by Kari Shuey
***
Butterflies swarmed in Gavin’s chest. He’d never complimented a woman so outright before. It was part thrilling and part terrifying. He couldn’t risk turning around and allowing her to see his face. If she did, she’d be able to tell he was out of his element. He was not the confident man he was pretending to be. Gavin retreated to his office and shut the door as soon as he could. A few deep breaths and he was able to settle his stomach. There was no going back now, she knew he found her attractive. From this point forward, he’d enjoy watching her squirm. Gavin had taken the high ground. That was the first battle.
And then the opposition chimed in. He was an idiot. How could he think that initiating something with Abby would be a good idea? This impulse of his would come back to hurt him and he would have to simply suffer the consequences. Hadn’t he settled on keeping his distance so his infatuation would fizzle out? What happened to that genius plan? Gavin fought off that persistent negative voice. He prayed that voice was wrong.
Lingering by his door, he listened for Abby. There wasn’t much going on outside of his office. Normally he could hear her moving around or cleaning up the dinner dishes. But there was nothing happening. Part of him was disappointed she didn’t follow him and demand an explanation for his statement. The whole situation was new and thrilling and he was on such a high he didn’t want it to end.
Abby could be won over. Gavin would toss caution to the wind. There shouldn’t be any consequences to a little flirtation… at least until things settle down. It was feasible this could grow into something more. The grin hadn’t quite left his face. Gavin loved the feeling he was experiencing, and it was all due to the provocative young woman he was completely taken with.
***
Abby still sat at the table, astounded at what had transpired. Completely blindsided by his forthright admission, she had no idea where to go from here. Should she quit? Wouldn’t it be unethical to start dating someone you work for? That’s why workplace romances were always taboo. There was no real HR she could go through, and the balance of power was fully on his side. The logical thing to do would be to get a replacement. But who knew if it was going to go anywhere? No, she admonished herself. It would not go anywhere if she had anything to do with it. She loved her job, despite everything that made her feel she should run for the hills.
Ultimately choosing to let things settle and play it by ear… she didn’t want to do anything rash. While traversing through this uncharted territory, she planned to keep her guard up and not let Mr. Saxe bully and manipulate her.
Abby willed herself to clean up dinner so she could get to bed and start fresh tomorrow. She picked up the book and considered throwing it in the garbage in protest, then realized how ridiculous that would be.
Washing dishes helped to clear her head. If there was one thing Mr. Saxe had been right about, it was that it took bravery to admit to someone you found them attractive. The risk of utter rejection was one thing that stopped people from putting themselves out there. Mr. Saxe had a reputation for liking his privacy, but what if it was more than that… what if he didn’t feel comfortable with people? Abby let out a small snort. She was giving herself a big head thinking about this whole scenario. The world did not revolve around them, nor whether or not they got together. His heart did not beat for her. They barely knew each other!
Drying the final dish, Abby placed it carefully on the shelf and turned out the lights in the kitchen. Allowing her fingers to graze the freshly cleaned marble countertops, she wondered what it would be like to call a place like this, home. What would it be like to hear the patter of little feet running on the tile… giddy giggling while they played? She’d never thought herself ready for the family life, and she definitely wasn’t considering a life with Mr. Saxe. But staying in this large house, that had room for a family, was contributing to a desire she never knew she had.
Laundry, left forgotten for most of the day, was in need of folding if she didn’t want it wrinkling. Abby made her way to the laundry room and gathered the clothes out of the dryer. Filling a nearby basket, Abby reached for an article that was in the very back of the machine. She picked up the basket and kicked the dryer door shut with her foot. As she shut off the light and turned the corner into the hallway, she muffled a scream. A tall figure blocked her path in the dark, but it wasn’t Mr. Saxe.
In a matter of seconds, Mr. Saxe was there beside her. He had a bat in his hand, and he looked ready to do some damage. The lights were flipped on, and everyone blinked to allow their eyes to adjust to the light. Abby looked up at Windsor, a grim expression on his face.
“Windsor, what is it?!” Mr. Saxe lowered his weapon, a mixture of relief and concern in his voice.
Windsor looked from Mr. Saxe to Abby and back to Mr. Saxe. “Can we talk in private?”
Mr. Saxe glanced at Abby. “Of course.” He motioned Windsor in the direction of the office.
Windsor looked again at Abby. “Sorry to have startled you, Miss Russell.”
They walked away and spoke in hushed tones. Abby thought she heard Mr. Saxe question why Windsor didn’t simply call his phone, to which he replied he had. This important matter required immediate attention, however, and when Mr. Saxe didn’t answer he wanted to check in. Their voices were muffled by the distance and later the door as it closed on them. Curious, Abby quietly walked past his office door, but nothing was intelligible.
Not proud of eavesdropping, Abby lingered in the hall, wondering if she should just head back to her room. What was so important that Windsor needed to come inside and speak to Mr. Saxe immediately? Did it have something to do with the murder? That seemed likely. Their voices got louder, closer to the door. The knob turned, and Abby hastily found a place to hide in the living room.
“Are you absolutely positive it’s her?” Mr. Saxe questioned.
