Page 5 of Brighter Together

“Why not?”

“She works for me.”

“Who works for you?”

Nick appears beside us carrying the casualty bag.

“Nobody,” I say.

“That would make running a hotel difficult,” Nick says making him and Alex laugh.

I just stare at them, biting back my own laugh.

Alex points at me. “He fancies someone who works for him.”

“For fuck’s sake,” I say louder than necessary.

Nick’s face lights up. “Who?”

I throw the last carabiner into the crate.

“My assistant.”

There’s half a second of silence.

“You have the hots for your assistant?” Nick asks.

“Yes, fuck, it’s stupid. And no, before you ask, nothing can happen.” I point at both of them.

Alex raises his hands. “Mate, I haven’t said anything.”

“You were about to.”

“I was going to ask why you hired her.”

“I didn’t.” The answer comes out sharper than I mean it to. “Anna did. I wasn’t even at the interviews.”

Nick lifts an eyebrow.

“And before either of you get the wrong idea, I would never hire someone because I fancied them. Ella got the job because she was the best person for it. She’s bloody brilliant at what she does.”

Alex’s mouth twitches. “Bit defensive there.”

“Because you’re both bellends.”

“Fair,” Nick says, taking a bite from an apple he’s pulled out of his rucksack. “So what’s the problem?”

“The problem is that I’m her boss. I can’t start hitting on my assistant. If she isn’t interested, she then has to come into work every day knowing the man who pays her salary wants to get into her knickers. That’s not fair on her.”

Alex nods. “I get that.”

“And even if she was interested, it could make things awkward. She’s brilliant at her job and I don’t want to lose her.”

Alex smirks. “Romantic.”

“You know what I mean.”

I do need her.