by Adele Huxley
“Good morning,” he said from the door. God, I wanted to melt every time I heard that accent.
I blinked up and tried to cover my happiness to see him by acting abrupt. “Come in,” I said, giving him a curt wave. With a furrowed brow, I focused on my phone, tapping on the screen with a pen for extra emphasis. I made him wait a few moments before I set the phone down and smiled. “How are you?”
“Great,” he replied, leaning back in the chair. “You’re busy.”
“Oh, you know how it is,” I said. I forgot I’d been using the cap side of the pen on my phone, so as I went to slide the pen behind my ear, I left a long swipe of ink. So much for calm, cool, and collected you tool, I thought.
“You, uh…” he smirked, pointing at my face.
I could already feel my face going red as I pulled out a mirror. “I know, I know,” I sighed. With all the dignity I could muster, I wetted a tissue and rubbed at the side of my face, scrubbing a good layer of makeup off in the process.
“How’s your ankle feeling?” I know he was asking out of genuine concern, but way to rub salt into my already clumsy wound.
I pouted at him before checking my face again in the small mirror. “Fine, thanks. I’m barely limping now.”
“That’s good. Did you have a good night last night? Get everything worked out?”
Maybe it was silly of me to think I could flip the professional switch back on just because we were in the office. Get this friendly conversation over with and you can get straight to work.
“Yeah, better than expected, actually.”
“That’s great. It’s probably a good thing we didn’t get that coffee. I was up all night with jet lag.”
“The mighty Clint English gets jet lag? How does that work with adventuring all over the world?” I laughed, poking a little at his bravado.
“If you’d just accepted my offer for coffee, I could’ve shown you a few tips,” he replied with a sparkle in his eye.
God help me, I couldn’t resist flirting back. “Coffee and a personal tutoring session? How could I say no?”
“But you did! Do a lot of men offer to whisk you away to…”
There was a gentle knock on my open door. With both looked to see Abi standing in the doorway, wearing not only a hideous outfit but also a knowing, devious smile. I knew she’d heard something, but the question was what.
“Hi, good morning,” she drawled with a sickly sweet voice. “Lisa asked to see you both in her office whenever you’re… done.”
My response was less than sweet. “Thank you, Abi.”
Clint turned back to me, so he didn’t see the smug look on her face as she walked away. Shit, what could she be thinking? Is she piecing things together?
“I feel like I’ve been called to the headmaster’s office,” he joked.
But inside I was freaking out too much to continue kidding. “Lemme just grab my notebook,” I mumbled.
“Everything okay?”
“Yeah, sure, it’s… how long do you think she was standing there? Like, how much could she have… nevermind.” Where the hell did I put my stupid freakin’ notebook? I was shoving piles of stuff all over my desk until Clint stood and leaned forward.
He tilted his chin down and gave me an odd look. “What is going on?”
“Nothing, nothing. We better get in there. Lisa doesn’t like to wait. Ugh! I don’t even have a pen!”
Clint pulled one from his pocket and handed it to me. “Here, you can borrow mine.”
“Thank you,” I said absently, still trying to figure out where my notebook had gotten to. I guided him out of the office and squeaked the moment my foot stepped over the threshold. I spun on my heel and dove for my bag, remembering I hadn’t even taken it out yet. I waved it with a victorious grin and rejoined him down the hall.
“You wanted to see us?” Clint asked as he stuck his head in the office.
Abi was sitting in a chair opposite Lisa. The little brat shot me another knowing look and I wanted to wring her neck on the spot. Our boss probably would’ve noticed that, even with how much she was fawning over Clint.
“It’s so great to see you again,” she gushed, giving him a kiss on both cheeks. “Sit, sit.” She gestured to the two chairs in front of her desk, waving Abi away.
I didn’t want to take any pleasure in her slumped shoulders and dejected expression… but I did. Maybe that’s what earned me such karmic retribution.
