from his face being way too close to mine. His eyes shifted from my eyes to my lips. Don’t kiss me. I won’t be strong enough to resist you. My index finger headed toward my mouth, then stopped on my lips, recalling what Max had said to me the last time. Seeing that smirking expression plastered on his face, I dropped my hand immediately.

“Why not? Is it because of Duke?” His hands were resting on my desk, on both sides of my grips. I was locked, unable to move. When he spoke, I could feel his breath on my lips.

How did he know Luke’s name, though he had called him Duke. It was close enough. I assumed he had overheard me call Luke’s name over dinner when Max sat at the table next to us. He must have had ears on our conversation…or the lack of it. “His name is Luke,” I corrected.

“I don’t care what his name is. And since you don’t have a ring on your finger, and since it didn’t seem like you were into him during dinner, I can ask you out.”

Staring at his luscious lips as he spoke, I wanted to pull him in for a kiss, but I dared not. Instead, with all the will power in me, I pushed him slightly away, just enough to give me room to slide out and move quickly to the other side of the desk. “It doesn’t matter. You’re my boss, and we shouldn’t be having this conversation or this meeting.”

He beamed a playful smile. “I met you before you started working here. We’ve been running into each other a lot lately. I believe it’s a sign. Have you heard of serendipity? If it will change your mind, I can fire myself.”

He was cute, I had to admit it. It took every ounce of my will power to keep from smiling, but I wasn’t going to give in just because my body wanted to.

“Anyway,” he continued. “I’m not your boss. Mrs. Ward is your boss.”

My head cocked slightly to the left in confusion. “Are you the Mr. Knight?”