Her gaze fell. “My roommate knows because it was her elf costume. But no one has any idea who you were. No one knew it was you in the Falco costume. I didn’t either, until just now…”

A stupid fucking mistake on my part. I swallowed, half wondering if subconsciously I’d sent her for the clothes so she would find the costume. Somewhere deep down, I guessed I still had a conscience, though I managed to keep it gagged and bound most of the time.

I flicked my wrist to glance at my watch. I had to be out the door in ten minutes or I’d be late for the lunch appointment. My eyes shifted to the desk, now covered by my suit and pools of coffee.

“We have to continue this later. I have to go.”

Every muscle in her body visibly relaxed. I could feel the relief coming off of her in waves. “I’m going to see if the ticket can be transferred to Charles. I’m sure he’ll jump at the chance.”

“What?” I snapped as I grabbed the tie I’d been wearing this morning—fortunately, it was dark brown so I wouldn’t have to wear that pink monstrosity.

“We have twenty-four hours before the flight. I think that’s enough time to change everything.” She sounded less sure of herself than before.

“I already told you that you are not quitting.”

She stepped forward, surveying the damage from her caffeinated assault with a grimace. “I won’t quit. I’m just talking about the trip to Vancouver. I think I can sweet-talk Charles into going in my place.”

First of all, the thought of her “sweet-talking” that little twerp into anything made my blood boil, and second of all, what made her think she was off the hook for Vancouver? I wanted her where I could keep an eye on her. That had been the plan all along and nothing had changed in that regard. I was still aware that her conscience might get the best of her, and at any given moment she could be in the CEO’s office, ready to confess all her sins and beg for penitence.

My eyes trailed after her as she disappeared into the bathroom while I grabbed my stained dress shirt. It was still damp, but I’d managed to rinse out most of the mess. But what to do about the suit… Fuck! I had a spare sport coat hanging in my closet. It wasn’t normal banker attire but better than nothing. If I’d only remembered it in the first place, we wouldn’t be in this mess. April would still be happily ignorant, which would have been better for both of us.

She returned from the bathroom and started sponging up the excess coffee with white hand towels.

“You’re still going to Vancouver,” I declared as I looped the tie around my neck and collar.

Her eyes shot to mine and then danced away nervously. “Umm. Under the circumstances—”

“No. There are no circumstances. The only thing that has changed is that you have information you didn’t previously have. Nothing else has changed. You’re still going.”

She froze, watching as I knotted my tie quickly without looking in the mirror. Something about that action appeared to fascinate her—hadn’t she ever seen a man put on a tie before? Then her blue eyes slid down my body with obvious admiration. I averted mine and tried to think about something else. I knew what was going through her head. She was thinking about that night we were together at Comic-Con.

Well, that made two of us because I was finding it pretty damn difficult to forget that night, too. I grabbed my wallet and sunglasses. “I’m out for the rest of the day, Weiss. After this lunch meeting, I’m going to have to go hide my face in shame for being seen in public like this. Be packed and ready to go tomorrow.”

She rolled her eyes and I turned to leave.

“Wait. You have a loose string,” she said, moving behind me. I paused without turning toward her, then I felt her brush the top of my back. Her hands rested on my shoulders, and even through the coat, the pressure of her touch was turning me on.

I turned back to her, eyebrows raised.

“I’ll go to Vancouver,” she finally said after clearing her throat. “But that doesn’t mean I have to be nice to you.”

“Then, by all means, don’t. Now get your work done,” I muttered before pulling the door open and leaving.

***

The next day, we boarded our early afternoon flight from Orange County to Vancouver. April had refused to speak to me at the office and during the short ride to the airport. When I’d asked her questions, she answered in monosyllables and refused to look at me, still visibly pissed.

Oh well, I shrugged. She’d have to deal, wouldn’t she? Like I’d had to deal those first few days after discovering that my night of hot cosplay sex was on the Internet for all to see.