Ainsley recovered, and Ian had been spared catching the nasty virus. Apparently, very few people were privy to their breakup. He had only told Henry and his father, who didn't confide with Margot.

Thanksgiving was around the corner, and Ian was hesitant to broach the subject with Ainsley. He wanted her to meet his grandparents during their five-week visit. His early memories of staying in Boston included his nana and pop. They helped Andrew in his crash course on parenting. He had a special relationship with his paternal grandparents.

"Look out! He's thinking!" She chuckled over her coffee.

Another rule thrown out the window was the workday sleepover ban. He hadn't slept alone since he found her burning up and dehydrated.

He frowned at her. "What would you do if I stopped by your desk at noon? Would you eat in the cafeteria with me?"

"Are you trying to kill me? Does the jerk know we're back together?"

Ian shrugged. "I haven't spoken to him. I definitely want to rub it in his face. Before the job competition, I thought he liked you."

"I just want them to decide. The stress is killing me."

"Momma boy tried to kill you. But I can add more stress with one word."

She glared. "Make it quick or I'll be late."

"Thanksgiving."

"Oh, that."

She disappeared, and he was left wondering why she wasn't rattled.

Ian walked through the promotions department at noon and stopped at Ainsley's desk. She looked adorable as she chewed on her pen cap deep in thought. He leaned in. "Hungry?"

Her hand went to her heart. "You startled me." Her eye strayed to Henry. She smiled and waved. "Ian and I are going to lunch." Her focus changed. "Nina, this is Ian."

Ian put on the charm. "I've heard a lot about you."

"I wish I could say the same, but Ainsley is a vault." She looked at Ainsley. "Your guy works here?"

Henry looked over. Ian nodded, but the younger man looked away. The harsh words he said to Henry were out of anger, but they were true. The two men would never climb together.

For months, Ian had wanted to be out in the open with Ainsley. Even the awful food couldn't affect his mood. After losing her, he wanted to hold on to her.

"How does Henry really treat you?"

She shrugged. "I ignore him. He definitely didn't realize we were back together."

Ian took her hand. "I'm tired of hiding. You should come have lunch in my office."

"You mean replace Henry? Lilli and Zach were engaged and people in their office didn't know they were even a couple."

"Seriously?"

"It was a game for her." She pulled her hand back and looked around. "I don't want to kiss at work. We're professionals."

"I suggested lunch, not sex. Although." He winked. "Nope. My office walls are glass."

"We can roleplay at home."

Ian lowered his voice. "Dirty girl."

She took a bite of her salad and frowned. "I should learn not to get these."

"My burger is good. Why were you chill about Thanksgiving?"

She smiled. "Carolyn called. Because of us, Alicia has invited my parents for Thanksgiving."

"What! Your parents with my mother!"

"They've met. It suits me fine because I can avoid my mother more easily. Lilli and Zach are going to be with her family."

"I see both families."

She brushed his hand. "I want to meet your grandparents." She took a bite. "I can't stay long. Henry still disappears, but I'm not sure where he goes."

"Maybe he found a new friend." Wishful thinking. He finished his burger. "I can walk you back."

"I know my way. Are you climbing later?"

He shook his head. She frowned, so he said, "Do you want to get rid of me?"

"No, but you love to climb. I can be alone."

He stopped himself from arguing about what he loved. "Maybe after we eat. Henry goes after work. You can come too."

"I'm recovering. I was just sick." It was her third day back, and she didn't push herself over the weekend.

"Promise me you'll try it or I'll get Brooke to shame you."

"I never should have forgiven you."

"So you could date your new best friend?"

Ian had to look past that she went on a date and scheduled another.

"Be thankful. Xander cracked the surface. I was thinking about forgiving you. I might work late, so you should go to the gym earlier."

"Ainse, I support you and your hard work, but you need a balance. Come home with me at five. We'll eat together and then I'll go to the gym. You can work until I come home and take you to bed."

She looked at him before studying the table. "I thought if I kept long hours."

"But if nobody is around to notice. Believe me, supervisors don't get logs about how long their employees are logged on. They aren't looking at film footage, although it might have been helpful for me. You can get work done just as easily from home."

She looked up again. "With access to the information?"

He chuckled. "You're dating the head of IT. I can get you set up. No problem."

Her eyes widened. "Like a special favor?"

He smiled as he shook his head. "Nope, just technical help. I'll save your special favors for later."

