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“Yeah, but maybe it will be the kick in the ass he needs to get his balls together.”
Anne shook her head at Ranie’s choice of words. “I think there’s some sort of mixed metaphor in there. But, really, he doesn’t need a kick in the ass. He’s a great boss. And there’s no reason he has to feel for me the way I feel for him.”
“But he does feel the same way. He just hasn’t done anything about it.”
Anne tried very hard not to let her friends give her unjustified hope with their loyalty to her, so she took Ranie’s comment with a very large grain of salt. “He really doesn’t.”
“Did I or did I not see him at our Christmas party last year?” Ranie demanded.
Anne sighed. “Yes, but—”
“But nothing. Did I or did I not see how he couldn’t keep his eyes off you all night? And did I or did I not see how I could barely drag him away from you when the party was over?”
Last Christmas had given Anne similar thoughts. They’d invited everyone from her office to the party, but she’d been surprised when Jake actually showed up. He always took the staff to lunch for Christmas and gave them all very nice bonuses—which was the extent of his holiday spirit. But he’d showed up after all, and then he’d spent the evening talking and laughing with her. She’d felt pretty, desirable, almost giddy from the look she’d thought she’d seen in his eyes that evening.
It had fed her hope too much, so she’d been crushed even more than ever when the New Year came and he acted exactly the way he always had with her.
Like her boss.
“That was just a…” Anne trailed off, dropping her head briefly. “He was just in a good mood that night. It didn’t mean anything.”
“It did mean something. I saw his expression when he looked at you. He’s crazy about you. I still think he’s just holding back because he’s your boss. Maybe this job is what he’s waiting for. When you’re not working for him, he’ll finally make his move.” Raney looked characteristically enthusiastic about this idea.
“Maybe he is,” Meg added, before Anne could argue. “But you should take the job because you want it and not because you’re hoping it will be the catalyst for getting together with Jake.”
“I know. I do want the job. And I have no delusions about Jake waking up and suddenly wanting me once I’m gone.”
“But maybe he will,” Raney chimed in, irrepressibly.
“And maybe he won’t. It’s not about him. It’s about Anne. And, if this is what she wants, then it’s good no matter what Jake does.” Meg gave Raney a stern look. Then turned the same look back onto Anne.
“Right.” Anne nodded, feeling better and determined now to give notice this afternoon, to make it real, to get it over with. “It’s about me. And a great job. And finding a guy who actually wants me.”
“Or who’s willing to actually take what he wants.” Raney grinned. “Because we all know that Jake is secretly crazy about you.”
Anne smothered a groan and just shook her head instead.
Sometimes she wondered if Raney exaggerated the optimism to show Anne exactly how silly it was to be holding out hope for Jake to ever return her feelings.
Because it was simply stupid. Jake had had seven years to make a move on her, and he hadn’t ever, not once, made a single move.
Only an idiot would keep holding onto hope.
***
As soon as she returned to the office after lunch, she went to stand in Jake’s doorway, determined to tell him before she lost the nerve.
He was scrawling something out on a yellow pad.
He liked to brainstorm with pen and paper, so he was probably just working out some ideas that she would later have to translate into legible form.
His thick hair was rumpled, and his tie was askew. He must be feeling stressed, since those were the first signs she looked for.
He glanced up and saw her, immediately straightening up. “Hey. Can you print out all the emails between me and Marshall Long since June?”
“Yeah. I’ll do it now. Then do you have a minute to talk?”
His eyes widened in obvious surprise. “Sure.”
