Tamsin leaned against the door jamb in that ankles-crossed pose I was becoming more accustomed to. He snapped his fingers. “That’s right. She told me. It just slipped my mind with everything that’s been going on.”
He stepped inside the small office, running a hand around the back of his neck to rub at the muscles there. Somewhere during the evening, he’d removed his suitcoat and rolled back the French cuffs on his shirt to reveal muscled forearms. Likewise, his tie was loosened from its normally flawless knot. I had never met anyone as well dressed as Tamsin normally was.
“I was actually coming in here to find her stash of takeout menus, so I could order some dinner when I saw the light was on. Since you’re still here working too, allow me to treat you.”
It wasn’t really a question, but I felt I needed to protest it anyway.
“You don’t need to do that. I’m almost done.” The temptation to take him up on his offer was huge. Just being able to spend some time in his presence would provide fodder for my crush for weeks to come, never mind that about the fact that the only thing I’d get at the house was a sandwich or some cold pizza.
“I insist, Finn. It’s the least I can do in return for you staying late. By the time you get out of here, you’ll probably be too tired to eat.”
He seemed to be actually concerned that I might not eat, which was a possibility. I wasn’t used to feeling as though someone was looking out for me. Tamsin had grabbed two menus from a basket next to the door. “Your choices are Thai or Italian.”
He arched a brow at me and gave me that half smile of his that had the ability to rock my narrow world.
“Thai.”
“Excellent choice,” Tamsin said, warming me with his praise. “I’ll call in an order. Is there anything you won’t eat?”
I swallowed, thinking of very inappropriate things I would like to put in my mouth. “No. I’m not picky.”
He disappeared out the door, back to his office I assumed. As soon as I’d calmed my racing heart, I turned back to the notes I still had to finish. I wanted them to be perfect for him, but I also wanted to hurry.
I was going to eat dinner with Tamsin.
It didn’t matter that it was just takeout that we would probably share at the little table next to the coffeemaker from hell.
It was almost like a date.
Twenty minutes later, I had just finished printing copies of the notes to leave them neatly stacked on Gabby’s desk when Tamsin popped his head in the doorway. “The delivery has arrived. Do you mind going down to get it?”
“Not at all.”
He flipped me a few twenties. “Give him a nice tip.”
I hurried down to pick up the food, then waited impatiently while the elevator carried me back to the top floor. From inside Tamsin’s office, I heard him say, “Bring it in here, Finn.”
I stepped inside to see him seated at his desk, flicking the panels on his Rubik’s cube. The frown drawing his brows together disappeared when he looked up to see me there. He pointed to the small conference table at the other end of the office. The lighting was dimmer there, and it suddenly seemed to me a lot more intimate. I caught my breath in sudden anticipation.
“We can eat over there. I’ll grab some water from the fridge.”
I set out the containers of food along with utensils and napkins. As Tamsin approached, I glanced his way. It looked as though he was consciously trying to put whatever had made him frown out of his mind.
“This looks great,” he said quietly. “Thank you for going down to get it for us.”
I smiled. “Thank you for treating me to dinner.”
The next minute or two was quiet as we dished up our food and began to eat.
Trying to make some conversation, I finally said, “I don’t see many people with Rubik’s cubes anymore.”
Tamsin looked up and laughed. “It’s a holdover from when I was a kid. I competed in tournaments.”
“So you’re really fast at it?”
“Not so much anymore. I think the record’s under six seconds. I’m nowhere close. I just keep it because it was my first cube. My parents gave it to me.”
His last statement and the look on his face when he said it made my throat tighten, but I wasn’t sure why.
“I haven’t seen a lot of you,” Tamsin remarked, changing the subject, “but Gabby tells me you’re doing well. How are you liking it here?”
I glanced up, tilting my head as I watched him again rub the back of his neck before he returned to eating. “Better than I thought I would.”
As soon as it left my mouth, I could have bitten my tongue. I had been trying really hard not to let on how doubtful I was about becoming an attorney.
“I mean I know I’m kind of young. I was afraid I would be really out of my depth.”
Tamsin’s gaze narrowed on me, but then he took another bite of his food, chewing thoughtfully.
“It’s true. You are younger than most of our interns, but you’re intelligent and learn quickly.”
“Thank you.”
“You didn’t have a date tonight?” he asked. I glanced sideways, taking in his narrow-eyed regard.
“I don’t date much.”
“No steady girlfriend?”
Heat flooded my cheeks. I didn’t see any reason not to admit the truth. “I don’t date girls.”
“Really.” The odd note in his voice had me lifting my gaze to his. Blue eyes intent on me, he smiled slowly. “So do you have a boyfriend, then?”
I shook my head, keeping my gaze lowered for fear he might see how central he’d become to most of my recent fantasies.
“You seem to spend most of your time here. Do you have a girlfriend?” I managed to ask, surprising myself.
His chuckle held a deep note that shivered up my spine. “My tastes are a little...shall we say nontraditional.”
My gaze flew to his and I was caught and held by the heat there, wondering just how nontraditional.
“What do you mean by nontraditional?” I finally got up enough nerve to ask.
Tamsin leaned back a bit and regarded me with his head slightly tipped to one side. “Are you sure you’re ready for this conversation?”
I cleared my throat and tamped down my nervousness. “Of course I am, or I wouldn’t have asked.”
“I’m a dom, as in a dominant. It doesn’t mean I want to beat someone black and blue, but I do enjoy a little light bondage with a sub who also enjoys it. I just like my sex a little outside the range of vanilla.”
“Okay. That’s cool. I mean, I don’t think it’s weird.” I took another bite of my food, wondering if he would pursue the conversation, but he didn’t. I needed time to process this information into my mental image of my boss. I nearly shivered with pleasure at how well it fit. We ate in silence for a few more minutes until Tamsin set his fork down and pinched the bridge of his nose.
“Tamsin...are you okay?” It had made me nervous to ask him something else personal, but now I was worried.
“It’s been a long week.”
His brows remained drawn together as he rolled his shoulders.
“Do you have a headache?” I ventured.
“A bit. I ran out of pain relievers and forgot to have Gabby purchase any more.”