One Week (HaleStorm) Read Online Free PDF Page B

that very thing had gotten them both in trouble in the past. Instead, she took the bag from his hands. “I accept your apology Michael, thank you. I have every confidence we can go forward professionally from here on out.” Even as she said the words, her hands brushed his and the sensation pleased her far more than it had a right to.
    He stepped forward. “You want me to come in and show you around?”
    “No! No. Thank you. I can find my way.” Lord, most definitely not. The clock had not quite struck three. Her legs barely held her up. The only place she wanted to go was the shower and the bed, and at this point she might skip the shower. Her will was weak, and he’d only recently finished a sob story that involved telling her he’d started divorce proceedings. No. No, she wasn’t touching that one.
    He nodded. “Well. Goodnight then.”
    “Goodnight.” But he didn’t move.
    “Is something wrong?” Aside from the obvious?
    He hesitated. “It’s late. I thought I’d wait to see you in safely.”
    “Oh.” She managed a smile. “Thank you.” She stepped inside then shut the door. Curiosity grabbed her and spun her around, pinning her eye against the peep hole. “Oh, crap,” she muttered to herself.
    He let himself into the apartment diagonal to hers and shut the door.
    Great. Neighbors. No way in hell that could be awkward

Chapter 4
    E arly Tuesday morning started with Elise grabbing two giant mochas on the way in to work, a little chocolate and whipped cream-covered comfort to help ease the craptasticness of schlepping through the Tysons Corner tundra in frigid pre-dawn hours.
    Her phone rang on the way out of the parking garage while she was juggling a purse, a laptop, and two steamy cups. Michael calling. She managed to dig her phone out on the last ring. “Good morning.”
    “I’ll get back to you about the ‘good’ part once I’ve had some fresh-roasted happy juice,” he said. “Which is why I called. I’m at the deli by the building right now, thought I’d see if you wanted anything.”
    “Oh. Actually, I stopped at Starbucks already.” She leaned down so the security badge she’d clipped to her coat could be read by the sensor, and then shoved the door with her hip. “I, uh, got you a peppermint mocha.”
    “Hell, that’s way better than plain old dark roast. I don’t suppose you got an extra shot of peppermint?”
    Elise smiled to herself as she headed through the silent lobby to get on the elevator. Still dark outside, most of the employees wouldn’t be in for at least a couple of hours. “I may have gotten an extra shot of peppermint.”
    You like it that way. I remembered.
    Michael chuckled through the phone. “Well I suppose it’s only fair.”
    “Oh?”
    “I may have gotten you a chocolate chip muffin.”
    The mere mention made her stomach grumble. “Oh. Well. I don’t like chocolate chip muffins.”
    “No?”
    “No. I love them.” Elise had set down her belongings while waiting for the elevator. She paused mid-breath when she realized she’d wrapped one long strand of hair around and around her index finger. The sound of the lobby door had her yanking her hand behind her back.
    Her gaze darted around the seemingly cavernous space that stood between Elise’s position at the elevators and the building’s front door. The Christmas trees, unlit now, glared back with dark, silent judgment. He hurt you. Professionally, not just personally. Remember?
    The trees had a point. After their close encounter the evening before she’d resolved to be professional, and damned if she wasn’t standing here in the lobby twirling her hair like some kind of teenager.
    “Well if it’s love then I guess it’s a good thing I got a four-pack,” Michael said as swung open the giant entryway doors. His footsteps echoed solidly in the otherwise-empty lobby.
    Wrapping both hands around her mocha, she chugged fast, ignoring the burn and hoping the caffeine would help zap the stupid