As the conference call finally ended, Melissa gathered her notepad and stood up, adjusting her tie. She tried to push aside the conflicting emotions bubbling inside her. Josh’s advances had annoyed her, but she couldn’t deny the heat that had sparked in her during the meeting.
Josh lingered in his seat, straightening his skirt and slipping his foot back into his high heel. His glossy pink lips curved into a smirk as he watched Melissa leave the room. She avoided looking at him, but he was certain he’d gotten under her skin in just the way he wanted.
Back at her cubicle, Melissa sank into her chair, exhaling deeply. She needed to focus on work and not let her hormones distract her. Yet, as she tried to dive into her emails, her thoughts kept drifting back to the meeting, and to Josh.
She hated to admit it, but he had a way of getting under her skin. The confidence that practically radiated from him, the easy charm with which he spoke, the way he seemed to know exactly how to push her limits without ever crossing a line. It was maddening, infuriating even, but also... intoxicating. She knew she should focus, should push the distractions aside and get to work, but the memory of his foot, those silky nylon-covered toes brushing so lightly against her leg, kept invading her thoughts, replaying over and over. It was a subtle touch, but it had sent an electric jolt through her.
She shook her head, annoyed with herself. You’re better than this, she thought. But the longer she sat there, the harder it became to ignore the idea forming in her mind.
Before she could overthink it, Melissa stood up, straightened her dress shirt with a tug at the collar, and walked across the open office space toward Josh’s cubicle. He was seated at his desk, legs crossed neatly, typing away on his computer. His blouse fit snugly, accentuating his slim frame, and his makeup was flawless as usual. He glanced up as she approached, his eyes widening slightly in surprise.
“Melissa.” he said, a playful smile creeping onto his lips. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”
She crossed her arms, standing just outside his cubicle. “I wanted to talk to you.”
Josh swiveled his chair to face her fully, resting his hands in his lap. “I’m all ears.”
Melissa hesitated for a fraction of a second before diving in. “Are you free tonight?”
Josh blinked in surprise, and for a moment, he simply stared at her, as though processing the question. “Tonight?”
“Yes.” she said firmly. “Dinner. My treat.”
The surprise quickly melted away, replaced by a sly, knowing grin that tugged at the corners of his lips. “Well, well. This is unexpected.”
“Don’t make it weird.” she said, rolling her eyes, though her cheeks felt warm. “It’s just dinner.”
“Just dinner.” he echoed, tilting his head as if considering. “And here I thought you weren’t interested in me anymore.”
“I’m not.” Melissa said quickly, though the heat in her face betrayed her. “I just thought... Look, do you want to or not?”
Josh let the silence hang for a moment, clearly enjoying her uncharacteristic discomfort. Finally, he stood, smoothing his pencil skirt and flashing her a dazzling smile.
“I’d love to.” he said, his tone light but with a hint of triumph.
Melissa exhaled, relieved and slightly irritated by his reaction. “Good. I’ll text you the details.”
“Looking forward to it.” he replied, his voice teasing.
As she turned to walk away, Melissa felt his gaze lingering on her. She hated how smug he could be, but a part of her was looking forward to tonight. Against her better judgment, she couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like to spend more time with him, without the tension of the office getting in the way.
This is just dinner, she told herself again. But deep down, she wasn’t so sure.
That evening…
Melissa tapped her fingers against the steering wheel, the quiet hum of her car doing little to calm her nerves. She stared at the glowing numbers on the dashboard clock, wondering for the hundredth time why she’d agreed to this.
This was a mistake, she thought. She could’ve been at home, catching up on work or binge-watching a show. Instead, she was sitting outside Josh’s apartment complex, waiting to take him on a date she wasn’t even sure she wanted to go on.
She sighed, glancing at her phone to check the time again. Five more minutes, and if he’s not out, I’m leaving.
But then, the front door of the building opened, and Melissa’s breath caught in her throat.
Josh stepped out, descending the steps with a confidence that bordered on regal. He wore a fitted, lavender cocktail dress that hugged his curves in all the right places, flaring out just above his knees. The soft fabric shimmered under the streetlights. His hair was styled into elegant waves that framed his perfectly made-up face, complete with winged eyeliner and a subtle pink gloss that made his lips look impossibly kissable.
Melissa stared, her earlier doubts vanishing as quickly as they had come. She’d seen Josh dressed up before, but this? This was something else entirely.
He opened the passenger door and slid inside, the faint scent of vanilla and jasmine following him. “Hope I didn’t keep you waiting too long.” he said, flashing her a playful smile.
Melissa blinked, trying to find her words. “You... look great.”
Josh laughed softly, adjusting the hem of his dress as he buckled his seatbelt. “Only great? I was going for stunning.”
Melissa shook her head, a grin tugging at her lips. “Fine. Stunning.”
“Better.” he said with a wink.
At the restaurant, the two were seated at a cozy corner table lit by a single flickering candle. The low hum of conversation and clinking silverware from nearby tables seemed far away, leaving just the two of them in their little bubble. Josh ordered a glass of white wine, and Melissa a simple beer.
Conversation flowed more easily than she’d expected, though it was hard to concentrate with Josh looking the way he did. The curve of his smile, the way his eyes sparkled when he spoke, it all kept pulling her in. Every time he laughed, his perfectly styled curls bounced slightly, and that soft, melodic sound seemed to settle in her chest, making her feel warm in a way she couldn’t quite explain.
As the evening wore on, the wine worked its magic on Josh. By the time he ordered his second glass, his cheeks were faintly flushed, the pink hue giving him an even more radiant look. His usual poised confidence had begun to shift, taking on a more playful, mischievous edge. He sat back in his chair, letting his legs cross casually beneath the table, and looked at Melissa with a glint in his eye that made her shift in her seat.
