Chapter 21

Weeks pass.

My situation with Blake doesn't budge. I try to go about my days going as unnoticed as possible at work, and he goes about his days avoiding me at all costs. It's like I don't even work for him anymore. A few times he leaves tasks for me to do, but they're always given to me via email.

Never in person.

After hearing what happened between Blake and I, Cade told me to let it go. He advised me to move on and just 'do me' until Blake comes to his senses. Of course, he added in a comment (or fifty) about how if I really wanted to get away, I could always come down to visit him.

He'd find a few ways to clear my mind and distract me, he said.

I grin thinking of his never-ending flirtatious attitude. It's become pretty obvious over the past few weeks that Cade's feelings for me have moved beyond friendship. He hasn't told me, but I can tell. At least, I think I can.

It's hard to tell with dudes.

I would say it doesn't matter because I'm not gay....but I'm starting to think my interest towards men is going to stick.

The hum of florescent lights buzzes above my head in the break room. I slump in my chair, snapping the top of my pop can back and forth until it comes off. I glance down to check my phone and grin when I notice an unread text from Cade.

Cade: How's your day going?

My grin widens into a smile.

Me: Slow as fuck. But nothing new there.

Cade: Damn, sorry. You going out tonight?

My fingers hover above the keys. I think about the last few weekends. Cade encouraged me to try to get back into my old routine – going out and flirting the night away. Or fucking the night away. I was a pro at both, after all, before I met Blake.

The first few nights of going out felt freeing, to be honest. I enjoyed getting out of the house without Blake's scrutinizing gaze hovering close behind. But it's funny how fast that feeling of freedom turned into a pang of loneliness.

Me: Probably not. Kind of tired.

Cade: Wish you were closer.

Me: Why?

Cade: I plan on ordering a pizza tonight – half cheese, half onion and mushroom. I'll need help finishing it off. ;)

I flush at the fact he remembered the toppings I fought so hard to get the last time we shared a pizza together. The break room door swings open, and whatever response I am about to type to Cade becomes lost. Blake strides through the door, his navy suit crisp and professional as ever.

He glances at me, his dark eyes studying my sloppy appearance and settling on the phone still in my grasp. My chest squeezes at the sight of him. The break room door finally closes, and Blake walks over to the table.

"Good afternoon, Callum." He points to the empty chair across from me and nods. "May I?"

I nod and try to breathe.

Hearing his voice again makes my limbs turn to overcooked noodles. Fuck, I've tried so hard to forget about him the past few weeks. And this is all it takes – a look. One damn look and five simple words to dismiss any type of progress I've made since being with him in Florida.

Blake pulls out the chair and it scrapes across the tiled floor. He takes a seat, leaning back in his seat to adjust his tie. He's silent for a moment. I glance down at my pop can again, but I can feel his eyes are still on me.

"Your hair has gotten longer," he comments, his voice softening.

My eyes flicker to him. He blinks and shakes his head, as if the words he just spoke weren't meant for me to hear. But I did hear them, and my chest squeezes tighter.

Blake's voice hardens and he gives me a tight-lipped, professional smile. "I was trying to track you down to share some good news with you."

"Yea? What's that?"

Blake holds up his hands in triumph. "Everything's approved. We can officially open a new store in Miami, Florida."

The news is exciting, by my ears focus on the 'we' part. Does he mean we – as in he and I? Or we – as in the entire company?

"Congrats," I respond, not really knowing what else to say. "That's great."

"By opening up another branch in a city like that, our profits will grow tenfold. It'll only be a matter of time before we expand state-wide."

Blake's face lights up with pride, but I don't know how to respond to him. I'm not a business associate or even a friend of his. Not really, anyway.

"That's awesome."

Blake continues, either ignorant or purposely side-stepping my lack of enthusiasm.

"I'll need to begin with the contractors to lay out the design I have in mind. I'd optimally like it built within the next year."

