I know he's asking because it's expected. He's a shrewd and level headed businessman but he does have a heart that most people never get a clear glimpse of. I'm hoping that if I ignore the question he'll move onto another topic of discussion.
"Why did you send Jordan's husband with her?" He traces his index finger over the edge of my laptop. "You know I wouldn't have approved that."
"I know that you trust me to make decisions that benefit the company," I counter. "I saw it as a good investment."
"A good investment?" he asks gruffly. "You're going to need to explain that one to me, Rowan."
I slam my laptop shut before I look up into his face. "Did you cut your hair? It's shorter than normal."
He runs his hand over his hair. "Lilly wanted to see it short. Do you like it?"
"I love it." I nod slightly. "You trimmed your beard too?"
"We had a spa day," he whispers quietly as he leans one hand against my desk. "I swear to God that woman can get me to do anything for her."
"It was a fun day?" I'm not sure why I even ask. The beaming grin on his face is giving everything away.
"One of the best," he answers quickly. "An entire day with the woman I love is a gift to me. I need to do that more. It regenerates me."
"That's why I did it."
"Did what?"
"That's why I sent Jordan and her husband to Dallas together." I push my hands against the side of my desk before I rise to my feet. "She needed to feel that too. She's been dragging her heels around here. Giving her the chance to spend a few days alone with her husband will light a fire underneath her again."
He crosses his arms over his chest as a slight grin tugs at the corner of his mouth. "Well played, Rowan. You're learning."
"She deserves it, Clive." I tip my chin towards him. "She's done a lot of good work this year. I saw it as a bonus. We scratch her back, she'll scratch our back."
"You've convinced me." He throws his hands up in mock defeat. "I should have made you the head of Human Resources."
"No." I round my desk. "I like the job I have."
"What's been going on with you?" He motions towards the open door of my office. "If you need someone to talk to, I've got a few minutes."
He means well even if the offer feels misplaced. "I've got nothing going on. I've just been working and hanging out with Ivy."
"I saw her the other day." He rubs his hand over his brow. "She said she was going to set you up with a business associate of Jax."
"A business associate of her husband?" I repeat back hoping it will jog my memory.
"A chef," he offers. "Tyler something. Ivy said you were anxious to meet him."
Ivy would say that. It has nothing to do with my being anxious to meet him and everything to do with her wanting to see if her sixth sense about matching romantic partners is on par. I'd actually completely forgotten about the potential blind date. "He sounds nice."
"We can do a double date thing if you want. Lilly would love it."
It's a suggestion meant to give me the reassurance I need to jump back into the dating world. Clive knows that I've hidden myself away in my office and in my apartment since my last relationship ended. I'm not the type of woman who seeks out a boyfriend just to have a warm body to cling to at night.
"I'll figure it out. I've never dated a chef before and he is gorgeous." I glance down at my smartphone, which is sitting, atop my desk. "I'll get his number from Ivy and I'll see when he's free to have dinner with me."
"You're having dinner with who?" Caleb's deep voice bounces off of the walls of my office. "If you want someone to have dinner with, I'm available."
***
Back in high school if one guy heard me talking about hanging out with another guy, he may have decided that would be the perfect time to swoop in and stake his claim. It's happened to me before. It's never happened with Caleb Foster though. He's actually been excited in the past when I've told him about a new guy I've met. He even arranged for an expensive bottle of champagne to be delivered to my apartment when I had a date with a man last year that I was crazy about. He's never tried to interject himself into my dating life though until this very minute.
"Caleb," Clive turns to face him. "What are you doing here?"
"Clive." Caleb darts his hand into the air. "It's been a long time."
My boss pulls Caleb's hand into a firm shake. "How are things at Foster?"
"They'd be better if Rowan came to work for us," he jokes. "I've been trying to make that happen for years. What's your secret to keeping her here?"
I cough loudly hoping it will be enough of a deterrent to keep Clive from saying anything that will set Caleb off.
"I'll leave you two alone." Clive looks directly at me. "We have a meeting in twenty minutes, Rowan. I need you there. Don't be late."