She shifted around the back of the chair and I quickly slipped in, literally taking her place at the table. With a stack of papers tucked in the crook of her arm, she turned to leave.
“Where are you going? Stay,” Lisa commanded.
Abi instantly perked up and took a position on the side of the office. I hid my surprise by focusing on Lisa and Clint’s conversation.
“So! How did everything go out in L.A.? I know these deals can be a royal pain to work out.” She cradled her chin in her hands and gazed almost flirtatiously at him from across the desk.
Does this make me jealous? I thought for a moment before realizing it didn’t. Mostly because I don’t think he’d ever go for a woman like her.
“L.A. was…” he glanced at me and I just about died. “It was eye-opening.” I fidgeted with my notebook and couldn’t bring myself to look at anyone else in the room. “Really, it was exactly what I needed.”
“Ah, that’s great to hear. Great. Well, okay then,” Lisa said. She tapped her finger against her cheek and looked back and forth between us. “Tell me how things are progressing.”
I began speaking without knowing exactly what to say. “We’ve done some good work revamping the theme of the book. I think we’ve constructed the overall flow to each story.”
Lisa raised her finger to stop me. “Abi.”
Abi shifted in her seat, looking more like a proud peacock than a person. At least the peacock looked good in all those colors…
“Well, I haven’t read the manuscript, but I suppose I could get behind the idea of…”
“No. I’m not asking for your opinion,” Lisa snapped, rubbing her temple with one hand. “You’re here to take notes. With Lydia out sick…” She mimed a scribble in the air with her hand and turned back to me.
“Okay, continue.”
Clint cleared his throat and took over. “I have to say, I was a little hesitant coming to a relatively new house with my book. But working with Talia has been a rewarding experience.”
Lisa arched an eyebrow, obviously impressed. “That’s wonderful to hear.”
He crossed an ankle over his knee. “I wouldn’t think it’s much of a surprise. Talia is incredibly talented. Just yesterday we were talking…”
Even though she didn’t look up, I could see Abi’s expression change. She was starting to put things together. I couldn’t give her any more ammo than she already had.
I laughed loudly, reaching out to touch Clint on the arm. “Not yesterday. Yesterday was Sunday.” I smiled extra wide, hoping he’d catch the drift.
He blinked a few times, obviously not seeing a problem with the confession, but corrected himself anyway. “Right, of course.” He grinned at Lisa. “All this flying.”
“Of course,” Lisa replied. She looked back and forth again, like she was sizing us up. “Seems as though I’m a good matchmaker,” she said with a thin smile.
“Well, I certainly couldn’t have done this without her,” he replied.
I wanted so badly to meet his gaze, to read the true emotion in his eyes. But I’d probably expose too much if I did. To myself, to him, and to my nemesis sitting in corner.
The rest of the short meeting went well enough. With no complaints and a book on schedule, Lisa appeared to be satisfied.
“Wonderful.” Lisa rifled through her papers for before folding her hands on top of the desk. “Since we have no other issues to discuss, ladies, if you wouldn’t mind giving me and Mr. English a moment…”
I could feel Abi’s eyes practically boring holes
into the back of my head as we left Lisa’s office. I tried to put distance between us with a few long strides, but she called out as soon as Lisa’s door clicked shut.
“So, did you have a nice weekend?” The question was innocent enough but dripped with hidden subtext. “You’re looking very tan.”
I fixed a calm expression and turned to face her. “Tanning beds, and thank you so much for noticing. I had a wonderful weekend, you?”
“Nothing special. Went out to stay with friends in Montauk.”
I gasped dramatically and pretended to catch myself on the wall. “You… you have… friends?”
“Screw you.”
“Wait, wait,” I said, maintaining my mock surprise. “These friends, they have a house on the beach?”
“Yeah…”
“And I’m guessing you had a barbecue at some point.”
“Where are you going with this?” she huffed.
“I was just curious. I’m sure the polite thing would be to bring out drinks or meat or something. But maybe they wanted you to bring sexy back?” I asked in a monotone voice, the question taking a second to sink in. “I get it though. How much sexy can one fit in those tiny designer handbags?”
