"You don't have to drive me," I halfheartedly griped as Billy drove me to the studio. "You shouldn't go in if you have the day off."

"I'm not going to my studio; I'm going to your new office." He squeezed my knee as he spoke.

"My new office is at your studio and, knowing you, very close to your office," I lamented.

"Well, since you wouldn't let me put a second desk in my office, I'd say it was too far from my office."

"Mmhmm, you say that now, but one day of listening to me on endless calls, and you'd sing a different tune!"

"Good, I could use some new material."

"Billy, I love you wholeheartedly, but these dad jokes just need to stop."

"Never." He smiled as he pulled into his spot in front of the studio. "Are you excited?" Billy added as he pulled me from the car to his side.

"To go to work? Not particularly," I laughed.

"But it is your first day in new digs, so it's a first day. It's going to be quiet around here. Most people aren't around between the holidays," he noted.

"Mmhmm, I expect it'll be a pretty quiet day for me as well."

"You sure you can't take it off?" He prodded again.

"I told you; I'm the coverage point. We're in a skeleton crew state as it is. I can't jump ship to run away with a sweaty transient that makes melodic noises for a length of time."

"Klopplebaum," Billy murmured to himself as he opened the door for me. "Morning, Mel."

"Morning, Billy. I wasn't expecting you or Tim to be in today. I don't know why I ever expect that." Mel shook her head at him in a chiding manner from behind the reception desk.

"Lily has to work, so I just wanted to make sure her office is all set for her," Billy added. "Have you two met?"

"Briefly, and then I ran away," I joked. "It's nice to meet you formally." I extended a hand to her.

"Nice to meet you as well." She nodded back with a friendly smile. "I'm afraid Tim has beaten you to it. He's been here for about an hour."

"Of course he has." Billy shook his head to himself.

"That was sweet of him." I smiled as we walked down the hall to my new office.

"I'm pretty sure he's trying to make me look bad," Billy joked.

"Morning," I called from the doorway.

All we could see was the top of Timmy's head as he crouched under my desk.

"Three monitors, Lil. You only have two eyes," Tim gripped as he pulled himself from under the desk.

"Well, I have what I'm actively working on the middle monitor, my email on my left monitor, and usually a video call on the right monitor," I explained.

"I was going to do this," Billy complained as he looked over Tim's work.

Tim and I both let out a laugh.

"What?" Billy shot at us.

"Sweetie, I love you, but this is not your jam." I smiled up at him.

"Whenever you call me sweetie, it's code for 'you're a dumbass,'" Billy groaned.

"True, but it's nicer the way I say it," I offered.

"By nicer, you mean entirely condescending," he argued back.

"Now, now, children. Be nice, or I'll have to separate you two," Tim absently spoke from behind my screens. "Dock your laptop, Lil. Let's see if this beast works."

I clicked my laptop into place and booted it as Tim and I stared at the monitors. The first one sprung to life with my login page. After typing in my password, the others clicked on as well.

"Looks pretty perfect." I smiled at Tim as he wrapped his arm around me.

"Did Billy show you around this maze?" He asked with a satisfied smile on his face.

"No, but I'm going to right now. Tim, your services are no longer needed," Billy shot.

"Billy, that's so mean!" I scolded. "Thank you for coming in on your day off to help," I added to Tim as I lifted my toes and gave him a peck on the cheek.

"No problem. It got me out of taking down decorations at the house. There's nothing more depressing than taking down Christmas decorations after the holiday," he lamented. "I'm going to check on a few things while I'm here, so if you need anything, just give me a holler."

Tim made a hasty escape as Billy glared at him.

"Billy, be nice to Tim."

"I'm so nice to Tim," he argued.

"Really? He's probably just excited like you are," I reminded him.

"Mmhmm. Anyway," Billy announced as he flipped his mind back to his regularly scheduled morning. "I got you an office warming present." He moved to something covered by a sheet and pulled it off to reveal and turntable on a stand with a stack of records below. "I picked some out, but hit up the shop out front and grab whatever you want."

"Aw, you're so sweet." I quickly crossed to him and slid into his side.

"And we can figure out what you want on the walls, but if you see anything you like around here, just let me know," he added as he kissed the top of my head. "Tour?"

"Yes, please. I need to know where the bathroom is and where I can get coffee, at the very least."

