“It wasn’t for me.” His shoulders lifted in a dismissive shrug. “As I think back on our relationship, I’ve come to the realization that Joelle and I weren’t as compatible as I thought we were. I’m now convinced that the only reason we lasted as long as we did is because I was gone most of the time.”

Samiah tried to read between the lines, but this was a hard one. On the surface he seemed at peace with how things had turned out. Would that still be the case if she looked deeper? She wasn’t sure she wanted to.

“I guess it’s better that you figured out it wasn’t meant to be before you did something that would be harder to walk away from,” she said. “Like marriage.”

“In six years we never came remotely close to discussing marriage. We never really moved in together. I spent most of my time with her when I was home, but I still had my place and she refused to give hers up.” He snorted. “That was probably the biggest indication that things would eventually end. And once our relationship was over, I felt freer than I had in years. She’s a huge part of the reason I’m here in Austin now. This is all a part of my clean break.”

“It seems as if your ex-girlfriend’s loss is Trendsetters’ gain,” Samiah said. “I think we owe her a debt of gratitude.”

His brow lifted in a casual arch. “Is that the only good thing about me being here? That it’s a benefit for Trendsetters?”

His voice held a silken challenge that coasted along her nerve endings, sending ripples of pleasurable awareness scampering across her skin.

Samiah shook her head. “No. That’s not all.”

Her eyes dropped to his lips. He pulled the bottom one between his teeth and her nipples grew tighter than fine-tuned piano strings. With his eyes still locked on hers, he released the catch on his chair and rolled it to her side of the table.

Was this really about to happen?

The better question was, should she let this happen? She’d already cataloged the myriad reasons she should pull away. Forget crossing the invisible line on inappropriate sexual behavior in the workplace; the moment her lips touched Daniel’s, all of the rah-rah, I am woman, hear me roar, I don’t need a man to make me happy bullshit she’d fed Taylor and London wouldn’t be worth a damn thing.

She didn’t care. Her tingling nipples told her this kiss would be worth it.

Leaning forward, Samiah wrapped her fingers around the back of his neck and brought him in close. The moment their lips touched, her expectations were confirmed.

So. Totally. Worth. It.