Abi sneered and flipped me off, her hand low and blocked from Lisa’s view.
“That’s what I thought.” I took a step toward my office and hung back. “By the way, I’d like a copy of those notes as well. You know, whenever you get them typed up.”
I might’ve gone a little too far with that last comment, but I was running scared. She already suspected something between me and Clint and wouldn’t hesitate to go to Lisa with the slightest proof. If I hadn’t gone straight to the jugular, it would’ve tipped her off even more.
My heart pounded as I sat at my desk waiting for Clint to return. I stared at the computer and pretended to work, but internally ran through all the interactions we’d shared in front of Abi. She was a lot of things, but dumb unfortunately wasn’t one.
Clint appeared in my door moments later, hanging off the frame in a way that made his shoulders bulge.
“I’ve gotta get going, but I can be in tomorrow if you want me?”
“Yeah, sure!” I replied with too much excitement.
His eyebrow arched. “So you do want me?”
I nearly replied like an idiot but caught myself. “We do have a lot to go over, so yes, it would be beneficial to meet again tomorrow,” I smirked. Good job, Talia! Professional and not at all awkward.
“Maybe you’ll let me finally take you out for coffee.”
I waved my hands to wordlessly get him to lower his voice, afraid Abi had her ear pressed to the shared wall between our offices. He frowned as I explained loudly, “Ha. Ha. You know I can’t accept gifts from a client.”
“Okay,” he said slowly.
A few thick heartbeats passed between us, our eyes locked. There were a dozen things I wanted to say, to ask, but couldn’t because of our location. It seemed he felt the same. In the end, we both spoke at the same time.
“Is there anything…”
“If I could get my pen…”
I jumped to my feet. “Right! Your pen.” I flew around the side of the desk, pen thrust out like I was handing off a baton at the Olympics.
Clint’s finger brushed mine as he took it. An electric shock shot through my hand straight to my gut. My mind instantly rocked back to our kiss, only we’d been almost the same height. Now, with my flat shoes and no step for added height, he had several inches on me. The difference felt possessive and consuming.
Without looking down, he said, “That’s not my pen.”
I swallowed hard and pushed away the bubbling lust. “Sorry, I must’ve…” I turned quickly and the pocket on my black skirt caught on the door handle. I spun so swiftly, it tore before I even knew I’d been snagged.
A cold draft hit my bare skin. I slapped a hand down on my hip and tried to simultaneously cover myself and hold the fabric together.
“You were right. You are pretty clumsy,” Clint said, trying not to laugh.
I turned around to face him, my skin a bright crimson. “Thanks, yeah. Laugh it up.”
“I’m sorry,” he chuckled. “Is there anything I can do?”
“Short of taking that pen, leaving, and never mentioning this again? Are you an expert tailor too?”
“Well, there was the one time I…”
“Don’t! Enough! You probably learned how to skin, tan, and tailor some wild animal when you were seven and I can’t even walk in a straight line,” I laughed. I checked my hip and shook my head again. “I have a spare outfit in my drawer,” I lied.
“Okay. See you tomorrow?” he asked as he backed out of the doorway.
“See you tomorrow,” I smiled.
I waited until the elevator dinged before I shut the door and assessed the damage properly. The tear ran almost all the way down to the hem of the skirt, leaving an inch of modesty. There was no way I could wear this on the train back home and I really couldn’t leave to go home in the first place. There was only one solution.
“And I was so freakin’ excited when I found a skirt with pockets,” I grumbled as I worked the stapler.
I didn’t reply to the soft knock on the door, yet Abi stuck her head in anyway. She opened her mouth to speak but I cut her short by brandishing the stapler.
“I swear to you Abigail Beckett, if you say one word I’m going to staple your lips to your chin.”
Her eyes went wide with fake shock. “So violent!”
