“Alone at last.” Hutch kissed her. “That is what I wanted all day.”
“Well, since you are letting me finish this up tonight, I might not have to work this weekend,” she whispered against his lips. “And then we can get a whole lot of alone time in.”
His hands moved up her back. “I would love that.”
He was such a handsome man with his blue eyes and golden brown hair, a sharp jawline that had a hint of scruff covering it. She loved the way his muscles felt under her hands. She wasn’t in his league. All of her insecurities flooded back in and she decided to simply ask. Wasn’t that what she was supposed to do? “Hutch, what happens when this case is over?”
A quizzical expression hit his face, but he didn’t let her go. “I suspect you won’t be afraid anymore.”
“I meant with us.”
“What do you want to have happen? Because I know what I want, but I have been accused of moving way too fast. You, my darling, are a skittish chick.”
She felt a smile cross her face because that was not the reply of a guy who was planning on ghosting her once this was done. “I am not.” She went on her toes and kissed him before pulling away. She was starving, and whatever was in that bag smelled like heaven. “Skittish? What a silly word. I am reasonable and responsible, and one of us has to be.”
“I am over-the-top romantic and reckless,” he replied, moving in behind her. “One of us has to be. I got you the special tonight. It’s half a roast chicken with lemon rosemary potatoes and asparagus. If you don’t like it, you can have my burger.”
The smell of the chicken hit her, and her stomach growled again. “Not on your life, although that is a lot of food.”
Hutch shrugged. “I figured I’d try yours, too.”
She couldn’t stop smiling. He made her happy. Happier than she could remember being before. She had her work and she had a guy she could trust. What more could she ask for? “I suppose I could share. How did you get up here, anyway?”
“Kyle left my name as an approved guest. I also think that after what happened in the locker room, the security guys are happy to have someone up here with you.” He kissed the nape of her neck and took a step back. “There’s a piece of chocolate cake and a slice of whatever pie they made today. I definitely thought we could share those.”
Because her man had a sweet tooth. “I think we can make that happen. Are you sure you’re okay babysitting me? You can eat and then head home and pick me up.”
He stared at her.
“Or you can be bored right here.” He was right. The last time she’d been totally alone she’d gotten choked out. The truth of the matter was it could get creepy here at night.
“Thank you,” he replied. “And I won’t be bored. I’ve got my laptop. I can catch up on work, too. I’ve got some code I need to write for the website. And Big Tag wants me to hack the new Japanese toilets Adam bought for his company. They’re super high tech, complete with wash cycles and a blow-dryer for your junk.”
“You’re going to hack a toilet?” He could also be a prankster. She would have to remember that.
“Yep. I’m going to turn the water pressure way up and the temp way down and see if we can hear Adam howl from our floor.” He was sitting at her desk, a big smile on his face. “It’s also an excellent way to figure out who actually uses them. They all say they don’t. Jesse Murdoch said it was a waste of money, but I bet he ends up using the soothing wash cycle. Well, at least once.”
Damn, she was in love with him. She couldn’t even fool herself anymore. She was in love with Hutch. “You are a moron.”
That smile didn’t dim a watt. “But I’m your moron. Come here.”
She moved into his arms. Dinner might have to wait.
He started kissing her when the door came open again and Kyle walked through, pulling at his tie.
“She is not a nice boss. And that is all I am saying,” Kyle grumbled and then proceeded to contradict himself by saying more. “She replaced me with Austin. Austin is a putz.”
“What did you do?” Hutch’s face had completely lost its humor. And his horniness.
They started to argue.
It looked like dinner was back on, and she was definitely going to have to share.
* * * *
“Are you sure it’s okay he’s in there with her?” Kyle stood in front of the window that connected the lab’s main room to one of what she’d called the experiment rooms. There was a big MRI machine along with a bunch of technical equipment. Noelle was running a test to see how much of the helium she could catch and recycle off the machine.