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Chapter Three
By the time Tuesday afternoon rolled around, I’d grown comfortable with Natalie watching Tristan along with Haylee’s daughter, changed my cell phone number, and run out of things to do from home for Brian and the Charlotte office. I’d registered for two online courses, but until the materials arrived—hopefully tomorrow—I couldn’t get started. In the meantime, I was bored.
Sure, I could’ve used the time to start exercising or plan out healthier meals so I could finally lose those last few pounds, but everyone knew you only started a diet on a Monday. So, maybe next week. Plus, I needed to be busy, busy. Which is why couch surfing the television didn’t appeal, either. With things currently so uncertain in my life, I needed a distraction. And maybe, together with all of that, the fact I hadn’t seen Mark in the last couple of days had me knocking on his door across the hall.
He didn’t disappoint, opening the door while looking sexy as hell with his glasses and tousled hair.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt, but uh, if you’re still willing to let me organize and file…”
“Sure. Although you might change your mind when you see all of it.”
He opened the door to what was a replica of my apartment minus one bedroom and with boxes everywhere. And that was the highlight, because what wasn’t in boxes were in stacks of folders placed on the floor, the kitchen counter, and on half of the lone desk against the wall. In addition to the desk and computer chair, there was also a well-worn sofa in the living room. That made up all of the furniture. I wondered if he had a bed in the bedroom, but most likely the space was full of even more boxes.
“Don’t hold back. What are you thinking?”
I walked further into the room, my eyes wide. “You can ask Brian. I tend not to hold back. And this—Well, this is a colossal mess. But it’s also a challenge. And it’s just the type of thing I was hoping for.”
“Okay, but if it becomes too much or you change your mind, I’ll understand. You really work for Brian and only for Josh indirectly, so I feel a little awkward having you do this for me.”
I smiled. “Why? In the end, we all work for the same company. Plus, it gives me something to do. I’d be eternally grateful.”
He shook his head as if he couldn’t believe it. “Okay. In that case, let’s get started in the bedroom.”
Uh.
It took approximately ten seconds before his face turned crimson, and he started sputtering. “I didn’t mean—”
My laughter bubbled up. “Relax. Even if it’s been awhile, it takes more than a heap of messy files to get me into bed.”
My playful teasing only served to turn him a brighter shade of red. His embarrassment was unnecessary, though, because after walking into the bedroom, I saw it was sans bed. But it did have three large wooden filing cabinets four drawers tall. “See? Now there’s no mistaking you really do want me only for my filing abilities.”
This time he smiled. Perhaps my warped sense of humor was finally wearing on him. Brian and I could crack these types of jokes all day. Then again, my boss was like an older brother and not as reserved as Mark. Yeah—introverted people struggled to get me.
“Are you sure you don’t mind?”
He truly was adorable when he got serious. “Promise, I don’t. Now stop asking. I don’t want to bother you while you’re working, so let me know what time works best.”
* * *
Markand I agreed my hours could be flexible in doing the filing since my schedule would always depend on Brian and the office and whether they needed something first. But I was used to a packed day and didn’t think it would be a problem to juggle both tasks. On Wednesday afternoon, then, with nothing better to do, I used the key Mark had given me to go inside his office and tackle my first stack.
Since the age of twelve, I’d always worked. I started by babysitting for the next-door neighbor. Thinking back, I’m not sure why she thought having a twelve-year-old take care of her toddler was a good idea, but at least my mom had been only one door down in case there’d been an actual emergency.
By the time I was fifteen, I was bagging groceries at my local supermarket. And by nineteen, I was the receptionist at Gamble Advertising. That’s when I met Brian. His sense of humor meshed immediately with mine and I eventually made the transition to his administrative assistant. Although I’d been promoted to the office manager position a few years ago, I’d retained the responsibility for Brian’s administrative needs. Not only was he one of my best friends, but he was also low maintenance, and I enjoyed keeping him organized.
All of this is why I viewed Mark’s office with determination. The man, although hot, was in fact a slob. This room could be featured in an episode of hoarders as the legal paperwork special.
Deciding to help pass the time with some tunes, I slipped some headphones in. Meanwhile, I put the video monitor showing Tristan’s sleeping form in his crib in front of me, knowing it would light up if there were any sounds from his room.
It might not actually count as a workout, but after two hours on my hands and knees organizing stacks of papers, it certainly felt like one. I was bopping to some country tunes, oblivious to everything but the task in front of me when a touch on my shoulder scared the ever-loving crap out of me.
“Oh, my clucking God.” I ripped the earphones from my head and sat back on my heels, watching Mark’s face quickly flush.
“Sorry. I was calling your name but then realized you had earphones in. Did you say clucking?”
I grinned, setting a few more folders to the side. “Yeah, it’s my new adaptation of the other word. I call it mommy cursing.”
He blinked twice, clearly waiting for more of an explanation.
