by Snow, Jenika
I set the cups of coffee down and smoothed my hands down my skirt.
“By the end of the week, you’ll be versed on how everything runs, and I’ll be confident in leaving my position knowing someone is capable and intelligent enough to follow the routine that’s been in place for years.”
I licked my lips and nodded, feeling like a petulant child being scolded.
“Now, I have some copies to make, but I’d like you to sit down and get comfortable with the layout and surroundings of the desk. I’ve brought up the directory on the computer, which I’d suggest you skim through to familiarize yourself with your coworkers and their positions.”
“Talk about pressure,” I teased, but she wasn’t amused.
“Everything runs like a well-oiled ship here, Miss Morris. Everyone works together to make sure things are accomplished.” She had a stack of papers in her arms and gave me another sharp nod.
And I stood there wondering what exactly I had gotten myself into.
I exhaled slowly and looked at the desk. “Okay, let’s get this done,” I muttered to myself as I walked around the desk and sat down, the seat warm from when she’d been sitting there. The computer screen showcased the company directory right down to the little thumbnail images of the workers. Although this was a multimillion-dollar corporation, I was surprised to see there weren’t very many employees.
I was already so damn overwhelmed, but I told myself everything would be okay. I’d been so lucky to get this position, and no matter what was thrown my way, I knew I could handle it.
I sat there for a few minutes, looking at the names on the directory and seeing what their positions were within the company. But it was the sound of people greeting Jason that had my body tightening and had me straightening in my seat.
He had his focus down and on his phone, a briefcase in his other hand, and his jacket slung over his arm. I couldn’t not stare at him, couldn’t help but let my emotions rise up and take over.
No. Be professional.
He glanced up and went to look away, but as our eyes locked, he did a double take, stopped, and I saw this slow smile move across his lips.
God, that smile could’ve had my panties dropping to the floor if I hadn’t been sitting already.
“You’re here,” he said and walked over to me, his smile now a full-on grin.
“Where else would I be?” I lifted a brow, the easiness of being around him like a warm blanket.
“Good morning, Mr. Shelby.” Mrs. Hartley stood and greeted him, and I realized I probably should have done the same.
I looked over at Mrs. Harley and then stood, feeling my face heat, because I was embarrassed I hadn’t done that right away. She gave me the side-eye, and when I looked at Jason, I could see him smirking, glancing between the both of us.
“Are you getting yourself acquainted with Mrs. Hartley and the day-to-day tasks?” He sounded so businesslike, not like how he’d spoken with me in his office during the interview or during our date.
I nodded. “I am. It’s a lot to take in, but I’m a fast learner, so I don’t think there’ll be any problems.”
No problems with the job. But with you, how I feel toward you? Yeah, might have some issues there.
“I can handle it,” I said again, even though no one had questioned whether I could or couldn’t handle it. But I was getting increasingly nervous as they stared at me, wondering if they could read my thoughts.
Yeah, I’d gone there.
“I have no doubt you can handle it, Miss Morris.”
I felt my face get hot, because although his statement was probably pretty innocent, my mind was instantly in the gutter.
We stood there for a moment, the three of us not saying anything, this weirdness starting to creep in. But amidst all of that, I felt that familiar chemistry in the air, bouncing from Jason to me, from me to him.
He nodded once and his smile grew. “Well, good luck with the first day and I hope it goes smoothly.” We held eye contact a little longer than what was professionally necessary given our background together, but I didn’t think Mrs. Hartley was even aware. That or she didn’t care. Because as soon as he grabbed his coffee and turned his back and went to his office, she started right in with the tasks for the day.
And I wish I could have concentrated instead of staring at Jason through his office window and picturing myself sprawled across his desk as we did very inappropriate things.
God, I was in way over my head.
Chapter Thirteen
Linda
The first day of a new job is like the first day of high school. It’s awkward, exhausting, and sometimes you wish you would’ve just stayed in bed. And although seeing Jason was probably the highlight of it all, the woman who was training me had been brutal.
Stern and strict, all my errors were met with scolding, as if I were an idiot and she was losing her patience with me. Although she was crazy-dedicated to her work and how things ran, I felt like it was severely lacking, even if I’d been damn good at my job at Morgan Financial Holdings.
And then there’d been Jason. Seeing him, watching him work, knowing he was in his element, it was like this forbidden piece of fruit I couldn’t stop lusting after. And thankfully, he’d had meetings back-to-back, understandable for a Monday morning, and lucky for me, I hadn’t worried about him scrutinizing me as well.
Besides, I didn’t want to be further embarrassed with Mrs. Hartley correcting me in front of him. I didn’t want him to think I couldn’t handle this.
So here I found myself, right after work, at a little grocery store right next to Baxter and Calvin. I had a little red basket in my hand as I made a beeline straight for the wine section. And after that? Chocolate. Because a stressful day called for some alcohol and sugar.
The grocery store wasn’t anything but about ten aisles of organic, healthy shit. Stuff I wasn’t accustomed to buying, because living in the city meant everything was expensive as hell.