I nod, not bothering to add any further input. Blake licks his lips, and my eyes follow the action. I can't help it. My body reacts instantaneously, a liquid fire burning through my limbs. I salivate remembering the taste of his tongue and the way it feels when it slides against mine.

My pulse quickens. The ache in my stomach travels down to my groin, and I begin to harden for the man who haunts my dreams on a nightly basis.

"Callum," Blake says, forcing my attention away from his decadent lips.

When our eyes collide, the guarded mask he has tried so maintain begins to slip. The lust in his eyes match mine. His pupils dilate. His jaw tightens to the point that a vein in his neck pops into view. Is he trying to control himself? Or is he uncomfortable?

"You have to stop looking at me like that," he whispers.

"Like what?"

Blake runs a hand through his hair and sighs. He adjusts in his seat and tugs at one of his cufflinks. Then a small bit of color rises to his cheeks.

"Stop looking at me like you want me."

This is it. My opportunity. Blake had given me an opportunity weeks ago when we were in his office. Because of my pride I passed it by without thinking twice. With how the past few months have gone, I really didn't think I'd get another chance like this.

A chance to fix things.

Or at least a chance to voice my real desire for him.

I swallow hard and allow my eyes to continue soaking up his every feature. Then I shake my head in an apologetic manner.

"I'm sorry, sir, but I can't."

Blake freezes at my words. The longing etched in his features is unmistakable, and a surge of confidence jolts through me knowing it's me who's pleasing him. It's me who is making him crave.

"And why not, Callum?"

His voice turns hoarse and his posture straightens. I notice his hands balling up into fists. Again I wonder if it's practiced control or if he's starting to get uncomfortable. But I can't stop now.

"Because, Blake...I do want you."

And there it is.

My pride, my desire, and the embodiment of my endless dreams tied up into a single, simple sentence. Blake's jaw goes slack. The silence seems to buzz louder than the lights above us. My ears strain against it, wishing and wanting to hear Blake's response.

His breathing picks up, so loud that I can hear it from across the table.

"Callum, - "

The break room door swings open again. Kansas skips into the room, a happy bounce to her step as she heads to the fridge to get her peach yogurt and cheese stick. Yea. It's pathetic that I know that. She doesn't notice Blake sitting at the far end of the table, and gives me a flirtatious smile.

"Hey Callum! How much longer you got for your break?"

"I'm almost through."

"Aw, damn. I haven't had a chance to talk to you in forever. I'd love to catch up sometime..."

"Yea. Sure."

I look at Blake. His eyes haven't left me, though now there's an added layer of frustration in his expression. He presses his lips together and clears his throat. It's loud enough for Kansas to notice.

"Oh shi- Mr. Benson!" she squeaks. "I – I'm sorry. I didn't even see you there!"

"Hello Ms. Rojon."

She looks at him, then me, then back to Blake again. She quickly pieces together that she has just intruded a very important moment and claps a hand over her mouth.

"I'm so sorry," she says again, her hand muffling her words. "I'll just....leave."

She points to the door, as if waiting for one of us to stop her. We don't. Blake gives her a nod of dismissal, and she gives me one more curious look before scurrying out the door. Well, if Kansas thought she wanted to catch up before, I'm sure this incident will do little to douse her interest.

The door closes again and Blake frowns, mulling over his thoughts. He rubs his jaw and stands, seeming to come to a mental decision made that I have yet to understand.

"Callum, I think I'd like to discuss this further. Would you mind getting the file for that construction site and bringing it to my office?"

His voice is the epitome of professional, his tone loud enough so that if Kansas is eavesdropping – which I have no doubt she is - she'll be thrown off the scent of our prior conversation.

I nod. "Absolutely, Mr. Benson. When would you like me to meet you in your office?"

Blake's adjusts his cufflink and smirks. It's the first time he's slipped out of 'professional character' with me since Florida and my knees weaken. He looks towards the door, eyeing the pair of shoes clearly visible at the bottom.

"My schedule should be cleared up in an hour."

But then he leans in and smooths his tie, mouthing a different answer that no one else can hear.

"Now."