Page 27 of Fierce-Michael

“Are you flirting with me?” she asked.

“I don’t normally flirt, but guess I am. I thought it was more a factual statement.”

She liked how relaxed he was behind his desk. He had a Marshall Printing shirt on. Long sleeved cotton in green. She was sure he had tons of them in his wardrobe. She’d seen him wearing them most times when she came in. His jeans were dark and he had sneakers on his feet.

No one dressed up anymore it seemed. She had jeans on too, but a nice button-down printed shirt that felt silky. She had heeled ankle boots on with it.

She tried to look professionally casual most days.

“I like factual statements. I operate better that way,” she said.

His smile stayed in place. Funny how she thought he didn’t smile much before.

She was glad he was comfortable around her because he was even more attractive when he smiled.

His dark eyes had softened. His jaw was somewhat chiseled, but now it was relaxed too.

There was a light beard on his face as if he just let it grow for days and then shaved it off and let it grow again. She’d seen it in different phases for years.

“Glad to know we agree.” His phone started to ring, but he ignored it.

“Why don’t we get that box since I know you’re busy.”

“We can,” he said. “I look forward to Saturday. Let me know what you want to do. We can make a day of it if you want.”

“I’d like that a lot,” she said.

They got up and he opened his door, walked to Alex’s, then swiped his badge to go in and get the box that was on the floor.

“Are you going to carry this to the second floor at your office?”

“No. Cade told me not to. To leave it in my car and he’ll grab it when he got back.”

“Good,” he said, picking it up. “It’s not heavy as much as bulky. I’m not sure your arms would fit around it.”

“Probably not,” she said. “But I’d try for sure.”

“Are you one of those stubborn women like my cousin?”

“I might be,” she said.

They walked out of Alex’s office and down the hall back to the front. Their conversation had stalled and she wondered if it was because he didn’t want anyone to know what might be going on with them.

They walked out past Nancy and to her car, she popped the trunk, and he put it in. It barely fit in the back of her SUV.

“I’ll talk to you later?” he asked. “You can call me if you want.”

“Oh,” she said. “I figured you didn’t like to talk or that it’d be hard.”

“I’m not one for talking on the phone,” he said. “But I also know that text isn’t always the best either. Ty is in bed by seven thirty.”

“That’s early,” she said.

“He gets up early for daycare,” he said.

“Then maybe I’ll give you a call around eight if that is okay?”

“It is,” he said, then shut her hatch.