Page 4 of My Favorite Boss

He reached past me, flicking on the light, and I caught my breath. He was tall, broad-shouldered, and wide-chested. His suit was pulled tight across his arms. He had light-brown hair, thick and wavy, brushed off his forehead. His full lips were drawn into a frown, and heavy eyebrows set off his incredible eyes. Clear, brilliant blue. Glittering and frosty, looking at me as if I was a bug he wanted to squash under his fingers. He was handsome, intimidating, and confident. I knew he was thirty-four, eight years older than I was. Somehow, his self-assurance made me feel younger.

He studied me, no doubt finding me lacking. I was far shorter than he was, and I knew I looked anything but professional. I glanced down, trying to hide the fact that I was shoeless, my coat damp, my hair had fallen out of the careful ponytail I had wrestled it into, and I was breathing hard.

Maybe I had to work on my cardio a little more.

“I assume you are Ms. Myers?”

“Yes. Magnolia. Maggie to my friends.”

I shut up as I watched one eyebrow lift, effectively silencing me. It was a pretty cool trick, and I wondered how long it had taken him to perfect it.

“I was leaving. You’re late, and I’m done for the day. You missed your chance.”

I grabbed his sleeve before he could move. “Please. I ran almost all the way here and then…ten flights of stairs! You have to give me credit for that. Please. Give me a chance.”

He looked down where I gripped his suit jacket. He said nothing. “I can do this job well,” I pleaded. “Interview me.” I dropped my hand. “Please.”

He scowled, turning and heading into what I assumed was his office. “You have ten minutes,” he said over his shoulder.

I blinked.

“The clock is ticking, Ms. Myers.”

I shook my head to clear it, and I followed him.

BANE

I watched her struggle out of her coat, pulling down the cuffs of her ivory-colored blouse. It was an old-fashioned affair with lace and ruffles on the long sleeves.

It was oddly sexy on her.

Her skirt was black with a slit on the side. It drew attention to her shapely legs and the fact that she wasn’t wearing shoes. Her stockings had holes on the feet. I tried not to laugh at the mental image of her darting around Pete downstairs and rushing up the steps. I was surprised he hadn’t called up to warn me of a security breach and imminent attack.

Then again, he was old, had trouble seeing from his left eye, and probably didn’t notice her sneaking past him. None of us had the heart to fire him. He was retiring in a year, and the “assistant” we’d hired to help out did most of the work. He must have been absent from the desk when Ms. Myers showed up.

She sat down with a small huff, smoothing down her skirt. “Ready.”

I knew without looking that her feet didn’t touch the floor. Again, a wave of amusement hit me, but I refused to show it.

“Why should I hire you? You’re late, unorganized, and, frankly, a hot mess.”

“You think I’m hot?”

I blinked, once again fighting a smile. “I didn’t say you were hot. I said you were a hot mess. Broken shoes, wet coat, ripped stockings. You look like an orphan.”

“I am,” she said in a small, broken voice. “I have no one in this world. I’m all alone.”

I was at a loss as to what to say next. Then she laughed. “Gotcha. Oh, the look on your face. Priceless.” She giggle-snorted.

The sound made my lips twitch again, but I schooled my expression, scowling at her. “You’re wasting your ten minutes.”

She straightened her shoulders. “I am normally very organized. I don’t know much about plants, but I can revise your calendar, make your days seamless, your files perfection, and deliver an awesome cup of coffee and lunch every day without fail. I can work late if needed, be available to accompany you on site visits or out-of-town business trips. I’m very good with numbers and spreadsheets. I’m an Excel genius, and no one will get past me if that is what you tell me to do.” She drew in what I assumed was a much-needed breath. “And I am very cordial and friendly on the phone.”

I resisted laughing at that. I had a feeling this woman was way too friendly all the time.

She cast her eyes around the room. “I know how to use a 3-D printer, and I am familiar with CAD.”

I liked those attributes. No other candidate had them. I didn’t need for her to know about plants. As a landscape architect, that was my job. I needed her to run my office.