I take a bite of my salad, nodding. “I’m all for that.”

She plucks a blueberry and pops it in her mouth. “But that’s not to say you’re only valuable for your ovaries.”

“Why, thank you. Though I honestly don’t know the value of them.”

Ginny cups the side of her mouth and whispers, “I know the value of mine. They work too well. I have a ten-year-old. No dad.”

I raise a hand. “I was raised with no dad. I think I turned out okay.”

A whooshing sound passes my head, and I crane my neck as a paper airplane soars past me and lands next to Ginny.

She rolls her eyes. “Noah.”

“Is he the paper airplane maker?”

She picks up the winged object. “He likes to send these to me at lunch. He’s such a goofball.”

My curiosity is piqued. “Regularly?”

“Once or twice a week.”

“Pretty sure that means he’s into you.”

She laughs, dismissing the idea with a fervent wave. “Oh, no. He’s just . . . festive.”

I glance behind me, and Noah waves from his table. To Ginny. “No. He has a thing for you. A big thing. What about you? Is it mutual?”

“I’m thirty-five. I’m ten years older than he is. Is that terrible? Does that make me a cougar?”

“Perhaps it makes you wiser.”

“But is dating him wise? My daughter’s in fourth grade. He’s only fifteen years older than my daughter. Fifteen.”

“But he’s not her father.”

“I know, but still. Robbing the cradle much?”

“I don’t think you should worry about that.”

“What should I worry about?”

As I take a bite of edamame, I consider her question. I consider my track record. I consider what I knew and didn’t know then offer my best answer. “Whether he’s as good at dating as he is at piloting paper airplanes.”

“Good point. But I’m finding it a bit hard to make that decision.” She gestures to the vast array of items in front of her. “I couldn’t even decide what to have for lunch.”

“Dating and lunch are different beasts. For now, I guess you have a little of everything.”

“Now that’s an excellent decision.” She drops her voice to a knowing whisper. “With lunch and men.”

As promised, Leo waits for me outside the conference room, his back to me.

Out of nowhere, a wave of goose bumps rushes over my skin when I see him.

Now that—that’s the kind of man suits are made for. Screw politicians. Suits are for men like Leo—broad shoulders, strong thighs, toned arms.

And he possesses another attribute that sure makes a suit look like it’s whistling a happy tune being worn by him.

His ass.

Those tailored charcoal pants seem to hug his ass worshipfully, praying at the altar of perfect cheeks.

Tingles sweep down my chest, and absently, I lick my lips.

Wait.

I stop in my tracks, talking back to my wildly inappropriate self.

Did I just think of Leo’s ass?

Oh hell, I did, says Wildly Inappropriate Lulu.

I did just think of his firm, succulent butt that’s begging to be grabbed, held on to, woman-handled.

Stop!

I clench my fists, my nails digging in, a mildly painful bid to wrest control of the runaway train of my libido. I shove away the errant dirty thoughts. I should not be thinking about Leo’s butt.

But how did I never notice he had such a fine ass before? I’m not even an ass woman. I’m an eyes woman.

When he turns around, his smile spreads lazily, taking its time. His grin is crooked and kind at the same time, reaching all the way to his eyes, his brown irises so damn soulful they seem to see inside me.

That’s when I do a clean sweep of my brain.

I can’t let him see inside me. He can’t know I was thinking of his . . . assets. I’m here to work, not to perv on the man. After all, I’m no female Willy Wonka.

But, more importantly, I’m working with him. And yeah, sure, no one has asked me to sign a contract forbidding contractors like me from fraternizing with key employees like him. But hello? I’m here to work, and I need to focus on this opportunity to build my business at last. And to build it free of distractions of the male variety.

I vow to think friendly thoughts.

I say hi, then head into the conference room with him by my side. Once we sit down, I don’t make eye contact. Not with his eyes, nor his ass.

Well, he is parked on it. It would be hard to check out his chiseled butt right now anyway.

10LEO

I grew up as the oldest of three brothers in a middle-class family outside Philadelphia. My father worked as a manager at a hardware store, my mother as a florist. Our lives were simple. My parents worked hard and long.