“Yes sir. My contacts say she’s been living in the area for at least six months if not more.” Windsor replied.
“Any news on the boyfriend?”
Abby heard the back door open and close. Careful to stay out of sight, Abby wandered over to the window and watched the two men make their way to the guest house. The curtains were drawn so there was no point in following them. She wouldn’t be able to see anything, nor hear anything. Watching the guest house, she was surprised to see Mr. Saxe open the door and swiftly make his way across the lawn back to the house. Abby hurried back to her room, so she wouldn’t be caught snooping. What was he up to?
Chapter 8
Abby wandered out of her room, in search of breakfast. She hadn’t slept well the night before. So many thoughts swam in her mind, making her question her current career choices. The very real scare she experienced when Windsor snuck into the house shined a light on the physical danger she could be in at this very moment. Even though Mr. Saxe was downgraded as a threat, it didn’t mean the risk was gone.
Mr. Saxe had presumably left for the office by now and the house was quiet. The kitchen looked almost peaceful as the sunlight filtered in through the slated blinds. The furnace hadn’t kicked on yet and the crisp cool air that came with fall was permeating the house. Hot chocolate or cider sounded delicious, and Abby rummaged through the cupboards for a mug. Pouring some milk into a cup, Abby let her mind drift to the night before. She could probably come up with a slew of possibilities why Windsor would show up in the middle of the night. None of them sounded very legal, however. Abby pulled the warm cup out of the microwave and took a slow sip.
“That’s exactly what I was craving,” A deep and warm voice commented behind her.
Abby flinched. She still couldn’t get used to him sneaking up on her. She turned around, ready to chastise him on the etiquette of announcing one’s presence. But his haggard appearance made her change her mind.
Reaching over her head, he took his own mug out of the cupboard. His proximity to her was unnerving. Up until now, he had kept a respectful distance. Wearing only a t-shirt and pajama bottoms, he looked quite a
bit less intimidating. Abby attempted to ignore the effect he had on her. It hadn’t helped she found him gorgeous in the beginning. Then when she found out he was also attracted to her… well, checkmate. She knew she wouldn’t be able to hold up a wall against him for long. She just hoped he’d lose interest in her before then.
“Rough night?” Abby held the mug up to her lips and lightly blew on it. Her eyes looked up at him over the rim of it. “You not going in today?” It was actually unheard of that he didn’t go in. For someone as high up as he was, you’d think he would take advantage of a home office and telecommute occasionally. But not Mr. Saxe… until today.
“You could say that,” he muttered. His voice held a note of irritation. “I’ll be working from home today, obviously. If anyone needs me, tell them I am unavailable.”
“Yes, sir.”
He turned back toward her; his cup placed on the counter. “Will you stop that?” His voice held a hint of aggravation.
Abby’s blank expression compelled him to elaborate.
“Stop with the ‘yes sirs’ and the ‘Mr. Saxes’. It’s starting to get on my nerves.”
“Well, what would you like me to call you?”
“Gavin is fine.” He reached for his mug, signaling the conversation was over.
“Okay, then why haven’t you stopped calling me Miss Russell?” She couldn’t help herself. Something inside her wanted to poke the bear. She’d always seen him reserved with every hair in place. Mr. Saxe could be counted on to be competent and almost always unreadable. There was a little thread showing, and Abby chose to pull on it unwisely.
Mr. Saxe put his cup down and while leaning on the counter beside her, rubbed the bridge of his nose. “Miss – Abby, we met nearly three weeks ago, don’t you think we could be comfortable enough to be on a first-name basis? Despite the fact that I informed you I find you fascinating almost a week ago, we have done nothing to explore what is between us.” Mr. Saxe looked up at her and slowly approached. “Don’t you find it odd that we haven’t said a word regarding this connection we have?” He was now right beside her, gazing down at her, making her itch to step back. Whispering now, “Abby… don’t you want to play along – even a little - and see what you’re missing out on? Because I do.”
Abby couldn’t get out more than a murmur. “What exactly are you referring to, Mr. Saxe?”
He raised his hand to brush a piece of hair away from her face. His touch was gentle and warm regardless of the cool air. She realized she must look quite a sight, having not even looked in the mirror before leaving her room. He intently stared at her, almost hesitating with something that seemed to burden him. Shaking his head, he pulled away. “I must apologize, Miss Russell, I’m not currently in my right mind.”
Abby watched him turn away and grab his mug. He didn’t look back and didn’t say another word. Releasing a long slow breath, Abby felt as if she had been holding it the moment he came near her. What was it about him that made her feel like she was on a rollercoaster? He could irritate her one second and knock the wind out of her the next. No one had ever been able to do that to her before. It was unsettling.
Taking another sip of her hot chocolate, she smiled slightly. She must have the same effect on him. Otherwise, he wouldn’t give in to the itch to respond when she egged him on. That notion sent a thrill through her that she wasn’t expecting. If she were to do as he said and entertain the possibility of whatever this was… what would be the consequences? Would it be worth it? Probably not… but it would likely be fun. Could she overlook the criminal process he was undergoing? Abby shook off that thought and put her cup in the sink.
