The dress hugged her curves in a way that made James's mouth go dry, the neckline just low enough to be tantalizing without crossing into inappropriate territory. He paused at the entrance, taking a moment to compose himself.
She's your boss, he reminded himself sternly. This is a business dinner.
"You're early," she said without looking up as he approached the table. Of course, she'd sensed his presence somehow.
"So are you," he replied, taking the seat across from her, trying not to notice how the candlelight cast shadows that accentuated the elegant line of her collarbone.
Victoria set down her phone. "I'm always early. It's called being professional."
James signaled the waiter. "Scotch, neat," he ordered, then turned back to Victoria. "I thought we were here to discuss the Next proposal."
"We are." Victoria took a sip of her drink. "But given that it's costing me $300 to have this conversation, we might as well order food first."
The waiter returned with James's scotch, and they ordered—Victoria choosing the salmon with barely a glance at the menu, James selecting the beef tenderloin after careful consideration of prices.
"You don't need to order the cheapest entrée," Victoria observed once the waiter had left. "The company's paying."
James felt heat rise to his face. "I wasn't—"
"You were," she interrupted. "You always do that—calculate the cost before making a decision. It's practical, but occasionally tedious."
The observation was so accurate that James couldn't formulate a response. Instead, he took a sip of his scotch, savoring the burn as it slid down his throat. As he set his glass down, he caught Victoria checking her reflection in her spoon, a quick, almost imperceptible movement to ensure not a hair was out of place.
"The Next project," Victoria said, smoothly transitioning to business. "I'm inclined to accept, but I have concerns."
"Such as?" James asked, grateful for the professional topic.
"Matthias is brilliant but opportunistic. This partnership heavily favors their technological infrastructure while potentially diluting our brand identity."
James nodded, sliding into the comfortable territory of business analysis even as his eyes betrayed him, drifting momentarily to the way her dress hugged the generous curves of her breasts when she leaned forward. He quickly refocused. "Their CTO has been pushing for this integration for months. I suspect they need our client base more than they need our methodology."
Victoria's eyebrows rose slightly. "You've been following their quarterly reports."
It wasn't a question, but James answered anyway. "I make it a point to stay informed about our potential partners."
Something that might have been approval flickered across Victoria's face. "What would you require in the contract to protect our interests?"
And so the dinner progressed, their conversation flowing from business strategy to contract specifics to market projections. James fought a constant battle with himself, trying to focus on her words rather than the way her lips curved around her wine glass, or how she occasionally tucked a strand of hair behind her ear in a gesture that seemed uncharacteristically vulnerable.
Their food arrived, and Victoria continued their conversation without pause, gesturing with her fork as she outlined her vision for the project. James noticed that she actually ate tonight, unlike at client dinners where she typically pushed food around her plate while focusing entirely on the business discussion.
"The timeline is aggressive," James noted as they neared the end of their meal, desperately trying to maintain professional detachment despite the wine they'd shared and the intimate setting. "Six weeks of intensive collaboration means we'll essentially be living in each other's pockets."
Victoria set down her fork. "Does that concern you?"
The question hung between them, and James wondered if she could somehow read the inappropriate thoughts that had been plaguing him all evening. "I think we work together effectively," he said carefully, avoiding her gaze.
"Have we?" Victoria's voice was suddenly sharp. "Because I recall an incident three weeks ago where you nearly walked out."
"That was before our agreement," James reminded her. "Things have been... better since then."
Victoria's lips curved into something that wasn't quite a smile. "Better. Such a tepid word."
James felt a familiar flare of irritation, a welcome distraction from his other, more complicated feelings. "What would you prefer? Transcendent? Life-changing? It's been less difficult working with you since you agreed to treat me like a human being with valid opinions. Is that specific enough?"
The words escaped before he could stop them, and James immediately regretted them. But instead of the icy anger he expected, Victoria laughed—a genuine sound that transformed her face and sent an unwelcome heat through his body.
"God, you're the only person who speaks to me that way," she said, shaking her head. "Everyone else either fears me or wants something from me."
I want you, James thought before he could stop himself, then immediately shoved the thought away.
"I want things from you," he said instead, keeping his tone even. "Clear directions. Professional respect. Occasional acknowledgment that I'm not just furniture."
Victoria's expression sobered. "And do you get those things now? Since our... agreement?"
James considered the question honestly. "More often than before," he admitted. "Though you still have your moments."
"Such as?"
"This morning, when Matthias told you I was 'practically an extension of your brain.' You looked like you'd swallowed something unpleasant."
Victoria's eyes widened slightly. "You noticed that?"
"I notice most things about you," James said, then immediately wished he could recall the words. They sounded far too intimate, especially with the soft lighting and the wine they'd shared.
An uncomfortable silence descended. Victoria traced the rim of her wine glass, her expression unreadable.
"If we take on this project," she said finally, "we'll be working very closely together. In a neutral space, away from the office hierarchy."
"Yes," James agreed, unsure where she was going with this.
"It will require trust," Victoria continued. "More than we've needed before."
James leaned forward slightly. "Do you trust me, Victoria?"
Her eyes met his, steady and searching. "More than most," she admitted quietly. "Which isn't saying much, I suppose."
"It's enough," James said, surprised by his own sincerity despite the undercurrent of desire that colored his thoughts. "For now."
Victoria nodded, her posture relaxing fractionally. "Then we accept the proposal. I'll need you to draft the response tomorrow, with the contract modifications we discussed."