Page 83 of One Midnight Kiss

I couldn’t help but notice how his gaze drifted to me every so often, checking to make sure I was okay. It made me feel warm and fuzzy.

I took a sip of the champagne Fox got for me. “I need to talk to someone,” he said. “Shop talk.”

“Go,” I said. “I’m fine.”

“Are you sure?”

“I’m a big girl,” I said. “Go.”

“I’ll be back in five minutes,” he said.

I stood off to the side and watched the people. I enjoyed studying them. It helped with marketing. I noticed Jerrod approaching me. He gave me a nod, a friendly smile on his lips. “You look beautiful, Natalia,” he said, raising his glass to me.

“Thanks,” I said, smiling back. “You don’t look too bad yourself.”

He chuckled, glancing down at his tailored three-piece suit. “I try.”

We stood there in comfortable silence for a moment, watching the crowd. Fox was on the far side of the room, talking animatedly with a group of younger employees, all of whom seemed to hang on his every word. I could see why. He was magnetic with other eggheads, the kind of person who drew you in even if you knew better.

“You two seem to be getting along,” Jerrod said casually, though there was an edge to his voice that made me turn and really look at him. I heard an undercurrent of something that felt off.

I raised an eyebrow. “We’re working well together, if that’s what you mean.”

Jerrod gave a noncommittal hum, taking a sip of his drink. “I’ve known Fox a long time. Since college, actually.”

“That’s what he said,” I replied, leaning against the bar. “You guys go way back.”

“We do.” He turned to face me, his expression serious now, like he was about to say something important. “Which is why I need to ask—what are your intentions with him, young lady?”

I nearly choked on my champagne. “My intentions?” I repeated, incredulous.

Jerrod didn’t flinch. He looked like a father grilling his daughter’s date, and it would have been funny if it didn’t feel so pointed. “Fox isn’t like other people,” he said carefully. “He’s rough around the edges, but he’s got a good heart. He just doesn’t show it to most people. Everyone wants something from him and they take advantage.”

I glanced over at Fox, who was laughing at something one of his employees had said. He didn’t look rough around the edges right then. He looked relaxed, almost boyish. But I knew what Jerrod meant. Fox could come off as cold and calculating. It was why his image had needed softening.

“You’re protective of him,” I said.

Jerrod shrugged. “He’s been through a lot. And the last time he was in a serious relationship, it didn’t end well.”

The mention of a past relationship caught my attention. Fox wasn’t exactly forthcoming about his personal life. I had never heard him talk about any exes. “What happened?” I asked, trying to keep my voice casual. “I thought he bounced from girl to girl like a hummingbird through flowers.”

“Mia,” Jerrod said like it physically tasted bad. “They were engaged.”

I blinked, surprised. “Engaged? Really?”

Jerrod nodded. “He doesn’t talk about it. It was years ago. She was a nice girl—bubbly, happy, the kind of person who lit up a room just by walking in. But Fox is Fox.”

I could see where this was going. “Why didn’t it work out?”

Jerrod let out a sigh, like he’d been holding it in for a long time. “They just weren’t a good fit. Mia was the type who wanted someone who could meet her in the middle. Someone lighthearted. Fox thought getting engaged was the logical next step, but it never felt right. They realized it before the wedding, thankfully. She’s married now, has two little girls. Her husband works for Google.”

“Why are you telling me this?” I asked, feeling a sudden wave of unease.

Jerrod looked at me, really looked at me, like he was trying to see inside my head. “Because I think you’re the one person on this earth who could actually break his heart, Natalia.”

The words hit me hard. My breath caught in my throat. I had to force myself to swallow. I glanced around the room, my eyes immediately seeking out Fox. He was in the middle of the crowd now, handing out white envelopes to his employees. Their faces lit up as they opened them, and I realized with a jolt what they were—Christmas bonuses.

“Out of his own pocket,” Jerrod said quietly. “He does this every year. Never tells anyone. I insist he give them out himself. Every year, he tries to get out of it.”