Her sudden curiosity made her sit up straight in her chair. “He doesn’t have to,” she said, sneaking another glance at the bulge. “I don’t want him to feel left out.”

John licked his lips as his fingers clenched around the armrest of his chair. She couldn’t help but notice the way his nostrils flared as he stared at her. “That’s very kind of you.”

Kind, but also a little selfish. She wanted to see what was making such a big impression against his pants. Better yet, she wanted to handle it. “It’s nothing,” she breathed. “I just want to make sure you were...” She didn’t know how to finish that sentence without sounding like an idiot. Also satisfied?

“Of course,” John said, standing from his chair. He took up his coat and returned to her desk. “I know what you’re trying to say and I certainly appreciate the offer, Dr. Reese. But we’re going to have to put it on hold for now.”

Victoria’s eyes widened. “You’re leaving?” What she wanted to say was that they had at least forty-five minutes left, but she held her tongue. The agreement that she issued him already looked transactional, making him stay the entire hour would make him sound like a gigolo. Oh god, what if he thinks I think he’s a gigolo?

As John planted his hands on her desk and leaned down, he flashed her a wolfish grin, as if he were reading her thoughts. “Lord knows I hate to eat and run...but I forgot I had a meeting with the library community outreach program.” Inches away from her face, he lowered his voice to a gentle purr. “Otherwise, I would stay here and bend you over this desk.”

Victoria inhaled sharply, but found herself leaning forward to meet him. Her gaze was fixed on his mouth. “Are you sure you don’t have time to do that?”

He angled his face to the side of her cheek. “I don’t have the kind of time you deserve,” he whispered. His hot breath brushed the shell of her ear, sending a shiver down to the base of her neck. She wanted to lean into his lips, but forced herself to keep herself upright. “Too bad you wanted to skip straight to the dessert.”

Victoria’s eyes flew open from their drowsy state. “What?”

John pecked her on the cheek before straightening away. “I’ll see you tonight for actual work?”

She gasped as if someone tossed a bucket of cold water in her face. Of course, they had another job shadow meeting that evening. But she couldn’t imagine going to the library for...work. But he had a busy day and she had plenty more things to cross off her list before 6 p.m. Victoria was resigned to let him go. “Right.”