Free Claiming What's His by Melissa Phillips

 She shrugged, trying to play it off casually as if it meant anything.
    It definitely meant something.
    She wasn’t going to tell him she still wasn’t comfortable seeing him after all these years.  She couldn’t let him see how much he affected her, and not to let him see the hurt that still lingered.
    “Yes, there was.  If you had stayed, we could’ve discussed the case and how we’ll handle it.”
    Oh.
    She definitely didn’t expect him to say that.  Maybe she was overreacting to this whole thing with him.
    “Discuss it now then.”
    “I can’t.”  He paused, his eyes working as if trying to make up an excuse.  He quickly added, “I don’t have the files in front of me.”
    His eyes were working and Sam sensed that he was winging it.  She knew he didn’t need any files to discuss the generalization of the case, if he wanted.    He was stalling, but for what?  They hadn’t been in the same room for a long time and they didn’t have anything in common… anymore.
    But she needed to get the conversation going so that she could get him out of her home and sort herself out in private.
    “Just tell me the gist of it.”
    He waited for a beat and then he sighed.  “Okay.  I have two suggestions.  We could either work together, as in side by side all day where we go through the files and receipts.  Or, we could split up the work, but still do the same thing except on our own.
    Sam knew that the second option would be best for her so that she wouldn’t have to see him.  But this was work and she had to remain professional.  This was a job that they hired her to do and she would do it to her best ability.  She answered, “Either is fine, just as long as we can handle and solve the case efficient and quickly.  I have other cases to look at.”
    “Okay, I’ll think it over and let you know Monday.”
    “Okay.”
    Alex was silent.  He sat there, staring at her, wanting to say something.  But he doesn’t.  His mouth opened and closed, his eyes changed from something she had never seen before.  Sam wasn’t sure what it meant.
    “Is there something else?”
    He was still silent.  Finally, he sighed then replied, “No.  I’ll let you get some sleep now.  Are you going to the fundraiser tomorrow?”
    “Yeah, I’ll be there.  Maggie and I signed up as volunteers.”
    “Oh yeah.   What are you doing?”
    Sam opened her mouth to answer but quickly shut it.  Her brain started working and it must’ve showed through her eyes because he chuckled. 
    My brows furrowed. “What’s funny?”
    “You don’t know what you’re doing, are you?”
    He’s laughing because she didn’t know?  Was he now making things up to irritate her quicker?  Sam figured she could’ve lie to him to save face, but what was the point.  It wasn’t that big of a deal to lie with so she opted to tell the truth.
    She sighed.  “No, I don’t know what she signed me up for.  George mentioned that there were still a few openings and she just picked one for me.”
    He chuckled again.
    She stood and narrowed her eyes at him.  Now she was plain annoyed.  She didn’t see how this was funny.  And yet, here he was with an amused look on his face.
    He got up and stepped forward, the flare in her eyes quickly died. 
    Instead of feeling angry, it was replaced with something else. 
    Something different.
    Fluttered.
    Warmth.
    His eyes went soft.  The look in his eyes had been something she hadn’t seen in a long time.
    Lust.
    He placed his finger under her chin, tipped it, and brushed his lips to hers.  It was a soft and gently feather light touch that made her want to lean in for more to get the feel of his full lips pressed to hers once again.  It had been too long.  Her eyes fluttered slightly and she fought the urge to lift her hands and clutch the sides of his shirt.  The brush lasted longer than expected and right when she was about to lean into him, he whispered against her lips, “Night,