Annika kept her head high as she walked past the Break Up office. She could see a light on in Hudson’s office through the glass door, but his door was closed. Good. Maybe she could get dressed and out of here before he saw her.

But when it came to Hudson, things never worked out quite how she thought they would.

She ran into him in the hallway on the way back from the bathroom, where she’d changed into a black bodycon dress with sparkly spaghetti straps and a low back, which she’d paired with red stilettos. He was wearing faded jeans and a Break Up T-shirt. She felt massively overdressed and, somehow, completely vulnerable.

Hudson looked her up and down, his eyes going dark. Her stomach flipped. “You have your date tonight.”

It wasn’t a question, so Annika didn’t say anything.

“I would say have fun, but I wouldn’t mean it.” He stepped closer and she smelled the warm fragrance of his skin wrap around her like a cloak.

The hallway was empty, like the rest of the building. Most people cut out early on Fridays, but not her. Not Hudson.

“Why not?” she demanded. The slight tremble in her voice was, she hoped, easily masked by false confidence.

He ran a feather-light finger down her chandelier earring, making it bounce. Annika’s heart pounded, as if it were trying to escape her chest. “I think you know the answer to that question, Ms. Dev.”

Annika mustered a response, a mixture of defiance and desire warring inside her. “I really don’t. Now, if you’ll excuse me.” But she didn’t move to brush past him, even though she knew she should.

He leaned in close, dipping his head so his mouth was at her ear. His breath tickled her ear, raising goose bumps on her arms and legs. “If it were up to me, I’d pick you up and take you into my office right now. That dress wouldn’t last ten seconds.”

Annika swallowed, the sound thunderous in her ears. Her own pulse racing, she put one hand over Hudson’s heart. Her hand looked ridiculous, small and inconsequential on the broad span of his chest. She could feel his heart pounding, heavy and strong. His pupils dilated at her touch. “I have a date with someone else,” she said, her voice a touch shaky. “This is completely inappropriate.”

He ran a finger along her collarbone, leaving a trail of fire in its wake. She closed her eyes. “I would buy that if you weren’t trembling under my hand.” His voice was husky, barely controlled. “You seem … confused about me.” His finger traced over her shoulder, down her arm. “Am I wrong?”