AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Dane pinchedthe bridge of his nose as the words sitting in front of him started to blur into one big spiral of nonsense. He was tired. He stayed way too late last night. This latest project had to go smoothly because the last one didn’t go as well as he had hoped. He could only blame himself. He refused to blame anyone else. These projects were his responsibility—at least, in his eyes. When he put his fingers to work to create something, he expected it to come out with perfection. If it didn’t, it must’ve meant he did something wrong.
He needed caffeine. Lots and lots of caffeine. He opened his mouth to yell for Ms. Stileano, except he found himself closing it. Almost like a fish gulping for air. She didn’t like it when he yelled for her. Something she told him several times this morning.
She had even produced a mason jar and set it on the edge of his desk. In her straightforward, honest way, she smiled and said, “It helps remind me to keep my potty mouth in check.”
Which he doubted, considering she had already added five quarters to the jar. It made him chuckle—not in her presence, of course—how adorable she was when she swore, then looked aggravated at herself for swearing in the first place. Her forehead crinkling, her lips puckered in annoyance. Then a silly smile would twist her lips as a quarter clinked to the bottom of the jar.
He almost smiled, thinking back to those times.
What? Why would that make him smile? He didn’t appreciate her wasting his time by derailing his train of thought. Which she often did. The smile punctured his expression anyway. He couldn’t help it. No one else ever stood up to him, put him in his place with simple words and a sweet smile. She may say things she shouldn’t, but she always said it with the sweetest smile.
She made him realize how much of a jerk he could be at times. He didn’t mean to act that way. He just had so much to do. Work. Work. Work. That’s all he ever did. Even his mother commented on how much he worked. Although, he’d never tell his mother he liked to work so much because it was the best excuse to stay away from them. Not her. But his father and brother. He’d never admit that to her. He loved his family. He did. But he could only handle them in small doses. Especially his brother. He couldn’t be happier his brother worked several floors above him. He wouldn’t be able to handle seeing him every day.
He stood up, taking his time. What the hell was he doing? He must be more tired than he realized. Or he wanted to see her sweet smile. It was so wrong of him to even think such things. It didn’t stop him from grabbing his jacket, opening the door, and stopping in front of her desk.
“Ms. Stileano, I need a cup of coffee. And—”
“You forgot ‘please.’” She looked up from the computer with a straitlaced face, not amused by his behavior. Where was the smile he enjoyed every time she talked back to him?
He almost smiled despite himself but held his face neutral. He wouldn’t let her see what her attitude did to him. He liked her honesty way too much for his liking. If she ever found out he liked her—more than as a simple secretary—she would quit, and he couldn’t have that.
Oh, shit.
He liked her.
Not only as a secretary. That wasn’t good. Maybe he should start looking for a new secretary.
But he’d miss her. Miss her bossing him around and sending sweet smiles his way when he did something she didn’t approve of.
“Tsk, tsk, Ms. Stileano. What happened to not interrupting each other? You didn’t let me finish.”
She cleared her throat, a small blush appearing on her cheeks. “You’re right. Forgive me. Please finish speaking.”
He liked the way her cheeks bloomed a rosy color. It made it that much more enticing to brush a hand across her face to see if her skin felt as soft as it looked. He jammed his hands into his pockets before the impulse took over.
Then he copied her by clearing his throat. Now he felt awkward with what he wanted to ask her. Nothing scared him, though. He came out here for a reason, and he’d ask her, regardless of how much tension floated between them at the moment.
Oh, the tension. Not the angry, you-upset-me kind of tension.
Oh, no. That would be too simple.
More like the I-want-to-jump-your-bones kind of tension. Or maybe he was the only one feeling that sort of awkward tension.
Right. He had to be the only one feeling that kind of tension because her facial expression didn’t say she was wanting to jump his bones right now. And if she did, he wouldn’t stop her.
And he was derailing from his original goal. He needed to focus.
“I need a cup of coffee. I was going to ask if you wanted one as well. I need some fresh air. I was going to go across the street to the coffee shop. Would you like to join me?”
He couldn’t believe he said that. He meant to ask her if she wanted something. Not if she wanted to join him. He could tell she was also surprised. Her mouth hanging open couldn’t be a good sign. Why did he ask her to come with again?
She stood up, a mask of indifference on her face. “I guess I could use a small break.” She reached down to the bottom drawer of her desk and grabbed her purse.
“Well, then, after you.” He put his hand out in front of him for her to take the lead.
She nodded, doing as he suggested. Which after he thought about it as he followed her, it was a horrible idea. He enjoyed looking at her ass. Like, really enjoyed it. He always turned away from his work to watch her walk out of his office. Here he was, following behind her with the perfect view of the very thing he loved to look at. And within reaching distance. He shoved his hands in his pocket, squeezing them into tight fists to stop himself from doing the one thing that could ruin everything. He couldn’t lose her as his secretary. She was perfect for him.
Shit.
