Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 67144 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 336(@200wpm)___ 269(@250wpm)___ 224(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 67144 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 336(@200wpm)___ 269(@250wpm)___ 224(@300wpm)
Thankfully, Troy does me a favor and changes it for me.
“So who are you having drinks with on Friday?” he asks, nibbling his bottom lip.
“I told you, it’s none of your business.”
“Is it Theo?”
“No.” I laugh. “You really think I’d have drinks with Theo?”
He shrugs.
“Although it’s none of your business,” I repeat, “I’m going out with my friend Morgan. We haven’t hung out in a while, so we’re meeting up after work on Friday.”
“The same Morgan who baked you the unicorn birthday cake?”
My lips part into a smile. “That’s her. Good memory.”
He shrugs again.
“She’s been working out of town,” I say. “And I’ve been dealing with my breakup from Freddy …”
I know I’ve made a mistake as soon as I say Freddy’s name.
Troy leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “What does that mean?”
“What does what mean?” I ask, knowing full well what he means.
“Dealing with your breakup?”
I groan. “It doesn’t mean anything, Troy. It was a poor choice of words.”
“You chose them.”
“And now I un-choose them.”
He rolls his head around his neck. “Cut the shit, Doll.”
“You’re my co-worker. I don’t owe you an explanation.”
He narrows his eyes. “No, you don’t. But you’re going to tell me anyway.”
I fall back into my chair and cross my arms over my chest. Troy pins me to the seat with nothing but his gaze. The intensity makes me squirm.
The last thing I want to do is discuss Freddy—with anyone. But the last person in the world I want to talk about it with is Troy.
“We broke up,” I say flatly. “Everything’s fine. It’s all good. Freddy’s just having a hard time accepting reality, and it’s been a bit of a process.”
“Define that.”
“I’d rather not.”
His jaw flexes. “Is he fucking with you?”
“No,” I say, sitting tall in a futile attempt at appearing in control. “I told you everything is fine. Now, let’s stop talking about it. You were just on my ass for having a personal conversation at work, and now here you are prodding me into having a personal conversation with you.”
“It’s different.”
“Hardly.” I make a face at him. “Have you uploaded your paperwork from last week into the system? I need to get all your invoices coded and to accounting by noon.”
He opens his mouth—I think to argue with me. To avoid that, I cut him off before he can say a word.
“I’ve scheduled your truck for maintenance tomorrow since you’re in town,” I say. “Take it to the shop in the morning. They’ll have a loaner ready for you. And I’m going to schedule your physical for Wednesday. I was trying to figure out how to get you in to see Dr. Manning, but since you’ll be here all week, I’ll get him to squeeze you in. Cool?”
“I thought my physical was good through the end of the year?”
“You thought wrong. It expires in three weeks.”
He smiles. It’s a baby smile, but a smile nonetheless. “Let me know, and I’ll be there.”
“Good boy.”
He groans, making me laugh.
“I have a lot of stuff to do today, so scram,” I say, motioning toward the door. “Please upload your paperwork so I can process it this morning before Norm from accounting comes for me.”
He pauses before gripping the armrests and getting to his feet.
His body unfolds from the chair inch by inch. Each movement sends a drift of his cologne my way. I look up at his six-foot-three-inch frame, broad shoulders, and barrel chest as he peers down at me. It’s hard not to shiver.
“Thanks,” he says with a small nod.
“For what?”
He shrugs, letting his gaze linger on me before turning to the door. “Last week’s paperwork will be in the system within the hour.”
“Thank you.”
He pulls open the door and looks over his shoulder. “One more thing.”
“What’s that?”
“Tell Freddy to accept reality, or I’ll help him.”
My jaw drops as Troy tucks his chin to his chest and slips out of my office. He pulls the door shut behind him.
I inhale a long, deep, steadying breath and blow it out.
If Troy were anyone else, and I met him anywhere else, I would give in to this attraction in a heartbeat. I’d be putty in that man’s sexy, calloused hands. But as luck will have it, instead of whispering how much he wants to fuck me, he just fucks with me.
Why does he have to be so complicated?
I grin.
Why does he have to be so damn gorgeous?
My grin slides into a pout.
And why do I have to be so damn attracted to the one man who’s absolutely off-limits?
I sigh and get back to work.
Chapter Three
Dahlia
“Home, sweet home,” I say, pressing the fob until my car horn beeps three times behind me.
A soft breeze blows gently across the driveway, bringing the sweet scent of flower blossoms with it. Blazing oranges, vivid reds, and majestic purples paint the early evening sky. Children laugh in the distance.