Huh. Cool. Jules headed gamely toward the den. She hadn’t gotten the grand tour yet, and it was neat to be let into another part of Vivian’s sanctum.

The den, it turned out, was a snug haven tucked away off the main hallway, cozily furnished in shades of blue and green, the walls lined with books.

Vivian sat on a cream-colored love seat with a book in her lap. She’d changed into a soft green sweater and loose black pants and wore a pair of moccasin slippers. Jules’s toes wriggled enviously inside her ankle boots.

Vivian didn’t look up from her book. “No need to hover in the doorway.”

Easy for her to say. Jules didn’t know what her next step should be. There were two armchairs, and two love seats faced each other over a coffee table. Where did Vivian want her to—

Vivian patted the empty cushion next to her. “Here.”

Jules’s heart began to beat double-time. She did her best to keep a cool expression as she sat down next to her on the soft cushions.

Vivian was still looking at the damn book.

“What are you reading?”

Setting the book on the coffee table, Vivian faced her. “I have no idea.”

Jules blinked.

“I’ve been reading it for the last half hour and couldn’t tell you a single word,” she continued.

“Are you feeling all right?”

“I don’t think so.”

Now Jules’s heart skipped a beat from alarm, not desire. “What’s wrong?”

As if in answer, Vivian let her gaze drop down to Jules’s feet. Then it slowly rose, covering her body like a touch until Vivian was looking into her eyes.

Jules’s heart was a firecracker in her chest.

“It must be pregnancy hormones,” Vivian breathed. “Right?”

There were several inches too many between them on the love seat. Jules scooted in closer until their knees were nearly bumping. “I doubt it.”

“And this—this outfit. What were you thinking?”

“What’s wrong with it?” Jules reached out to take one of Vivian’s hands in her own.

Vivian didn’t seem to notice. She kept looking into Jules’s eyes. The flame was returning, the one that made Jules dizzy. “Not for ‘street consumption.’ I heard you say that. Apparently it was fine for the whole office to see, though.”

“Did that bother you?” she asked in true surprise. She’d wanted to tempt Vivian, but making her jealous hadn’t been on the agenda.

Vivian continued as if she hadn’t heard, “You were supposed to go to Dior for me today. I had to send Allie instead. Of course, she did everything wrong.”

“That’s why she went?”