Out of the corner of his eye, Ellen looked his way. He stopped himself from waving her over. Plus, Ainsley's face had lit up to his future favors. His heart beat in a new rhythm when she smiled at him.

Her smile faded. "I have to get back. I don't take an hour."

He nodded. "I normally don't take fifteen. Maybe we should plan to enjoy thirty minutes together once a week. Will it start too many rumors?"

She chuckled. "Only if you hold my hand."

"I want to hold more than your hand." Before Ainsley, he didn't remember having a playful, sexy voice.

She threw her head back and laughed and stood with her half eaten salad. Why did she order the salad? The menu wasn't extremely healthy and at restaurants she often opted for the salad. Women.

Her head snapped back. "What about women?"

"I thought that was in my head. You would have enjoyed lunch better if you ordered the burger instead of the salad you know you don't like."

Her face fell. "I can guarantee you'll like my salad thighs much better than my burger thighs."

He shook his head, but they had stepped into the lobby with people around so he didn't tell her he would always like her thighs even if they were burger, pizza and ice cream thighs.

"At Thanksgiving, I'm going to ask Ken about the salads."

Ian laughed. "I bet it's Duff's responsibility." He used his friend's nickname.

She chuckled. "Okay. Later Gilly." Then she went to the elevator bank to go up while he took the stairs down.

He hadn't even checked his email when Ellen appeared. "Who's the pretty blonde?" Pretty? Ian preferred beautiful. He tried to ignore her probing stare. "Fess up, Gillespie. Is that your lady love? Was she visiting or does she work here?" Ellen sat down. "I'm not leaving. I want answers."

"I can order you back to work." He bit his lip to keep a straight face.

"You and I both know it wouldn't work. We have mutual respect, but I'm too old to be bullied by you."

His jaw dropped. "I never bully."

She chuckled. "I know but I do. Friday afternoon, department happy hour. You'll be there with your lady love. I'll ask her all the questions you won't answer."

"And if I don't show up?"

Ellen laughed. "You will."

"I have a mother." He pouted.

She stood and smiled. "I'm not old. I like to think I'm more like a sister."

"My mother isn't old either. What if we don't show up?"

"I'll hunt you down, and Ian, you know I'm not one to pry, but I'm glad to see you happy again. She's a lucky girl."

Not pry, Ian rolled his eyes. He was the lucky one. A lucky bastard for winning her back.

His biggest reluctance with Ainsley meeting his department was he worked with a bunch of boring geeks like himself. He had fooled her, but she would notice when he was with the others. Ellen even chose the Public House. At least Ainsley was used to meeting losers at that bar. His department weren't losers, but they were not sociable like her friends. Most of them were married except for his newest hire, and the help desk boys. He doubted Ellen extended the invitation. It was for his development team.

Ainsley took the invitation in stride. She teased him over his concern. "Relax. It'll be fine, boss. I get along with everyone."

It was true. Everyone she met instantly loved her, except Henry. She threatened her coworker. Ian had no intention of intervening, but he would like to ask Eric to speed up his decision. Ainsley's stress level hadn't subsided. Missing three days of work hadn't helped her manage it. He tried, but sex and massages only relaxed her at the moment.

As they met in the lobby on Friday evening, her face looked drawn.

"Are you too tired?"

"No. No. I'm looking forward to it."

Her face didn't convince him. She cleared her throat. "Um. Xander is meeting a date too."

"So I shouldn't get jealous if you stare at your boyfriend." Ian didn't want to like the guy who kissed her, but he encouraged her to forgive his idiotic behavior.

"I don't stare. I steal glances."

"Semantics my dear."

"Dear. My legs are too short to be a deer."

He rolled his eyes. Endearing terms kept slipping over his tongue. He shut up and held her arm as they walked up the sidewalk. Instead of heels she wore boots. The sidewalk was clear, but the roads were slushy. He wouldn't be as forgiving if a car sent a puddle of slush, sand and salt at them.

When they walked into the bar, he spied his team in the back corner. The bartender waved to Ainsley and held up a wine glass. Much to his surprise, she shook her head and asked for a diet coke.

"I'm too tired. Plus, I need to make a good impression."

He nodded and ordered a beer for himself. Ainsley had taken it easy the weekend before. She was still recovering from her virus. "Ready?"

With beer in hand, he led her to the back. As he introduced her to his team, he decided to save his father's demands until she was naked and sated in his arms.

Thanks for reading. Please vote ⭐️