Starting on the daily chores, she tried to stay busy but couldn’t let go of the encounter Mr. Saxe had initiated. She continued to walk past his office just to see if she could bump into him, but he stayed holed up inside. Feeling absolutely stupid for acting like a teenager, Abby gave up and chose to go for a walk along the perimeter of the property. She’d completed all that needed to be done and getting some fresh air would be nice.
***
Gavin heard a door shut somewhere in the house. Curious, he stood from his desk and moved to his window. He didn’t see anything; Abby’s car was still parked in front of the house. Gavin supposed someone could have opened the back door. That would mean Abby either went out the back or Windsor found his way back into the main house. It didn’t sound like anyone was moving around inside, so he assumed it was the former. Why would Abby leave the house?
He folded his arms and continued to look out the window. He was admittedly exhausted. Windsor’s hard work had paid off last night, but that meant there were a whole lot of problems that would be surfacing soon. With this new information at his fingertips, Gavin attempted to figure out a way to prevent his life from getting even more complicated.
Abby came into view, and his landscaper was with her. He was wandering the grounds spraying for weeds and prepping the lawn for the mower. They both stopped and were chatting with one another. A twinge of jealousy flared up within Gavin. She was at ease with this landscaper and smiling. Gavin couldn’t help focusing on the way Abby placed her hand on his arm as they talked, obviously laughing at something he said. His stomach turned as he considered the implications of this budding friendship. When they finished their interaction, Gavin let out a sigh of relief, not realizing he’d been holding his breath.
He watched her as she wandered along the fence line with no obvious purpose. From this distance, he couldn’t read her. Was she upset with his forwardness from earlier? Had he finally set up the dominos that could come toppling down and lead her to him? This thought was more or less hopeful. With the interaction between his housekeeper and landscaper at the forefront of his mind, he acknowledged that he might have just lost his chance. Gavin continued to watch her until she was no longer in his view. He ran a hand through his tousled hair. Everything he had said to her had been truthful. From the moment they met, he’d felt drawn to her. He didn’t understand it, but he didn’t have to. He’d finally come across someone who could throw him off his game and make him want to be a better person all at once. One thing was for certain, he wouldn’t give up until he’d gotten her to accept an invitation for a date.
Surprisingly, thinking about Abby was putting him in a better mood. Even the simple prospect of going on a date with her was making him feel better about the news he got the other night. He would be home all day today, and he had laid the groundwork… why not figure out the best way to break down her defenses?
Abby came into view again. She must enjoy being outside. Why would a woman who enjoyed the outdoors choose a profession where she was forced to be cooped up? He wondered what other interests Abby might have. Personally, Gavin enjoyed the outdoors, but he hadn’t been able to pursue his usual interests for the last six years. He’d been too busy cleaning up messes and covering up his secrets. He used to enjoy running, cycling, and hiking. Moving to this area had him itching to get out and spend a day on the nearby mountains. But he was forced to stay shut in to prevent arousing suspicion.
The back door opened and shut, announcing the end to Abby’s walk. Gavin moved to the mirror to get a good look at his appearance. One of his first girlfriends told him he had that trendy disheveled look. She insisted it worked for him, and it was a look he used to pull off nearly every single day in college. With a half-smile, he approached the door. His hand hovered over the knob, the cautious side of him giving a warning he shouldn’t do what he was planning. Hadn’t he told her this morning he was not in his right mind? This flipping from one decision to the next was going to be a great big red flag for anyone with whom he tried to develop a relationship. On the other hand, hadn’t he earned this? Hadn’t everything he’d done since leaving California been sufficient to grant him one moment or even moments of pleasure? Determination and resolve winning over, he turned the doorknob and exited the safety of his haven.
Gavin almost collided with the beauty he couldn’t get out o
f his thoughts for the past few weeks. Had she been waiting outside his office, lying in wait to put him in his place? The anticipation of another encounter full of chemistry gave him a rush of exhilaration. Wouldn’t it be incredible if she finally rose to the occasion and matched him in wit or flirtation?
Her eyes were locked on his. She had something she wanted to say, but she wouldn’t bring herself to voice it. “Miss Russell,” he purred. “Is there something you need to tell me?”
She glanced away, signaling her own hesitation with her current choices. He watched as her own will power took over and her gaze met his again. “Yes, sir. I would be lying if I said I didn’t find you incredibly attractive as well. For some strange reason, I find myself drawn to you like a moth to the flame. No matter how hard I have been fighting it, I can’t seem to get you out of my thoughts.” Her expression darkened. “As you can see, I have concluded my head and my heart are at an impasse. So, Mr. Saxe. I’ve come to hear you out. What do you propose?”
An impish grin flickered over his face. “How about a date?”
“I can’t believe I’m going to say this, but fine. We can go on a date. But then after that, I make no promises. Getting involved would be unwise – considering how things stand. In fact, it might be in both our best interests to go our separate ways now.”
Gavin raised an eyebrow. “How do you figure?”
He watched her shrug. “You are my boss, your home is a crime scene, and we come from very different backgrounds. I don’t see how it can work.”