I worked off the leftover tiredness from stopping at Jenny’s last night with an hour in the gym. It would be better than sleeping in, I figured, and it was. I felt great until the weirdness in the lobby began.

At the reception desk, Sarah is curiously subdued. She gives me a tight nod and a quiet good morning, Mr. Bliss, then turns back to her computer.

Is it the fact that I’m coming in closer to the start of the morning shift than I usually do? I’ve been in the habit of showing up early, especially since Jenny does the same thing, but that can’t have anyone’s hackles raised.

People are settling in around the office. Every one of them has an extraordinarily difficult time looking at me. I have half a mind to stop in the center of the bullpen and wait until they tell me, but then I catch sight of Beau. He sits uncomfortably straight in a chair in front of my desk. He gives me a wave.

That’s a relief. Something went haywire at one of Beau’s parties last night. I’m sure that’s it. If he’s sitting here waiting to confess, then he’s probably already dealt with most of it. I’m sure he’s worried sick about losing my approvals on his upcoming events.

I step inside and shut the door behind me. Beau stands, smiling apologetically, and gestures behind him at my desk. There are two glasses there. One’s a beer and one’s a cocktail with an umbrella perched against the glass.

“What’s this?” I cross my arms over my chest, trying to look stern through my relief. I’ll let him tell me in his own time what’s going on. I don’t have it in me to be a hardass today. The awkwardness in the lobby wasn’t enough to wipe away the feel-good hangover from sex with Jenny.

Beau raises a hand to his mouth and clears his throat. “I, uh, wasn’t sure which drink you preferred.” He turns to look at the glasses like they might provide him an answer. “So I brought both.”

I smile at him so he can relax a little. “Are you still buzzed from last night? You seem to have forgotten that I don’t drink this early in the morning.”

He sticks his hands into his pockets, gazing up toward the skylight. “Under normal circumstances, I can see why you’d have that policy.”

My stomach tightens. “Are these not normal circumstances, Beau?”

He rubs the back of his neck with one hand. “I’d say not. So...” He lets out a long breath. “Beer or the cocktail? I’ll take whichever one you don’t want.”

“Neither.” I make my way around behind my desk, but I stay standing. “Tell me what you’ve got going on.”