Total pages in book: 145
Estimated words: 145231 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 726(@200wpm)___ 581(@250wpm)___ 484(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 145231 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 726(@200wpm)___ 581(@250wpm)___ 484(@300wpm)
“Lemmykins!” She throws her arms around me in an exaggerated hug and plants a perfumed kiss on my cheek, almost knocking me off my chair. “So this is your work lair. Niiice.”
“Hey, Kay,” I manage.
“Huh. It’s kinda small, though, isn’t it?” She wrinkles her nose as she looks around, probably wondering how normal people consider an office a luxury at all, before she forgets all about it. “Anyway, is he here right now?”
He?
It takes me a second to realize who. I just blink at her innocently.
“Patton Rory. Duh. I know you couldn’t tell me much last night with the big storm and all. God, my Thai order was so late in that storm.” She makes a disgusted face and looks around. Almost like she’s just expecting to find him hanging out here even though I’m a humble operations manager and he’s the flipping owner with a few dozen other properties to look after.
I try not to think about all the times he has been in my office, though. Or the fact that he saved my butt last night, only to ruin my life with that kiss like delicious poison.
Stop thinking about it, Salem.
“He’s not here,” I say lamely. “He’s a busy man, you know. He’s probably meeting clients or…” God, I don’t even know. “Actually, I don’t really know his schedule today.”
“But you’re his manager.” The way she beams at me says everything—she expects him to burst in at any second and then drop down on one knee and propose to her at first sight. “You guys talk, right? About like business stuff?”
“Yeah. But that doesn’t mean he’ll just pop in here any second. Some days, I don’t see him.”
Especially not after last night. The way he went slinking off like a guilty cat after knocking over a flower vase.
He’ll be avoiding me for sure.
Just as much as I’m avoiding him.
“You don’t know that, Lemmy.” Kayla sits in the other seat, the one Patton sat in that one time when we were actually being friendly—though not that friendly. “Besides, I’ve got time to kill. Let’s just catch up and see what happens.”
“You’re just going to wait here?” I bite my tongue.
“Yeah?”
“But—”
“Um, how else do you expect me to meet him?”
I don’t know. Another way. Any way that doesn’t involve shredding what’s left of my dignity.
Why can’t she try one of the social events I’m sure they both attend? The ones I wouldn’t be invited to in a thousand years.
Or, you know, at least not by waiting in my office like a tarantula in its little cave, biding her time until he arrives so she can pounce.
I have work, too, not that I’d expect Kayla to understand the concept.
“You could go shopping while you wait?” I suggest, knowing it’s probably hopeless.
“Don’t you want company? It must be so boring here.” She pulls her phone out and flicks through her notifications. “Do you know I posted three times on Instagram after tagging this place to congratulate my bestie? He didn’t like any of them.”
Ouch. If she’s resorted to shout-outs for a complete nobody like me, she must be really desperate.
“He probably doesn’t check his socials much.”
“Yeah, but he follows me,” she whines.
“So? That doesn’t mean he’s glued to Instagram.” I try not to sound jealous.
She blinks at me like the idea of not spending half your life on social media is a foreign concept, right before she looks at her screen to deal with another twenty notifications.
Fine.
I find my headphones so I can drown her out. I’ll just ignore her and work. It’s not like she’s taking up my space with her presence—though her perfume and the click of her nails as she sends another message is a little off-putting.
The minutes run by like molasses.
It’s like time itself wants to amplify how awkward this situation feels. I don’t get much done with her hovering around.
The torture lasts almost an hour.
By then, my eyes are glazed as I reread the same sentence for the fifth time.
Kayla jumps to her feet. She flicks her hair back and walks to the doorway.
I’m instantly filled with dread.
Patton’s terse expression dissolves into annoyance as he sees her standing in front of him. If she had a tail, it would be wagging like crazy.
Worse, he looks just as illegally good as he did yesterday, though he’s swapped the sweater for his usual steel-grey jacket and blue tie.
“Oh my God, hi! I’ve been waiting to meet you,” Kayla says, holding out her hand. “I’m Kayla—Winston Persephone’s daughter?” She pauses, but when his confusion doesn’t lift, she adds, “You know, from the fragrance line?”
“That’s right.” He forces a smile. “Nice to meet you, Kayla. What brings you by?”
She ignores the question.
I watch her lean in, flicking her gaze to his face, then down to his chest as she inhales sharply.
“I can smell our cologne right now. Great choice for a handsome businessman. Isn’t it the best?” she croons, not moving away.