“This is your badge. It gives you temporary access to the employee restricted areas.”
“I’m very capable of putting on my own badge,” I said, pushing a palm into his chest.
Now why did I do that? How often did he work out? My eyes shot to my hand before I snatched it away.
He smirked, taking a step back before he spoke. “Then I wouldn’t have an excuse to touch you.”
“That’s not something you need. I’m not going to let you interfere with my investigation with your mind games, so you can give it up.”
“Do you plan on fighting me every step of the way?” he asked.
“If I have to.”
The slow smile that crept up on his face wasn’t the least bit reassuring.“I’ve been preparing myself for this fight since the day you walked out of my life.”
“Oh God. You sure Nick isn’t available?”
He chuckled, holding his hands up in mock surrender as he took a step back. “I’m behaving.”
“I can’t wait to catch you slipping,” I warned.
“I figured you two were long overdue for a break,” Paula announced as she pranced in the room balancing a tray of drinks and a bag of food. “Mr. Fuller usually gets grumpy if he doesn’t have a midmorning snack.”
“I wouldn’t use the word grumpy.”
“Somehow, I’m sure it fits.” I giggled.
“Trust me, girl. He’s worse than a toddler. Thankfully, I know just how to handle him.”
There it was again. A vague reference that made me question just what her job description entailed.
“What would I do without you?” Reed asked as he reached for a dark red smoothie.
“I’m sure you don’t want to find out.” Paula said, winking when she turned to me. “I wasn’t sure what you liked, so I went with chocolate covered strawberry. We recently added a Divine Smoothies Express to the restaurant section. People absolutely love it. I love that it’s doing wonders for Reed’s erratic blood pressure.”
I didn’t miss how she dropped the formalities. I guess Mr. Fuller was no longer in the building.
“You have high blood pressure?” I didn’t know why I asked that. I guess that tidbit of information caught me off guard.
“Ihadhigh blood pressure. Paula keeps me together.”
“That’s right. If it weren’t for me, there is no telling what kind of shape you would be in.”
“You’re a godsend,” he professed.
Hopefully she didn’t think she would be labeled a patron saint for keeping that asshole alive. By the way she grinned at him, I was sure she thought he was worth it.
“Paula, before you go to lunch, make sure you get me the information for the Stewart family and the wedding parties that are coming this week.”
“I’m actually impressed with how hands on you are around here,” I noted.
“Oh, he’sveryhands on,” Paula cooed.
See, there it was again. I knew I wasn’t tripping. It only took a couple of hours at Cashville to realize two things: I couldn’t stand Paula, and she and Reed were definitely fucking. Not that the latter was any of my business, but she seemed to think he and I had something going on. Unbeknownst to her, I didn’t want Reed.
“Before you came, I was telling Reed how nice it is of him to help an old friend like this. I know how challenging it is to find your footing in your career.”
“My footing is just fine,” I stated.
