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And the duck said, “Be sure to give me the bill.”
My head fell back in laughter as I continued sprinting in place as fast as I could.
“My god. How long have you been standing out here? It’s freezing,” Maddox Lancaster said, startling the hell out of me as I spun around. I gasped and dropped my phone before losing my balance and slamming my head into the brick wall and nearly falling to the ground.
Two strong hands found my shoulders and steadied me, and his dark brown eyes studied me with concern.
“Oh, hey,” I said, trying to pull myself together as I moved to reach for my phone, but he stopped me as he bent down to grab it.
He handed me my phone and unlocked the door, holding it open for me to walk inside ahead of him. He flipped on the lights, and I pulled the gloves and hat off my head and quickly tried to pat my hair into place. My lips were still frozen, and my teeth were chattering. This was not the impression I was hoping to make.
He studied me for a few seconds, but it felt longer because he didn’t smile, and he looked… annoyed? Angry? Concerned?
“Is your head okay?” he asked, his voice deep and growly.
“Yes. Of course. My hat has a lot of padding.” I held it by the giant pom-pom on top and shook it in front of myself like a fool.
“Why didn’t you wait in your car?”
“I didn’t drive my car here. It’s in the shop.” I cleared my throat because the man had a way of making me feel like he could see through me. He narrowed his gaze like he wasn’t buying it.
He didn’t even know me.
How did he know I was lying?
Obviously, he was correct, but he didn’tknowthat.
“Did you drive that white bicycle I saw parked in the lot here?” he asked, and it came off very condescending and rude, which I did not appreciate.
I squared my shoulders. He might be my new boss, but there was no reason to be an asshole. I’d come early and had frozen my ass off outside, and I didn’t need to be treated like a child.
“It’s a high-powered scooter, and yes, it’s my temporary form of transportation. It also has nothing to do with my job, so I don’t appreciate you acting like I’ve broken the rules when I was the first one to arrive today, on mybicycle.” I glared at him, and the feeling started to come back in my hands because they were fisted at my sides.
The corners of his lips turned up just the slightest bit, and he nodded. “Fair enough. I’m impressed you beat me because I’m always the first one here. How about we get you a key, so if you ever arrive before me, you’ll be able to come inside?”
“Okay,” I said, my anger starting to dissipate.
I followed him through the bottom floor, and he showed me where the employee break room was, and I gasped that it was stocked with protein bars, fruit, nuts, and energy drinks.
“I take it you like snacks?”
“Doesn’t everyone?” I shrugged as I followed him down the hallway, and he pointed out different offices. There were two offices for editors, a whole area for the marketing team, and even a big space to brainstorm ideas with couches and bean bags.
“Ah… I’m a big fan of the bean bag. I had a huge hot pink bean bag in my room in high school, and I would sleep on it most nights,” I said.
He paused and looked at me. “Interesting. You drive ahigh-powered scooterand sleep on a bean bag.”
He was such a pompous ass sometimes. But damn, he was good-looking. He wore a black trench coat, a gray scarf, and he looked like he’d just stepped off a photo shoot for a fashion magazine. I had a feeling there was a more casual guy beneath this façade somewhere, and if anyone could dig him out, it would be me.
“What can I say? I’m a girl of many talents—” My words were cut off when we turned the corner, and I came to a screeching halt.
“What’s wrong?” He shoved his hands into his coat pockets as he watched me.
“There is a ping-pong table here? I told you that I excel at unusual sports.”
“Let me guess. You’re the county champion of ping-pong?” He was trying to be sarcastic, but there was humor in his tone.
“I guess you’ll just have to see for yourself. Do you play?”
