“You might want to back off a little, Kim,” he suggested.
She stepped back, though her brows drew together.
“Shall we?” he asked Steve.
The other man must have realized he couldn’t bow out. He might even suppose he could take Jake. He snapped to a fighting position. For a few seconds, they circled each other. Steve feinted to the left. Jake pretended to follow the movement. Finally he got bored, whirled, and kicked Steve high in the chest. He went down with a thud. Okay, maybe not a classic lotus sweep, but it did the job.
Steve scrambled up quickly, and Jake knocked him down again.
He lay on the floor, staring up. “I think I got the message,” he wheezed.
“Good.”
“What message?” Kim asked. Her face was still drawn into a frown as she glanced from Jake to Steve.
Jake shrugged and turned and walked away. At the door, he picked up his jacket and slipped on his shoes.
He was losing it. Kim had driven him insane.
Though in all fairness, Steve knew the score. Jake made it clear to all the operatives that Kim was off-limits—it was part of his welcome speech. If Steve chose to ignore the warning, then it was his own fault when he had to face the consequences.
“I want to see you in my office,” he said to Kim. “As soon as you’ve changed.”
And he stalked out.
…
Kim stared at the swinging door and then back to Steve, who wouldn’t quite meet her eyes.
“What was that about?” she said.
“You don’t know?”
She scowled. “Would I be asking if I did?”
He ran a hand through his short hair and grinned. “You know, I almost feel sorry for the guy.” Then he rubbed his chest where Jake had kicked him. “Almost, but not quite.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Kim asked. She was seriously pissed off—things had been going well with Steve until Jake showed his face. At first, she couldn’t believe how pleased she’d been to see him, but then he had to go and act like an asshole and ruin things. Now Steve wouldn’t come anywhere near her. Like the rest of the guys in the company.
“You’d better ask the boss,” Steve replied.
“I have every intention of asking the boss, but right now I’m asking you. Come on, Steve.”
“Let’s just say, I don’t think the boss likes you getting too familiar with us—it’s sort of part of the job description.”
“But why?”
“That’s something else you’ll have to ask him. I didn’t take it seriously, but the guys warned me to keep my hands off. Dave reckons the boss fingerprints you at the end of each day.”
She wasn’t sure she liked the way the conversation was turning. “I—”
“No more,” Steve interrupted. “I’ve said enough. More than enough. I want to keep my job.” He crossed the room but paused at the door and grinned. “Good luck.”
Was she going to need it?
Kim considered showering and changing first, but she felt too worked up; she wanted answers, and she wanted them now. Everything seemed to be falling apart. And now it looked like Steve was well and truly out of the running as potential itch-scratcher—thanks to Jake.
Why the hell would he warn the guys off her? She reckoned it was his protective streak. At least she hoped it was, because another, even less welcome, option nagged at her mind. She had a flashback to that almost-kiss, the one she’d convinced herself had never nearly happened, and she shook her head to dispel the image. No, it was definitely a protection thing, and it was time he learned that she could stand up for herself.
With that in mind, she squared her shoulders, marched through the swinging double doors, and jammed her finger on the elevator button.
Margie was leaving as Kim arrived.
“He’s expecting you,” she said, giving Kim’s outfit a small smile. “Sure you don’t want to change first?”
Her workout clothes were quite revealing—she’d bought them for that reason—but she doubted Jake would notice. His door was slightly ajar. She pushed it open and stepped inside.
Jake stood by the window with his back to her, hands shoved in his pockets. He didn’t turn as she entered, but she could sense waves of tension radiating from him.
She crossed the room silently and came to stand beside him. Finally, he swung around to face her, and a slight smile lifted the corners of his mouth. Glancing down, she realized her feet were bare, and for a second she wished she’d taken the time to change.
“What was that all about?” she asked.
“That?”
“With Steve?”
“Shouldn’t that be my question? I don’t expect to trip over giggling, groping employees every few minutes.”
“I was not giggling.”
“So you admit you were groping?”
“Maybe.” She needed someone to talk to, someone to advise her, and after all, Jake was her role model in all things of a sex-related nature. He was the obvious person. She took a deep breath. “Can I talk to you about something?”