"And the fire routes," Billy added in a very fatherly manner.

"Yeah, yeah, but coffee first," I teased.

"Well," he began as we walked to the hall. "This is my office," he pulled me inside and closed the door as he spoke. Before I could protest, he dropped his face to meet my lips as the electricity of his kiss coursed through my body.

"I like your office." I smiled as he pulled away.

"And I have coffee." He pointed to a coffee maker behind his desk.

"You have a coffee maker in your office?"

"Yeah, I think the staff thought it was a gag gift when they gave it to me. You know, because of how cranky I am when I don't have enough caffeine in me. But, honestly, it's the best thing I have in here. I use it more than my computer."

"I can see that," I said as I looked over his desk. "You realize you can write things on paper," I teased as I looked over his random sprawling directly on his desk.

"Hey, when I think of something, I have to get it down." Billy sheepishly shrugged while taking my hand as we headed out for the rest of the tour.

"So, next to me is Tim," Billy motioned.

"Hey," Tim shouted from his desk.

I gave him a wave as Billy continued. "So, at the end of the hall on the right is the bathroom. And this hallway," he pulled me down the left side hallway, leads to the kitchen.

"Okay, got it, Tim, bathroom, kitchen," I restated.

"Then, if you go back the way we came," he continued as he led me along, "and you go to the right out of your office instead of the left, you'll get to the lobby. That's your fastest exit route."

"Who is in the office next to me?" I asked as we passed.

"No one right now." Billy's hand landed on the small of my back as we turned back into my office.

He kicked the door closed behind him and pulled me closer to his chest.

"Right now?" I asked.

"Mmhmm, I have a plan for it, but it's still in motion." He dipped his lips to mine, knowing that it would shatter any line of thinking I had, but I pulled away.

"A plan? What? Do you have another long-lost soulmate?"

"So you admit you're my soulmate?" He raised an eyebrow at me in a highly alluring manner.

"Acknowledged. This plan?"

Frustration filled his face at my refusal to kiss him. "Tess, I'm holding that office for Tess."

"Tess! Yes! I knew it! When is she starting? What will her role be? I'm so excited to be right next to her. This is going to be so fun."

"Wow. You realize your soulmate is right across the hall, and he didn't get nearly this response."

"Oh, I know, that's where the coffee is," I teased.

"The coffee. You wound me with such joy."

"Oh, my over-dramatic love." I smiled as I leaned into him. "Say soulmate one more time."

He once again dipped his lips to mine and added, "Klopplebaum." But this time, I let his proximity take over me. I expected a brief and demure kiss, but his heated lips clung to mine as his hands pulled me closer. My heart pounded as fire erupted like a volcano within me. I forgot where I was; all I could think of was Billy. I needed him closer. He lifted me off the ground as though he could read my mind. I wrapped my legs around his waist, causing my skirt to ride up high on my thighs. Billy set me down on the corner of my desk and let his hands glide over my newly exposed skin. His touch sent boiling blood through my entire body.

"Billy, we..." but he smothered my words with his kiss. "Not appropriate," I managed.

"Soundproof," he whispered as his lips trailed down my neck and his hands tugged at my shirt.

"Anyone could walk in," I called out between gasps.

It must have gotten through because his lips stop trailing over my neck. He let his head hang over me while he collected himself.

"Fuck," he finally managed when his breath returned. "Remind me to get locks for our offices."

"Billy!" I scolded, with a swat to his chest. "That's not what we should do in the office."

"Breaks are good for mental health," he challenged as he stood up.

"I'm not sure if I consider this a break," I lamented as I fixed my skirt.

"Trust me; it's one hell of a break and great for my mental health." As he spoke, his eyes flowed over me with hunger burning from them.

I felt a flush rush through my face. "You need to go!"

"You could come with me. Pun not intended, but...," he teased.

"Now! I have to work!"

"Fine, I'm going to check in on a couple of things, mostly whatever the hell Tim is getting into, and then head out. Mel knows all the places that deliver lunch; you can just put it on my account. What time should I pick you up?"

"Four, please," I called over my monitors as I settled in and let my emails distract me.

"Hey," his voice was close, hovering right over me.

"Hey." I smiled up at him.

He lingered until I stood and leaned over my screen to kiss him.

"I love you, Billy."

"Love you too. See you at four."