But wine… wine and chocolate, I splurged the hell out of. Because if you couldn’t treat yourself during an especially shitty day, what was the point of living?
My heels clicked against the tiled floor, and the hum from the refrigerator section seemed to fill the entire interior of the store.
I stepped into the aisle and saw wine bottles surrounding both sides of me. It was like I was in the middle of paradise.
Different flavors. Different countries. Some robust, others sweet. Dry, wet, fruity, spicy. For a small store that sold goat cheese, organic milk, and gluten-free cupcakes, I was impressed and surprised by their selection.
I started walking up and down the aisle, not rushing my selection, because a good, hearty wine had to be perfect, especially when it went with chocolate.
Red or white? A nice iced wine or a flavorful sake?
I debated this in my head as I continued moving up and down the aisle, knowing it wasn’t like I could get really drunk tonight, not with having to be back bright and early with Sergeant Severe in the morning. But a nice little buzz before I went to bed would probably keep the nightmares of data entry away.
I reached up and grabbed a bottle of pinot grigio and brought it down, reading over the label, admiring the artwork on the bottle. That was another selling point for me when I selected my wine. How pretty was the bottle?
Typically, I wasn’t particular about what alcohol I consumed. Reds and whites all tasted about the same to me, but a pretty bottle… that always made me feel better.
“May I suggest, if you’re going to get a bottle of wine, to reach higher on the shelf?”
I curled my fingers tightly around the neck of the bottle as his voice slammed through me. I looked up and over to see Jason standing a few feet from me, an identical red basket in his hand. I couldn’t help but notice the contents.
Whole grain wheat bread. Organic, free range deli meat. Romaine lettuce. Almond milk. And a bottle of whiskey stashed at the very bottom.
There was an array of o
ther items awfully normal for a man of his standing. I didn’t know what I expected. Maybe someone else to do the shopping for him? Maybe he didn’t eat normal things like sandwiches, and instead dined out at five-star ritzy restaurants on the daily.
I knew it was a ridiculous notion and thought, because he was just like everyone else. He was just like me. At that one dinner I had with him, he was so down to earth, funny, and I hadn’t gotten that rich, snooty attitude from him that I normally got from people who worked in the business district.
I looked down at the bottle of wine I held. It was fifteen dollars. For me, that was pretty damn expensive. “We can’t all afford hundred-dollar bottles of chianti, Mr. Shelby.” I looked back at him and smiled. I held up the bottle so he could see. “Besides, how pretty is this bottle?”
The corner of his mouth kicked up. “I’m not saying buy a hundred-dollar bottle of wine, Miss Morris. I’m just saying I’m sure a pretty bottle doesn’t equal a good glass of wine.”
I didn’t bother telling him I probably couldn’t tell the difference between a good glass of wine and one from a cardboard box, but instead smiled slowly, almost sarcastically, and put that pretty bottle of fifteen-dollar wine right in my basket.
He stepped closer to me and reached up to the top shelf, the scent of his cologne nearly making me moan aloud. I felt his body heat, his close proximity making me feel on edge, nervous. He pulled down a bottle of wine, the black bottle simple and elegant, the white label and silver lettering screaming expensive. He showed it to me, and I glanced down at the price, noting it was nearly a hundred bucks. To him, that was probably chump change, but to me, that was a few bottles of wine and some bars of chocolate for the next couple weeks. That or my damn water bill.
“Best bottle of wine I’ve ever had, and I’ve had some that were considered rare.” The way he said it, the sound of his voice, wasn’t snobby, wasn’t like he was trying to rub it in or brag.
I could hear the genuine sincerity of his tone, as if he wanted me to try it because he liked it and honestly wanted me see how good it was.
“I promise it’ll open up your palate.” The way he spoke, the sultriness of his voice, nearly had me giving in right then.
I didn’t like that he had this effect on me. I always kept my life in control, didn’t let anyone—least of all a man—dictate what I did or how I felt. But with Jason, I felt like things were changing. I felt like I was changing how I felt toward him.
I nodded and looked down at my bottle in my red basket. “Maybe a rain check?” I looked up at him, strands of my hair falling and obstructing my view. He was watching me with this gleam in his eyes, this hidden knowledge of something.
“Rain check. Absolutely.” He kept his gaze on my eyes for a little longer than was probably comfortable for most people... including me, because to be honest, I felt these emotions growing for him at an accelerated rate.
I opened my mouth, unsure what I was even about to say, but I closed my lips before I made a fool of myself or really crossed that line.
He’s my boss.
I work for him now.
“Until tomorrow,” he said in a voice that had my body instantly reacting.
“Tomorrow,” I said but wondered if he’d even heard me, my voice was so soft.
And then just like that, he was gone, walking down the aisle and away from me. And the craziest part of it all was the fact that all I wanted to do was say fuck protocol and rules and go after him.
Chapter Fourteen
Linda
A week later
I stood at the ass crack of dawn in the artisan coffee shop right by the office building. The line was long, but then again, I didn’t think the business district ever slept. They were too worried about earning more money or being the first one to have the next million-dollar idea.
