Ben McLaughlin is the IT guy for the McLaughlin brothers, the one assigned to train me, Erin, the new receptionist, on the company's software. It's tough to pay attention to screens and templates when Ben is next to me, awakening all kinds of fires.

I invite him to my ballet company's performance, to pay him back for ramming into him while practicing in the break room. Where I rammed him was kind of private ... and I imagine painful. I'm sure I'll be fired on the spot, but Ben never says a word.

He's in the audience now, watching, while I try to dance like I don't have a care in the world. I want to get to know him, to talk to him beyond computer questions, to find out what he's like behind his quiet exterior.

My job is temporary, and I can only dream of Ben gazing at me with his gorgeous eyes and asking me to stay ... forever.

Book 2 of the McLaughlin Brothers