That sounded pretty good to his ears.
“I don’t see any flags. Or the biggest is her father and she’ll have to figure that out on her own.”
“Meaning what?”
Blair shrugged, then turned back to make sure the door was still shut. “It’s obvious there is some tension there. Sheexplained why she moved and they are working it out. I don’t think it will bleed from personal to work. Norris isn’t that way. I don’t think Nora is cold in the least. Not like Norris. But she’s more... internal. She’ll keep things close to her chest.”
Didn’t he know that!
“That’s not a concern then. As you said, Norris won’t bring it into the office and since she doesn’t want anyone to know about their connection, though I’m not sure how long it can be a secret. Especially if she put him down on her HR paperwork.”
“She didn’t,” Blair said. “She volunteered that part. She put her mother down, who has a different last name. And since a select few know, and she’s working with those daily, it’s not an issue if someone has to be reached. But it’s going to come out at some point sooner than later. She came to see him before I grabbed her to interview. Someone could have noticed that more than Marcy at the front desk.”
“Did she know Nora was Norris’s daughter?” He wasn’t sure why he hadn’t thought of it.
“She said no. That her father just said her name, her first name as Eleanor, as a guest coming, but didn’t elaborate and neither did she. Doesn’t mean it wasn’t overheard.”
He leaned back in his chair, crossed his arms, and got comfortable. “Give me your personal opinion on how we’ll get along. Sounds like from a work standpoint we’ll be fine.”
“I think so. But we’ve had one day together. You think I can read a crystal ball?”
“Yes.” And the smirk on Blair’s face told him she’d thought the same thing. “I do. You’re the one who ran out of the meeting hearing half a conversation and dragged her into your office for an impromptu interview, then all but got down on the ground to kiss her feet when you felt you found your replacement.”
Blair laughed. “That’s a little overboard.”
“But true.”
She continued to smile, his grin matching her wide one. “Fine. I have a good feeling about her. Both from a work view and personal. You’re outgoing, she’s not. But she’s professional and polite. I’ve seen traces of humor from her, but I’m positive she’s going to need time to relax around you.”
She hadn’t needed it that one night.
Though he knew that was different.
In his eyes, they were on the same level.
Two single adults, having a drink, some conversation, and a whole hell of a lot of heat to burn the night away.
This was different.
Here, he was the boss. The man with the final say.
Anyone would take time to get comfortable in that power dynamic.
And he had to keep reminding himself of that. Especially when his mind kept replaying howcomfortableshe’d already been with him once before.
“I can win her over,” he boasted.
He’d done it once. He could do it again.
How, that was the question.
He couldn’t step over the line. Not here. Not with witnesses.
His brother would keep his secret... for now.
“I told her you were cocky.”
He wiggled his eyebrows. “What was her response?”
