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She chuckled.
“Something tells me you and your brothers will be just fine. See you later and be safe.” She pointed at him.
“Yes, ma’am,” he said and she smiled. As she turned around to walk away, Hank was standing there.
“Did you need something before I run out for lunch?” she asked Hank.
Hank looked her body over then stared into her eyes. He was so tall and handsome, but damn was that fierce expression of his powerful. She felt guilty or like she was caught doing something illegal.
He glanced toward Steve, who was walking back toward his department.
“You should be careful around Steve. He’s fast and a bit wild,” he warned her.
“Steve? He’s harmless,” she replied and then she noticed Hank seemed to be clenching his teeth or maybe he was biting the inside of his mouth as his cheek sunk in. His eyes grew darker somehow and she gulped.
“You’re too good for
him and his brothers. Watch yourself,” he said with such conviction she took a step back and he immediately walked away.
As she headed out of the building, she felt a multitude of things. She was practically shaking. Hank was a superior man. He also never revealed what was going on in his mind although she was able to pick up on little things over the past several months. When he was upset or angry he got quiet and then he got verbal and demanding. She had witnessed his wrath one time when a group of employees screwed up something on a job site and some workers got hurt. It was something avoidable and he fired the men on the spot. He didn’t take chances with his employees’ lives. He was a good boss. Hell, he was a good man but not her type. He reminded her of Bentley because of his controlling attitude and fierce way he would look at her. He watched her body or stared at her legs when they were crossed as if he owned her. He liked to sip on expensive brandy, and she didn’t know what he was like buzzed never mind drunk.
With Bentley she had been turned on by that attitude and possessiveness, but too soon that possessiveness made her feel like an object, like something he owned and could do what he wished with. The love, the compassion, the care was replaced with being manhandled, somewhat abused by his firm grips, not-so-gentle tugs and pushes, and of course Bentley’s verbal orders and demands. Throw in some alcohol and the man turned into a monster. How her father didn’t seem to care made her wonder if he ever really loved her as his daughter.
She felt the tears reach her eyes and she put on her sunglasses as she walked down the block. She forced herself to not think of Bentley, or to analyze Hank, or fantasize about Leo, wondering what kind of lover he would be, and she didn’t think about Will, who was wild and a playboy.
The best thing to do was to avoid an attraction to her bosses. To not get involved with any men from work, and to just put her past behind her and not think of the painful memories any more.
She stopped by the deli in town and grabbed a salad and an ice tea. It was beautiful out today and considering she would be stuck in the meeting room with her bosses for the rest of the afternoon, she should enjoy lunch outside.
As she found a spot near the small park, she set up her things and pulled out her iPad. She saw text messages from Alicia and Marlena and then her phone went off as Mercedes texted her. She read the texts from Mercedes.
Going to Spencer’s tonight for a few drinks with Alicia and Marlena. You have to come, too. I can’t be stuck with all their men and feeling like I’m the single tag-a-long friend. Pleaseee.
Adel chuckled. Mercedes was so funny, and she was right. Adel went out with Alicia and Marlena a few times with their men and she felt out of place. Their men were touching them, kissing them, and being affectionate. That made the one single girl not only feel out of place but also in the spotlight for loser guys to come over thinking she was desperate for a man . She texted back immediately.
Sure thing. I’ll meet you there at 7:00.
Adel began to eat her lunch and in between she searched online for a new ceiling fan for her bedroom. The damn thing broke it was so old and considering her small cottage didn’t have central air , she only had a window AC unit and the bedroom fan to keep her cool at night. She needed one desperately.
“So this is where you disappear for lunch.”
She gasped and looked up to see Will standing there and holding a brown bag and an ice tea. His hazel eyes were blocked by some designer sunglasses that hid his eyes completely.
She didn’t know what to say but he sure did.
“Can I join you?” he asked, taking a seat and setting up his stuff alongside her.
“Sure. I guess,” she replied and then looked back at her iPad and noticed the prices for some of the basic fans. She exhaled.
“What are you looking at fans for?” he asked, and then bit into a large sub sandwich.
She turned to look at him. He removed his sunglasses and his hazel eyes held hers a moment. She could smell his cologne or was it the damn appealing soap he used in the shower this morning? She thought about the way he looked as he ran into the meeting room. His hair was practically still dripping. He must have been out late last night. Or maybe up all night. Was he alone in bed, or had some lucky woman gotten whisked off her feet by the very handsome and charming Will Ferguson?
She swallowed hard. He wasn’t her type either. A playboy who slept with a lot of women just because he could.
“Mine broke. I need a replacement one,” she told him then scrolled down to a cheaper one.
“Do you really need one? Doesn’t your cottage have AC?” he asked.