“Can I help who’s next?”
I stepped up to the counter and placed my order. “A double shot espresso.” After I paid for my drink and stepped to the side with the others waiting for their orders, my mind once again wandered to thoughts of Jason. And because I thought of him, I found myself reaching into my purse for my phone, pulling it out, and bringing up Baxter and Calvin’s website. I went to the executives’ page, found Jason, and for the third time read his bio.
Jason Shelby, CFO
As the CFO of Baxter and Calvin, Shelby is responsible for running all financial planning and actions of the company. Shelby has a proven executive management track record over the course of his career with experience driving sales growth, analyzing financial strengths and weaknesses, and proposing corrective actions.
Shelby serves on the board of directors of Barker, Inc. and the Forum for Young Entrepreneurs and Executives. He earned an MS degree at the Barlow University, Holland School of Business.
Impressive. Smart. Ambitious. And goddam gorgeous.
Yeah, I was in over my head.
I shoved my phone in my purse and stared at the baristas as they shouted out code coffee lingo, as they made fancy-ass cups of joe, and I stood there thinking about Jason and all the highly inappropriate things I wanted to do with him.
“And so we meet again.”
The deep voice behind me had a startled gasp leaving my lips, and I turned around. The object of my thoughts and desire stood no more than a foot from me.
Oh. God. How long had he been standing there? Did he see me creeping on his bio page?
Jason looked good, like it wasn’t the ass crack of dawn. Me, on the other hand? I no doubt had bags under my eyes, and my hair was a little mussed from the wind. I hadn’t put my lipstick on or fixed my hair, which is what I did at my desk before my day officially started.
And now he got to see me in all my hot mess glory.
“I mean, I see you five days a week at the office.” My throat felt tight, and I was nervous. So nervous that I twisted my hands around the strap of my purse as if it were a lifeline.
And damn him, he just smiled, this sexy little tilt of his lips that had everything in me coming alive like I’d just gotten caffeine directly injected into my veins.
“Double shot espresso for Linda.”
I heard the barista call the drink out, even heard my name and had it register in my head, but I couldn’t stop staring at Jason or being affected by that smirk he gave me.
“Double shot espresso up for Linda,” the barista said louder this time.
Jason’s smile grew. “That’s you, right?” He lifted one dark eyebrow.
I blinked a few times and looked over my shoulder, seeing my double shot sitting on the counter. I looked back at Jason and saw he was still wearing that damn smile. “I guess I’ll see you at the office,” I said like it was a closing statement.
He didn’t move for a moment, but he kept that smirk in place. “Can I get my coffee first or should I just meet you back at the office now and deal with caffeine withdrawal?” That smirk grew.
I closed my eyes briefly, feeling like an asshole. When I opened them again, I swore he was almost outright laughing. “If you’re like me and need coffee as badly as I do in the mornings, I’d never stand in the way of that.”
It was my turn to smile, and while I did like this friendly banter, I was also reminding myself I should probably keep my head in the game and not let my heart make the rules.
Because when you followed your heart, things tended to get messy, didn’t they?
* * *
Since I started working for Baxter and Calvin, I’d come in half an hour early every day. It was easier for me to be here early so I could get everything situated… mainly myself, seeing as whenever Jason was around, I felt like the world was tilting on its axis.
But seeing Jason before work? Well, now that just screwed up my whole composure and thinking.
I heard the sound of people greeting Jason, as they did every morning, and right away, as if like clockwork, my heart started racing. This was my first full day alone, without Mrs. Hartley and her judging and side-eyeing me
for every little mistake I made or if I wasn’t doing stuff how she liked it. And to say I was nervous was an understatement.
I was terrified.
Afraid of how I felt. Scared of my growing feelings.
But I breathed out and gave myself a mental pep talk.
I gathered all of his appointments in time order, knew when his meetings were by heart, and told myself I’d crush this day.
His focus was on me as soon as he became visible, and I smiled, stood, and grabbed the files for the meetings.
“Good morning, Mr. Shelby,” I said, hearing the tremor in my voice.
“Miss Morris.”
God, I loved the way he said my name, with this little lilt in his voice that had all my girly bits tingling with awareness.
I already smelled his cologne, a scent that had me instantly clenching my thighs. My damn body warmed and tingled.
He stopped at my desk, his focus on me, expectant but patient. He held his briefcase, one that was no doubt expensive as hell.
I swallowed and handed the files to him. “The Charleston reports for the meeting, sir.” The way I said sir had this little shock of electricity moving through me.
He slipped his phone into the inner pocket of his jacket and looked at me with those dark eyes that had my toes curling. With his gaze locked on me, I felt a chill move over me, like I was bared to him. A part of me hated myself for wanting him as much as I did. Before I could give him the rundown of his day, he took the folder, looked down at it, and lifted his head so he was watching me again.
“Thank you.”
I swore the way he said those two words meant a lot more than gratitude.
I thought about the coffee run-in this morning, how he’d looked at me, how I’d felt inexplicably drawn to him. Why had I ever thought I could keep a distance between us?