“You included?”

I grunt. Search her eyes. “Me included.”

“Actually.” She arcs a finger lightly over my lapel. “I don’t think you’re very bullshit-y at all. You just don’t share your story. The real story. You hide it, don’t you? Why?”

My heart blares inside my ribcage. My lust burns hotter, even as my stomach contracts.

How did Julia pick up on that?

And how do I keep her from digging any deeper?

By sheer force of will, I step back, unwrapping my arms from around her body.

Her body.

My body.

I’m on fucking fire.

And I’m going to be in trouble if I don’t get out of here.

“Keep an eye on that ankle.” I spear a hand through my hair and look away. “I—meeting—be in touch—”

I stalk out of there like the place is in flames.

I start my truck. The engine roars to life, air conditioning blasting through the vents. I settle my hand on the top of the steering wheel. Hold it in a death grip as I take a steadying breath.

Better.

That’s marginally better. Good enough to get me through the rest of the day at least.

I put the truck in reverse at the same moment the back driver’s side door opens.

My stomach falls a hundred stories when I glance at the rearview mirror and see Julia slide into the backseat.

She closes the door behind her.

Our eyes meet in the mirror. Hers glimmer.

Oh, yeah.

Oh, fuck. That’s arousal in her gaze.

I think.

Then again, I’m a lunatic when it comes to this woman, so my radar is questionable at best.

“What are you doing?” I ask. Grinding my foot into the brake pedal.

Her eyes bore into mine. A beat passes.

“Exactly what you think I am,” she replies.

My stomach drops another hundred stories as understanding dawns. Is this happening? Is Julia really propositioning me?

“I don’t fuck employees.”

“I don’t fuck bosses. Or assholes.” She takes a breath. “Tell me to get out, and I’ll leave. It’s just—Greyson, the tension between us…it’s eating me alive.”

I don’t want her to leave.

I should. I really, really should ask her to go.

But I don’t. I can’t.

I mean, I can fuck Julia and still keep a safe distance, right? Anything more and I’d be playing with fire. But casual sex? It’s never been a problem before.

Above all else, I don’t want to hurt her. Which will inevitably happen if the sex turns serious.

But we’re both adults. She just said I’m not her type. And this is not my first rodeo. Hell, maybe fucking her will make this dragon boner finally go away. Why not give it a try? Worst case scenario, one of us catches feelings and we end it. No big deal. This project will wrap up in less than six months anyway.

“Tell me to leave, Greyson,” she repeats, more forcefully this time.

A voice inside my head tells me I’m being an idiot. It tells me Julia is different, the way I feel about her is different, and that I am going to burn us both to the ground.