Page 32 of Come A Little Closer

“Tallulah is not my girlfriend,” I said dryly. “The house came with the job and the car is simply to ensure her safety. Stop reading things into it that aren’t there.”

“Oh, I know she’s not your girlfriend. Yet. What I want to know is when you’re just going to ask her out. Come on, man. There’s obviously something going on between the two of you. I didn’t know you were that shy.”

“I’m not,” I argued. “Is there any room in that big head of yours for the possibility that perhaps I’m not asking her out because it would put her in an awkward position?”

Before he could respond, I shook my head. “Regardless of what I may or may not feel for her, I am her boss, Jake. Any relationship between us that’s not of a professional nature would require a much more delicate approach than a simple offer to have a drink or to go to bed together.”

He sighed. “Fair enough. I heard you’re taking her to the party, though.”

“Sure. I invited her. She put in a lot of work this week and it only seemed right that she should get to witness people enjoying the fruits of her labor.”

“I put a lot of work in this week,” he retorted. “I don’t recall getting an invitation.”

“Would you like to come?” I asked. “You can bring Melinda, of course. Give her an excuse to get dressed up. She would probably get along well with Tallulah.”

“It’s so sweet that you want my girlfriend to meet your future girlfriend, but we’ve already got plans. Next time?”

“Sure.” Part of me was relieved that my friend couldn’t make it. It would’ve been fun to have him there, but this way, it would just be Tallulah and me… and all my neighbors.

Jake leaned forward, fixing me with an amused look. “You’re really not going to admit that there’s something going on between you guys?”

I shook my head. “Gentlemen don’t kiss and tell.”

His eyes widened. “You’ve kissed her?”

“If I have, I’m not telling,” I said firmly. “Look, I’ll admit that the truck means a lot to me, but so does the safety of my people. You know that. By the very nature of her job, Tallulah will often be out late and I wasn’t comfortable with her waiting around in the dark for a ride. If she could even get one that would take her all the way out to the plantation every time.”

The way his chin lowered told me he wasn’t buying what I was selling. “You have other cars you could’ve loaned her. Why give her the only one that means something to you?”

“It was the first set of keys I picked up,” I said, which was true, but if it had been anyone else, I wouldn’t have surrendered said keys. I would have dropped them back in the bowl and looked around for another. “Don’t make this into more than it needs to be, Jake.”

“I’m not. I’m just saying that I think you have feelings for her and I’m pretty sure she returns those feelings.”

My heart twitched. “What? Why?”

He scoffed down a laugh. “See, you wouldn’t have cared if you didn’t have feelings for her, but fine. I’ll tell you. Every time I’ve seen her this week, which was a lot, she mentioned you. Like, not the way that people just happen to mention the boss. It was Niall this and Niall that. She talks about you, even when she doesn’t have to.”

I sighed. “You think that means something?”

“I know it does.” He propped his elbows on his knees and leaned forward, eyes locked on mine. “All I’m saying is that if you have developed a little thing for her and she returns it, there’s nothing to be ashamed about.”

“Why would I be ashamed?”

He shrugged. “Fuck knows, but the fact that you don’t want to talk about it makes me think you are.”

“I don’t want to talk about it because whatever is going on between her and me is between her and me. I’ve never talked much to you about women before, and you never thought I had feelings for any of them.”

“It’s hardly the same situation,” he pointed out. “I’ve walked into your house the morning after when your hookups are still leaving and you’d already forgotten their names. It’s different with her.”

“Well, she does work for me. I have to know her name.”

He let out an exasperated huff of air. “Okay, have it your way. Just know that I’m onto you, and that I’m on Team Talliall.”

“That’s a terrible couple’s name.”

“Nah, I like it.” Jake chuckled and stood up, that knowing gleam still in his eyes as he smirked again. “Have fun tonight, boss man. I hope you’ve been practicing that delicate approach of yours.”

He winked and strode to my door, slamming it behind him before I could protest. Alone now that he was gone, however, I finally gave some consideration to what he’d said.