Driven to Date by Susan Hatler Page B

girls on Friday due to Ryan’s unnecessary memos and reports.
    “Some of us don’t jump off the clock just because it’s five.” I crossed my arms, and leaned back against my desk. “It’s one thing for you not to take your job seriously. But the rest of us don’t have relatives to hand us a job. We need to earn it. Something you obviously wouldn’t understand.”
    Ryan’s face grew taut as he shut the door behind him, and stormed over to me. “Just because I wasn’t working at this particular firm my entire career, doesn’t mean I didn’t earn this position. I spent seven years working my way up in San Francisco.”
    “Is that how you ease your conscience?” I stared into his sexy hazel eyes that were so heated, I had the strong urge to press my mouth to his. I deserved kudos for resisting.
    “My conscience is clear, buttercup.” His face was inches away from mine. “In fact, if I hadn’t gone to San Diego, I would’ve had this exact same job at a muchlarger firm. Just because you were here first, doesn’t mean I’m not qualified for this position.”
    “Is that so?” My blood hummed. How dare he speak to me this way, after he waltzed in, and destroyed everything I’d worked so hard to build. And why did I want to kiss him so badly?
    He flattened his hands on my desk, pinning me in so I couldn’t escape if I wanted to (which I didn’t). “What bothers you more, Jill? The fact that I got the job? Or that I can do it as well as you could, and still have a life?”
    I flinched, feeling like he’d struck me. “I have a life.”
    He leaned closer, eyeing my mouth. “That’s not what I hear.”
    “Been asking about me, have you?” I swallowed, trying to keep my expression level, so he’d have no idea how he affected me. Inside, my heart was pounding. I clenched my hands, so the trembling wouldn’t give me away, as he bent toward me. . . .
    Beep! Beep! The intercom on my phone gave two cheerful beeps. “Jill? Is Ryan still in there? The guys are waiting in the lobby for him,” Scott said.
    Ryan paused, as if waiting to see what I’d do.
    I cleared my throat. “He’ll be right out.”
    The intercom beeped off.
    Ryan didn’t move away, though. His mouth stayed so close to mine, that I could feel the heat from his skin pulse against me as I breathed in his dark, musky scent. “You drive me insane,” he said, his voice deep and gravelly.
    I tilted my head, then lifted my lashes. “The guys are waiting.”
    He leaned toward my ear, his whisper tickling my skin. “Don’t work too late, buttercup.”
    My jaw tightened as he smirked, straightened, then slipped out of my office. And I stared after him, breathless—thinking I needed to start playing basketball.
    ****
    After Zumba class, I folded into a pike position on the mat, at my gym, Totally Fit. Usually I worked out in the morning, but I needed to burn off tension from my encounter earlier with Ryan in my office. Mission accomplished.
    Well, except for a few lingering impulses.
    I stretched forward far enough to reach behind my toes, then I pulled them toward me. My calf muscles yelped with pain before they slowly started to loosen. I peered over at Ginger. “How was your day?”
    Ginger sighed. “Victor and I were supposed to see that new Bradley Cooper film, but he canceled for sports night.”
    Seeing the disappointment across her face tugged at my heart strings. “I’m sorry he’s not reliable. I know you like him.”
    Tears filled her eyes, then she blinked them away. “He’s so not an asset.”
    “That’s right.” Pressing my nose toward my knee, I had a brilliant idea. “Let’s go to the lounge at the Geoffries hotel Friday night. No men. No sports.”
    “No brainer.” She wiggled her shoulders, and bumped her fists in the air. “Let’s invite your friend, Sarah. She’s such a sweetheart.”
    “Sounds like a plan.” I flattened my stomach against my thighs, thinking how nice it was working out with a