Abby stares down at the reports on her desk, the numbers blurring in her head. She's been stuck all morning - she know she needs to finish her reports, but all she can think about is Mike.

Abby sighs as she glances up at the clock. It's not even twelve. She finds herself tapping her pen on the desk to the beat of the song Mike was dancing to on stage. She glances up at the clock again—not even a minute has passed.

"Do you have those expense reports, Abby?"

Tom, her boss, is standing in front of her desk. He's wearing his brown, stained trousers again, and he's missed a button on his beige shirt. A sliver of pasty skin shows through. Abby shudders.

"There were a couple of discrepancies," Abby lies. "I'm just going over them again."

Tom walks around beside Abby's chair and perches on her desk. He has the faint smell of cabbage.

"It's almost lunch time," he says. "How about you and I go down to Bruno's, we can discuss the Denham account."

"Oh, I brought my lunch today. I'm trying to be healthy."

"I'll order you a salad. Come on."

Tom stands. Abby knows the look on his face - he's not going to take no for an answer.

"I'll get my purse."

Abby takes a bite of her salad, staring wistfully at Tom's pizza. She feels something on her leg, and repositions herself. The something touches her again—Tom's foot. She sits as far back in her chair as she can, pushing her legs right back. Tom grins at her.

They're sitting at Tom's favorite table, outside, right near the entrance. Right where every single person walking past can see Abby with him. She plays with her hair, trying to cover her face so that no one can see her. When she looks up at Tom, his mouth is gaping open, staring at her hair.

"You wanted to talk about the Denham account?" Abby says.

It takes Tom a few seconds to respond. "Ah—yes—the account. Well, Abby, you've been doing great work for us since you've been here. I see some real potential in you. So, I'd like you to head up the Denham account. You'll be the lead accountant, dealing directly with Travis Denham himself."

Abby's eyes go wide. The Denham's are like royalty in Tampa, and one of the richest families in the state. They practically have a monopoly on food manufacturing, amongst all their other investments. And Travis Denham is known around the city for his high-roling, hard-partying ways.

"They're our biggest account," Abby says, dumbly.

"That's why I want my best gal on it. You and I will be working very closely on it, of course, there will be a lot of late nights and weekends."

Abby's stomach flips. There's the kicker—deal with Tom's constant sleaziness, or lose the biggest opportunity of her career.

"So? Are you up for it?"

Abby nods. "Yes, I am."

Tom grins again, and Abby's heart sinks. This isn't going to be easy.

They finish their lunch, and Tom goes inside to settle the bill. Abby stands on the street, lost in thought about her big new promotion, and the headaches that will surely come with it.

"Abby Davies."

Abby looks up, still in a daze.

Mike stands in front of her, dressed in jeans and a shirt, with dirty work boots and a huge smile.

"I don't even get a hello?" he says, laughing.

"I'm sorry," Abby says, still lost in his energy. "Hello—hi."

"What are you doing out here?" Mike asks.

"I was just at lunch with a colleague. I'm on my way back to work."

"Do you want me to walk you?"

Abby nods, smiling. She points up the street. "I'm up that way."

Mike walks up beside her—then she hears Tom's voice. "Abby? Where are you going?"

She hates the sound of that voice. It takes everything in her to not scream at him to leave her alone. Instead she turns back.

"I just ran into an old friend. I'll meet you back at the office."

Tom stares Mike up and down, a scowl on his face. Mike's smile doesn't falter as he reaches his hand out to Tom.

"I'm Mike."

Tom puts his arm around Abby's shoulder. The smell of cabbage grows stronger.

"Is this guy bugging you?" Tom asks.

Abby can't help but laugh. She shrugs his arm off.

"He's my friend. Like I said, I'll meet you back at the office."

Tom's face grows red and he pushes past Mike. "Don't be late back, Abby."

Abby and Mike both turn and watch Tom angrily stride down the street.

"Seems like a cool guy," Mike says, laughing again.

"That's Tom, the bane of my existence."

"I guess I'd better get you back to the office quick. You can't be late back!"

Abby stares up into Mike's deep green eyes. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm just on my way home."

"Oh. Look—I'm—I'm sorry about last night," Abby says.

"Sorry about what? I had a great time."

"Things got weird. I got weird."

"I don't remember weird. I remember spontaneous, interesting, sexy. Not weird."

Abby feels her cheeks burning once again. There's something about his voice that makes her knees weak.

"Do you really have to go back to work?" Mike asks.

"Yeah. I wish I didn't. But we have this big new account. I have to be on my best behavior."

"Have dinner with me tonight then. I'll pick you up."

"Alright."

Abby smiles. But in the back of her mind, all she can think about is Tallahassee.