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He tried not to let his gaze drift toward the woman standing beside him, even as the scent of her sweet floral perfume filled his head with longing. So far, it seemed that he was in the clear. She hadn’t overheard the conversation with his father.
His initial panic had subsided and been replaced with normal, everyday business Michael. Smithy had offered Emily a job and they needed to discuss what that meant. He could handle that. What he couldn’t handle was Emily shooting him down after finding out he loved her. His heart just wasn’t ready for that kind of rejection.
“We’ve got a new rooftop garden,” Michael said, trying to dispel the awkward silence. “I read somewhere that rooftop gardens can reduce the amount of heat a building absorbs, making it cost effective for us and good for the environment. A win-win.”
He cringed at the end of his speech. Great, he was babbling. Emily nodded along, staring resolutely at the reflective surface of the elevator wall. He longed to see her face, to know what she was thinking.
Finally, the elevator dinged and he led her out onto the mostly empty floor. There were a few rooms for sensitive records, another for their back-up drives, and then a stairway leading up to the roof access. He led her up, opening the heavy metal door. Sunlight streamed down on them, instantly warming him in his heavy suit. He peeled off his jacket and held the door open for her as she took in the sights.
“It’s gorgeous,” she breathed, turning to catch every angle.
The gardener he’d hired had really outdone himself. Other than the rooftop helipad, the rest of the space had been transformed from an ugly urban beast into a jungle-like setting with giant palms and delicate flowering plants cooling the concrete beneath their feet. A few miniature fruit trees in pots and patches of bushes lined the far side and had already begun producing fruit. Michael often wondered how the insects knew to fly so high to get to them. It really was a magical place, set with a small white wrought-iron table and matching set of couches overlooking the city.
“I feel like we should be swaying in the breeze,” Emily said, clutching at his arm. The wind gently lifted the curls off her shoulder, revealing the soft curve of her neck. “If I get too close to the edge, I’m afraid I might scream.”
Michael laughed and led her toward the table, where she perched herself on the edge of the couch. He sat beside her, allowing at least a foot of distance between them. This was a business meeting after all. He didn’t want to make her uncomfortable.
She craned her neck to see over the edge, her eyes reflecting the nearby glass buildings. Linex Investments was the tallest building in San Jose. They could see for miles. Excitement made her cheeks burn bright. He bit the inside of his cheek, trying not to smile. It was really endearing to see her light up about something so simple as a rooftop garden.
“I’m so glad Smithy offered you the job,” Michael said, leaning back against the couch. This was just like the rainy night at his parents’ home, except she was fully clothed and there were no candles in sight. “He came up with the idea weeks ago. That’s what he was spouting on about at the app reveal. He thought I’d already offered it to you.”
Emily’s gaze snapped to his face and she frowned. “You were going to offer me a job? But why? My business failed.”
“Yes.” He leaned forward, his jaw tightening. “You didn’t have the resources to take Sevenson Selective into the virtual world, but we do. Your expertise on the finite details of matchmaking are invaluable to us. Smithy knows how to put a killer algorithm together, but he needs someone who knows the heart. That’s you. He wanted me to offer you the job. Practically begged me. After he schooled me in four rounds of wheelchair basketball, I finally relented.”
Emily’s lips twisted into the cutest little frown that made Michael’s heart jump. “Are you sure you aren’t just offering me the job out of pity? Or worse, because we dated?”
He shook his head. “Not at all. I mean every word I say, Emily. You’re the perfect person for this job. And I swear to you, I will never lie to you again. If there’s anything you take away from today, know that.”
She studied him, her blue eyes narrowing slightly. “You re
ally want me to work for you?”
“Not for me.” He waved his hands in front of his chest. “For Smithy. It may be my company, but this is Smithy’s project. He will be your boss. If I ever try to tell you what to do, you have permission to tell me to go stuff it.”
Her head cocked to one side. “Are you okay with this? I mean, we’d be working in the same building. We’d probably have to see each other. Is that going to be awkward?”
“I’m okay with it if you are.” He grasped the tops of his knees, his knuckles white. Hope had sprung alive in his chest. She hadn’t rejected him just yet. “I would think your opinion is the only one that matters here. Don’t be concerned about me.”
The left side of her mouth curved up in a half-smile. She tucked a curl behind her ear and fixed her twinkling blue eyes on his face. “All right, I’ll do it.”
He wanted to jump and cheer, but instead, he simply smiled. “I’m glad.”
“There’s just one last thing to discuss,” she said, smoothing down her dress over her knees. She glanced shyly at him out of the corner of her eye and then back down at her legs. “What are we going to do about the fact that you’re in love with me?”
Chapter Fourteen
Emily watched the blood drain from Michael’s face. He pressed his lips together and stared wide-eyed at her, panic flashing in his brown eyes. She felt a wave of guilt for bringing up the subject so suddenly, but it couldn’t be avoided.
If she was going to be working here, alongside him, then they needed to get these things out into the open. She’d worked in the field of love long enough to know that suppressed feelings could fester into something uncomfortable for them both. They needed to talk.
“In love?” Michael sputtered, looking wholly unlike himself.
She’d never seen this side of him. Uncontrolled and embarrassed. She almost wanted to laugh. It was cute to see him so undone.
“Yes, I may have overheard some of your conversation with your father,” she said with a guilty smile. “I’m sorry. Sound just echoes down those halls. Not even Smithy’s attempts to distract me with the job offer could drown it out.”
“I see.” He sat back on the couch, his face ashen.