“So.” he began, his voice taking on a teasing inflection, as he leaned forward slightly, resting his chin in his hand. His gaze locked with hers, his eyes half-lidded, a spark of something daring behind them. “What made you change your mind about me?”
Melissa raised an eyebrow, unsure if he was being serious or just playing with her. “Change my mind?”
“Come on.” Josh smirked, swirling his wineglass. “You’ve been avoiding me for weeks, and now you’re buying me dinner? Admit it. You missed me.”
She chuckled, taking a slow sip of her drink. “I wouldn’t go that far.”
Josh pouted, his glossy lips forming a perfect little bow. “You’re no fun.”
“And you’re drunk.” she teased.
“Not drunk.” he corrected, wagging a finger. “Just... tipsy. And I happen to be a very charming tipsy person.”
“Oh, really?”
Josh leaned closer, his voice dropping to a sultry whisper. “Really. And I think you’re starting to see that.”
Melissa felt her pulse quicken. She hated how easily he could fluster her, but at the same time, she couldn’t deny the pull she felt toward him.
“Maybe I am.” she admitted softly, meeting his gaze.
Josh’s grin widened, and he reached across the table, his fingers lightly brushing against hers. “Good. Because I plan to make sure you never regret saying yes to me.”
Melissa blinked, caught off guard by the intensity of his words. For the first time that evening, she thought that maybe, just maybe, she wouldn’t.
The drive back to Josh’s apartment was quieter than the ride to the restaurant, but the air between them was anything but calm. Melissa’s grip on the steering wheel was tighter than usual, her mind racing as she stole glances at Josh. He sat with his legs crossed, one foot bouncing slightly, his lavender dress glimmering faintly under the streetlights. His flushed cheeks and slightly dreamy expression betrayed the effects of the wine.
As Melissa pulled up to his building, she cut the engine and hesitated. The soft hum of the car died, leaving only the faint chirping of crickets outside. She glanced over at Josh, who was rummaging through his purse for his keys.
“Well,” she said, trying to sound casual, “here we are.”
Josh looked up, his lips curving into a playful smile. “Yep, here we are.”
A pause stretched between them. Melissa tapped her fingers on the steering wheel, willing herself to stay cool. She wasn’t about to be the one to make the first move, not after the way he’d teased her all night.
Josh tilted his head, his smile growing wider as he caught onto her hesitation. “Something on your mind?” he asked innocently.
Melissa exhaled sharply, leaning back against her seat. “Don’t do this.”
“Do what?” Josh’s voice was honeyed, his eyes sparkling with mischief.
“You know what.”
Josh leaned closer, resting his chin on his hand. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
Melissa gave him a flat look, but the corner of her mouth twitched. “You’re unbelievable.”
He laughed, the sound light and teasing. “I guess you’ll just have to spell it out for me.”
Melissa rolled her eyes, but the way her stomach fluttered betrayed her annoyance. “Do you want me to come inside or not?”
Josh pretended to think, tapping his chin with a manicured finger. “Hmm... I don’t know. Do you want to come inside?”
Melissa groaned, reaching for the keys in the ignition. “Forget it. I’m going home.”
As she reached to turn her key, Josh grabbed her wrist, his touch gentle but firm. “Okay, okay.” he said, his grin softening. “Do you want to come inside?”
Melissa looked at him, her heart pounding. “I thought you’d never ask.”
Inside Josh’s apartment, the air felt warmer, more intimate. Soft lighting illuminated the space, highlighting the neatness of the living room. A plush couch sat against one wall, flanked by a few colorful throw pillows, while a small coffee table held a stack of magazines and an unlit candle.
“Make yourself comfortable.” Josh said, slipping off his heels and setting them neatly by the door. His movements were graceful, but there was a deliberate slowness to them, as if he knew Melissa’s eyes were following his every step.
Melissa lingered by the door for a moment, taking in the scent of vanilla and jasmine that seemed to linger everywhere. Then, she kicked off her shoes and followed him to the couch, where he had already plopped down and crossed his legs, his dress riding up just slightly above his knees.
Josh patted the cushion next to him. “Come on, I don’t bite. Unless you’re into that.”
Melissa smirked, sitting down beside him but leaving a small gap between them. “You’re full of yourself, you know that?”
“Maybe.” Josh replied, shifting closer until their thighs brushed. “But you like it.”
Melissa chuckled, shaking her head, but she didn’t move away. Josh tilted his head, studying her with a soft, almost curious expression. Then, slowly, he reached out and placed a hand on her knee.
“You’re tense.” he said, his voice dropping to a soothing murmur.
“Maybe I’m just waiting for you to stop teasing me.” Melissa shot back, her tone light but edged with impatience.
Josh laughed, leaning in closer. “Fine. No more teasing.”
Before Melissa could respond, Josh cupped her face with both hands and kissed her. His lips were soft, warm, and tasted faintly of wine. The kiss was slow at first, testing, but when Melissa responded with equal fervor, it deepened, becoming hungrier, more urgent.
Melissa’s hands found their way to Josh’s waist, pulling him closer until he was practically in her lap. Josh let out a soft, pleased sound, his fingers tangling in Melissa’s hair as he tilted his head to deepen the kiss even further.
They pulled apart just long enough for Josh to catch his breath, his cheeks flushed and his lips slightly swollen. “You’re really good at this.” he murmured, his voice breathless but teasing.
Melissa grinned, brushing a strand of hair from his face. “So are you.”
Josh didn’t reply. He simply leaned back in, pulling Melissa down with him onto the couch. Their laughter and whispered words filled the room, the rest of the world fading away as they lost themselves in each other.