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After lunch, I returned to my office and got back to work. This time I worked on the little couch tucked away in the corner of my office. I went through spreadsheets and smiled remembering Lily and her cookie spreadsheet. I just finished reviewing a report on a new cream the company was developing for dealing with acne when there was a knock and “hello” at my door.
“Dylan.” I was happy for the distraction and to have another attempt to rid Blake from my system.
“Finishing up?” he asked with a smile. I wondered if he was always so jovial or if he was just glad the workday was through. Maybe he was happy to see me. Wouldn’t that be something?
“Is it that time already?” I checked my watch and realized it was nearly six.
He walked in and sat next to me on the couch. “How do you keep your brain from melting when looking at all this?” He nodded to the papers on my little coffee table.
“Melting? All this is code for dollar bills.”
He laughed.
“Besides, some of this is about your department.”
“Marketing is cool. It’s all about psychology and manipulation.”
“And data,” I added.
He made a face. “That’s not my job. My job is to create promotions that make women want to cure all their beauty woes with JoXander products.” He tugged on a tendril of my hair. “Products you don’t need.”
I smiled. “Are you trying to flatter me?”
“Is it working?”
“Maybe a little. It’s definitely better than the libido line.” I did like hearing I was beautiful. It felt good to have a man show an interest in me. But my mind, heart, and libido didn’t respond to Dylan as they did to Blake. It was maddening. Why did I want a man who didn’t want me and not the man who did? Cupid was a sadist.
Dylan smiled like he won a victory.
I quirked a brow at him. “Unless you’re using psychology and manipulation on me.”
He laughed and I enjoyed how free it sounded. Blake was always so intense, and while I’d seen him smile, and even laugh a little, he never really let loose. He always had his guard up and kept himself in total control.
“No tricks, Bella,” Dylan said as his finger traced my cheek. “It’s the God’s honest truth that you’re pretty. You’d be as good of spokesperson as Danica Lane.”
I snorted. “Except I’m not a model.”
“You could be.” His gaze raked over my body in a way that suggested he liked what he saw. My hormones, though, didn’t care. They stayed quiet. Crap, I was doomed.
“Ms. Hanson?”
My head jerked up to the voice in my doorway. “Mr. Alexander.” I stood, feeling guilty for fraternizing on company time, even though it no longer was.
“Can I see you in my office for a moment before you leave?” Blake looked at Dylan and then back at me. His tone sounded even, but there was something in his expression that suggested he was angry. I looked at my watch again in case I’d read it wrong and I was still on company time. It was just after six, so the workday was done. Had I done something wrong?
“Yes, absolutely.” I turned to Dylan. “I guess I’ll see you tomorrow.”
He stood and gave my arm a squeeze. “Do you want me to wait? I can walk you down.”
“I’ll see Ms. Hanson down.”
I quirked a brow at Blake’s comment. Not because I believed he wouldn’t escort me out of the building. He was a gentleman, I knew he would. What was strange was that he insisted on doing it.
Dylan’s expression toward Blake matched mine. Then he turned to me. “I can wait if you want.”
I shook my head. “No. That’s okay. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Mr. Alexander,” Dylan nodded as he passed Blake toward my door.
“Have a good evening, Mr. Colby.”
I went to my desk to get the usual items I brought with me to Blake’s office when we met. While I was there, I picked up some reports I’d gone through that day.
“You won’t need those.” He turned and followed Dylan out the door.
“Huh?” I set the items back down on my desk. Panic built in me. Was he going to fire me? Why? Anger crept up behind the worry. Was he really going to get rid of me after he fucked me? After I helped with his daughter? I wasn’t the type of woman to seek revenge, but it would be wrong for him to fire me for that. I liked my job and would fight for it. Then again, if he was the type of man to oust me because he’d fucked me, maybe I didn’t want to work here.
Knowing the answer lay in Blake’s office, I headed there. Dana had gone for the day, and the silence around us suggested that everyone else on the floor had left as well. I entered his office, ready to hear what he said, and prepared to fight for my job.
