Dungeon Time (Play at Work) Read Free Page A

inquiries about her health warmed her heart.
    Any woman would be lucky to have him show an interest in her. If only….
    “How are things around here, Anna? Any scandals?”
    He had never been so close to her before, so near she could reach out and touch the lapel on his gray jacket. Or his elegant, long fingered hand. Her throat ached, and to her horror, her nipples tightened under her thin white blouse—like the heroines in her favorite books. Could he see?
    His expression gave nothing away. He merely cocked a brow, and her words tumbled out.
    “Only Mona and Mr. Marks.” No! I did not just say that to my boss’s attorney.
    But he laughed and slapped the desk. “So people know, do they? And what do they think?” He leaned even closer. “More to the point, what do you think?”
    With the cat out of the bag, her honesty came to the forefront. “I’m glad for them. Mona deserves to have someone wonderful in her life.”
    His face softened. “They both do. Randolph and I go way back, and I’ve never seen him happier.”
    “He’s a good boss.”
    Mr. Masters paused a moment, and her breathing grew shallow. He held her gaze, his expression intent. “And you, Anna? Do you have someone special?”
    What was he asking? She stared back, trapped in his deep brown eyes, her blood thrumming in her veins. Heat pooled in her stomach, and she licked her dry lips.
    “Anna?” Mona’s voice.
    She jumped, banging her knee on the desk drawer. “Ouch, I mean, yes. I’m ready.”
    Mr. Masters straightened. “Hello, Mona.”
    While Anna felt as if they’d been caught doing something wrong, he didn’t give away a thing by tone or appearance. Except, when he buttoned his suit coat, she got a glimpse of the front of his gray slacks. The bulge there put her ex to shame—she tried to think what might have brought it on. Surely nothing she’d said.
    “Hi, Edward.” Mona gave him a quick hug and kiss on the cheek—another sign of her change of status. She wouldn’t have done that a month ago, but they were probably social friends now. “Waiting for Randolph?”
    He grinned. “Yep. He’s late.”
    “Tsk. What shall we do about it?”
    Mr. Marks arrived just at that moment. “Okay, don’t be getting too full of yourself, Mona.” He flashed her a stern look, but she batted her eyes at him, and the corner of his mouth quirked. “Edward. We’d better get going.”
    “Sure thing. Mona, would you like to come with us?”
    “No,” she said. “I thought I’d see if Anna would go for a quick salad?”
    Mr. Masters looked between them. “You could both come.”
    Anna’s heart pounded. She wouldn’t be able to eat a bite under the scrutiny of the two powerful, successful men. Still, when might such an opportunity come again? She parted her lips to speak, but Mona beat her to it. “I’d love to, but I don’t have much time. My afternoon is packed.”
    Anna’s one chance to eat lunch with Edward Masters, the sexiest man in town, disappeared when he strolled out the door, laughing at something Mr. Marks said. She grabbed her purse and jacket, fighting waves of irritation. “Where do you want to go? I wouldn’t want to make you late.”
    Mona stared at her. “Just down the street, I guess. What’s with the snippy tone ? Have a bad morning?”
    Anna couldn’t explain why she wanted to slap her friend for making sure they didn’t go out to eat with the men. Or maybe hug her for saving her from making a fool of herself with nerves in front of her boss and Mr. Masters. So, she sought another topic to distract her. “Did I tell you I’m moving into my new place today?”
    Mona hugged her. “Oh, wonderful! How did your folks take the news?”
    “They were very upset.” She launched into the tale, leaving out no details. Perhaps she had been tense because of the run-in the night before. The argument had gone hours until her grandmother ended the discussion with finality. She, too, had lived on her own—although not