I spent the next couple days trying to chase Zach down. It got to the point, I started to feel like a clingy girlfriend. After countless voice messages, texts, even notes slid under his door, he finally agreed to meet with me Wednesday after work. We chose a neutral space where Anette wouldn’t barge in and try to mediate the conversation.
I walked the block to the park with a pit in my stomach. I wasn’t sure what would happen when I saw him, how he was going to react let alone myself. But when I spotted him leaning against the stone wall across the street, my heart began to race. What I hadn’t admitted to anyone, even myself, was I’d caught feelings for him too. But I wasn’t at all ready to indulge them. I wasn’t even sure they weren’t just because he’d given me some of the best sex of my life. In any case, I couldn’t act on them.
I watched him as I waited on the other side of the street. He hadn’t noticed me, his nose in his phone. He’s such a sweet guy, I thought. Maybe someday but for now, I just can’t…
Zach looked up as I crossed the street and his expression nearly broke my heart. It was an odd mixture of happiness, apprehension, and defensiveness. As upset as I was, all I wanted was to make him feel better. I couldn’t stand it if he looked at me like that again.
“Hey,” he said, sliding his phone into his pocket.
“Hey. You wanna walk for a bit?” I asked, nodding toward the park.
It was weird. Oh God, was it weird. We walked in silence, the soft summer air carrying laughter and conversations from the dozens of people around us. Neither of us knew where to start because we were so afraid of how it might finish.
“So… how’s Lourdes?” he ventured finally. We’d reached the edge of the reservoir and had started the two-mile circuit.
I laughed. “You know. Fabulous as always. I really think she’s gonna be a superstar someday.”
“It’s practically inevitable,” he said. “You have a good time?”
“It was good to see her, yeah.” I scuffed my foot along the path and added, “I needed space to get my head straight.”
We walked a few more steps, a jogger huffing and puffing past before Zach’s silence broke. “I never meant to hurt you,” he started.
I grabbed his wrist and looked earnestly into his eyes. “I never meant to hurt you! I never realized you had feelings for…”
He pulled his arm away and clenched his jaw. His coldness hurt more than I thought it would. “Anette doesn’t know what she’s talking
about.”
“Zach, you even said you…”
“A crush. A little crush,” he snapped. “But it’s fine now.”
I did my best to control my temper but couldn’t completely stop it from flowing. “The only person you should be angry with is yourself. You basically lied to me, you realize that, right?”
“Lied to you?” he scoffed.
I flung my arms out in frustration. “It was the whole point of the arrangement. Sex, no strings. Yet from the very beginning you had to have known that wasn’t possible.”
“You don’t even know… Christ,” he groaned. He ran his fingers through his hair and shook his head. “I thought if I slept with you, if I broke down that barrier between us, this whole crush would go away. It’d started to feel like I’d built you up so high in my mind that you’d only disappoint me and then I could move on.”
I felt a twinge of sympathy stained with anger. “And how well did that work out for you?” It came out harsher than I’d meant it to, but let the comment land hard.
“Great, obviously,” he muttered. We reached the second corner, the halfway mark. When he spoke next, it was with more self-deprecation than anger. “How the hell was I supposed to know little Talia McGinley was going to be the best sex of my life?”
I couldn’t help but laugh. “Wait. Were you expecting me to suck or something?”
“Oh, you can suck all right,” he replied playfully. A memory of pressing him against the wall and sinking to my knees clacked my jaw shut. He shook his head sadly and continued. “See? I can’t even look at you without flirting now. The thing is, I’m not even sure anything would be different if you’d just laid there like a starfish.”
I wanted to reassure him, to tell him he was the best sex of my life too, but I didn’t think that would help anything. “A pillow princess,” I said, giving him a playful shove.
I loved the side-eye glance he shot at me. It gave me hope we might be able to salvage this relationship. “Seriously…”
We walked a few more minutes in quiet. The evening sky punctuated by lights flickering on in the buildings surrounding the park. We were halfway home and it felt like half-way to a resolution.