Truth or Date Read Free Page B

but I don’t think I’d get a good send off if I streaked the office in my boxers.”
    Hmmm. Boxers. Interesting. . . .
    I cleared my throat. “Okay, ground rules. No taking off clothes.”
    He winked at me. “Much appreciated.”
    I flushed. “Second rule, no bodily contact with someone else. That’s pretty standard. Or, at least, it should be.”
    “I’d say so. Especially since we’re in the office. On the other hand, if it were after hours—”
    “Please don’t finish that thought.” I held my hand up.
    He made a face like I’d wounded him. “Where’s the fun in that?”
    Although Chris was teasing me, I knew there’d be plenty of fun with a guy like him. No doubt about that. But I wanted more than a good time. I needed a partner in life, not just for the time being. “Let’s just agree to keep it clean.”
    “You’re the boss,” he said.
    My thoughts drifted to all the different ways I’d like to give him orders and I sucked in a breath. What had we been talking about? Oh, right. “Truth or Dare? Pick one.”
    He palmed the air with both hands turned up as if weighing each side before he brought his hands together in decision. “Truth.”
    My mind immediately raced back to his strange reaction when I’d brought up his new place of employment and I wondered what he hadn’t wanted to say. “Are you looking forward to your new job?”
    “That again, huh?” He held my gaze with a serious expression. “This is just between you and me?”
    “Absolutely.” I held my index, middle, and ring fingers up. “Rule number three. What happens in Truth or Dare stays in Truth or Dare.”
    “All right then.” He got up, shut his office door, then sat in the chair right next to me. He swiveled so we faced each other directly, our knees almost brushing. “It was time to move on.”
    After several seconds, my brows came together. “That didn’t answer my question.”
    “Boy, you don’t let me get away with anything.” He smirked, then looked at a spot on his desk. The air between us thickened before he finally turned back to me. “Making the switch was the right decision. I’ll . . . miss the people here though.”
    He used few words, but I could tell how much he meant them. “Of course you will. I mean, you’ve been here a long time and it’s a great place to work.”
    “Exactly.” He nodded, then scratched the back of his neck. “But, what can you do?”
    My stomach sank as I realized I’d miss getting to see Chris every day. Not that I did, but I’d always had the opportunity to and now I wouldn’t. “Must’ve been a really nice offer.”
    “Too good to pass up.”  He shrugged, then leaned back in the chair. “Time to grow up and make the tough choices.”
    That’s how I’d felt these past couple years with George. It had been good while it lasted, but wasn’t what I wanted in the end. It seemed so obvious now that I couldn’t believe I’d let it go on so long.
    Chris cleared his throat. “My turn.”
    My head snapped up as I jerked from my thoughts. “What?”
    He wiggled his brows. “Truth or Date?”
    Listening to him reveal his private worries about leaving had made me forget we were playing a game. “It’s Truth or Dare, actually.”
    “Just trying to expedite things since you told me you never choose Truth.” He smirked. “But, if you want to go through the motions, I’ll play along. Truth or Date?”
    I should’ve known he’d have something up his sleeve, but the seriousness of his expression and tone during our conversation had thrown me. “Dare. With an ‘r,’ but—”
    “Perfect.” He clapped his hands together. “There is this dinner thing for my new job tomorrow night. My boss will have his wife. Since I’m single, it might be awkward being a third wheel. So, I dare you to be my date.”
    A string of beautiful girls on his arm at various holiday parties rolled through my mind. “I’m sure you can check your speed dial and pick out a real date