Page 21 of Finding My Charming

Frank clenched his bag in one hand and pointed at me with the other. “Thanks for going to get that. Although, I don’t think it was much of a sacrifice, was it?”

I gaped at him and looked to Sherrie, who giggled and looked away.

“What?”

“I might be old, but I recognize flirting when I see it.” He began laughing and walked away before I could respond.

Dallin and I had not been flirting! He spent his time annoying me!

Without looking up, I pulled my plate closer and began eating.

Sherrie cleared her throat once, then again when I continued to ignore her.

“Elise, darling, don’t be mad. We’re all just having fun with you.”

I shot her a glare and continued eating.

“Dallin seemed happy today. Much more than normal.” She paused, giving me the unnecessary chance to respond. “Okay, fine! Give me the silent treatment.”

After a few more moments of making her sit in the awkward silence, I finally broke. “He said he normally brings over the orders.”

Sherrie’s head shot up with a confused look. “Yes, so?”

“Then why did you send me over?”

I knew she’d probably thought she was doing me a favor by giving me another reason to see him since in her mind I had a crush, but instead, she’d made me feel awkward and desperate.

“I thought you—”

“He just parked!” Someone from a back office alerted us, getting Sherrie off the hook.

Sherrie wheeled her chair back toward her computer and threw away her empty bag.

Moments later, my dad walked in. “Hi, ladies. How was your lunch?”

Sherrie smiled and waved as she picked up the ringing phone.

“It was fine. A few of us ordered from Guru.”

He stepped closer to take a look at what I was finishing. “I didn’t think you would ever go back there after last time.”

I laughed with him and shrugged. “I allowed them a second chance.”

“Very gracious of you.” He turned and headed back to his office. It took every ounce of my willpower to stay in my seat. I so desperately wanted to watch his reaction to the air horn.

Something bumped my chair, and when I looked over, Sherrie was smiling at me. She held out her phone that had my dad’s office on the screen. I gave her a confused look.

“Video call with Mike.” She winked, and I grinned and looked back down. Seconds later, we watched him enter the shot and walk across to his desk. He set his briefcase on the desk then took his phone from his pocket.

It was as if he knew he was being watched. Every single action was being dragged out twice, three times longer than normal.

Finally, he walked around to the back of his desk and pulled out the chair. I counted down in my head — three… two… one…

The screech was loud, even from where I was in the front office. Instantly, he popped up out of his chair with one hand on his chest and the other plowing through his hair. He leaned over either laughing or taking deep breaths, I couldn’t tell which.

Hilarity broke out throughout the office, and I joined in as I stood and started walking back. When I got to his doorframe, I leaned against it with a massive smile.

“Something wrong with your chair, Pops?”