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I try to think of something to say. “I drink a lot of coffee.”
Her eyes narrow. “I’m not going to get coffee.”
“I didn’t think you were!” I exclaim. She considers me. I sigh.
Working closer with her has proven difficult. But, at the very least, it's distracting. Cheryl and I are like oil and water, andeverything we say seems to piss the other one off. It’s a great distraction from Laura.
Someone knocks on the door. I don’t look up, too engrossed in the document I’m going over, until I hear her voice.
“You asked for me?” Laura’s voice is clear—and close.
My head snaps up.
“No,” I say quickly. “I did not.”
Jesus, she looks pretty. Her hair is in a long braid today, falling thick and wide over her left shoulder. A few strands have escaped from around her face, framing her with the soft red waves. Her outfit is a flattering color for once, deep green and creamy white. It’s still a size too big and better for a woman thrice her age, but she looks pretty.
She glances at me, lips pressed in a professional smile, and I hate myself for wishing my mouth was on hers.
“No,” Cheryl says, clearly annoyed. “I did.”
“Right,” I breathe out. “Sorry.”
I look back at my report. What is this about? What am I doing? What am Idoing?
The words swim. Faintly, I hear Cheryl and Laura chat. Laura is like a far away, beaming illumination, and I am a moth, ready to fly into the sun for her warmth. I can’t focus on the words in front of me. I can’t even really focus on the words she’s saying. She smells of vanilla. It’s her body butter. I can smell it from across the room, faint and familiar, and my sorry, good-for-nothing cock stirs in my pants.
I stand up suddenly. Cheryl and Laura look at me with twin expressions of surprise.
“A meeting,” I say, my voice a bit hoarse. Laura bites her lip—Cheryl frowns. Fuck, I think. Pull yourself together. “Cheryl, I’ll check in with you this afternoon?”
She nods, waving me away. It’s dismissive and rude, but I also appreciate it, so I just flee.
I can hear Laura’s voice in my ears the entire walk back to my office.
It’s hard to focus on work—to focus on anything, really—because all I can think about is Laura. Laura’s hair and Laura’s eyes and Laura’s smile and Laura’s opinions and Laura’s laughter?—
I have worked too long and too hard at this company to not mess up. But moving on autopilot can cause mistakes and mistakes can cost millions of dollars and even mess up people’s lives, if the wrong thing was pushed through to court. I get her out of my brain by sheer willpower—and the promise to myself that I can talk to her later.
The day passes in a blur. It’s not until I hear Piper shuffling around that I look up and realize most of the day has passed.Good,I think, even as my stomach rumbles for lunch,I did it.
Lewis knocks on the office door, and Piper glances over at me. I nod, gesturing for him to come over. He darts in and Piper smiles at him.
They make a bit of chit-chat while I finish reading the report I’m going over. My head is already starting to ache, and I’m wishing I hadn’t sent Laura away because one of her signature kisses would probably take away at leastsomeof this headache.
The thought gives me pause.
Jesus, I need to get a handle on myself. That isnotthe energy I am meant to be having as we enter the second month of our fake relationship.
Glancing up, I see Lewis leaning against Piper’s desk, and the two are gossipping like old hens. I roll my eyes, but my heart warms affectionately. Both of these people make my firm a better place.
I think of what my father would think—that I put so much stock in two employees so low on the rung—and it makes my tie feel too tight.
“Did you need me or just Piper?” I ask, searching the manila folder for the lease mentioned in this report. I glance up and frown. “That sounded harsher than I intended.”
“You always do,” Piper says, and my father’s voice says,insubordinate.
“Sorry,” I mumble.
