Office Hours Read Online Free PDF

refused to back down.
    “Too frilly—I agree, dear. I keep trying to get that room changed, but never get round to it.” Anya smiled, liking the couple immensely.
    “Well, enjoy your meal, and we’ll see you both at five tomorrow morning.” Anya waved goodbye, her face falling.
    “Five, like five in the morning ?”
    “Yep, we’ll see how clever you feel then.”
    Anya pulled faces behind his back, feeling childish and silly.
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    They ate, discussing work topics, keeping their personal life—such as it was—separate.
    Anya had to acknowledge they worked well together.
    By nine o’clock they were ascending the stairs.
    “Do you want a wake-up call?” he asked, not wanting the moment they were sharing to end.
    “No, I should be able to handle waking up. See you at five, Mr Banks.” OFFICE HOURS
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Chapter Three
    The following morning, about six couples assembled outside in the freezing cold, Anya and Nathan included. Anya kept moving around, jumping up and down, even without her caffeine hit, shaking her hands, oblivious to the funny looks being shot her way, trying her damnedest to stay warm.
    Nathan, aware of the looks, harshly told her, “Will you stop fidgeting?” Giving him a glare but continuing her pattern of jump, jump, jump, skip and shake, she said, “I’m bloody cold. I’m trying to warm up. Grumpy,” she added for good measure.
    He scowled, opening his arms wide. “Come here. We’ll warm up together.” Anya raised an eyebrow. Nathan countered her eyebrow raise with one of his own. She thought about it for a split second. She refused to look a gift horse in the mouth, not being childish, so she went into his arms willingly. Anya would do anything to stay warm, even smooch up to her grumpy boss. His arms enfolded her, his heat hitting her cold limbs instantly.
    His smell teased her, invading her senses just like he’d invaded her dreams the previous night. Hot, scorching passion. She nuzzled in closer to his wide chest, his presence calming her.
    “Well done! Our first couple working as a team,” Linda cheered them. “Part of working together is helping your partner to stay warm, even using each other as heat sources. Well done.”
    Anya could feel the death stares all the way through her back. She snuggled closer, Nathan’s protection surrounding her. He rubbed her back.
    “Right! Thank you all for coming. You’re all aware this course is based on struggling couples. We want to show you how working together can make your relationship stronger.” Anya turned, keeping in close contact with Nathan, her own personal heat source, but giving her full attention to Linda.
    Well, almost her full attention.
    “You’ll be given a sack which contains a tent for both of you as well as a map and a compass, and another holding food and water. One sack each. You’ll be driven no further than ten miles from this location, and you’ll be expected to walk back. Phones have one call OFFICE HOURS
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    available for when you wish to terminate the experiment and come straight back here, or if you get lost and need collection. They’re also equipped to make calls to the emergency services, but we’ve never had any injuries or accidents on this course. Good luck—the cars are waiting for you round the front.”
    Anya smiled at the man handing out the sacks.
    “Which sack do you want?” Nathan offered.
    “What choice do I have?” She mourned the loss of his touch.
    “Food or tent.”
    “I’ll have the food.”
    They took their chosen sacks and made their way over to one of the cars.
    Nathan helped her into the car and followed behind her, locking the cold away.
    “Okay, who should navigate?” Nathan asked, getting out the map and compass.
    “I’ll pass and let you navigate us, Boss Man.” Nathan thought they needed a better working relationship? Well he could be responsible for finding their way home.
    The ride in the car lasted