“Consider me impressed.” Brogan was wearing a charcoal-colored suit today, with an immaculately assembled black tie. His chin and cheeks were covered in stubble, and his lips appeared to be a couple shades darker than the past couple times I’d run into him. As if he’d read my mind, his tongue slid over his bottom lip, and I watched, completely transfixed.
My own mouth dried up faster than my bank account at a Sephora sale. Focus, Taylor. You do not want him. You like the idea of him. Yes, the idea of a powerful man with amazingly broad shoulders pushing you up against the wall of this elevator and pounding you harder than your head after six glasses of wine.
Okay, brain, so not helpful.
“I think you have a little something in your hair.” He reached to the back of my head and extracted a leaf.
The little glimmer of hope that I’d make it out of the elevator without humiliating myself died a slow and torturous death. I stared at the leaf in his hand and contemplated the possibility that somewhere in the world there was a contest for Most Awkward Girl Ever. I’d hands down win the shit out of that. My acceptance speech would consist of a faceplant on my way to the stage, and end with the contest judge announcing they’d called the wrong name just after I’d finished thanking my mother.
“Thanks. Must have fallen on me on my way to work.”
“Of course.” He smiled.
There was absolutely no way he could know I was at the park. And I’d play ignorant about that morning until the day I died.
He was merciful enough to steer the conversation in a different direction. “Any big plans for the weekend?” he asked.
“Hanging out with my roommate. We’re still getting situated in our apartment.” Not to mention I was still living out of boxes. I couldn’t help but think this was temporary. Something deep down was preventing me from unpacking, because I knew the second I cozied up to the idea that this was permanent, something would happen with my mom and I’d have to move back at a moment’s notice. “You?”
“I’ll be here.” He sighed and gave a conspiratorial grin. “Sometimes I feel like I’m here more than my own apartment.”
“You are.”
He quirked a brow.
Err…that didn’t sound creepy whatsoever.
Lainey Taylor, your friendly neighborhood stalker.
“Not that I track your every move. That would be slightly disturbing.”
He turned to me, a look of concern painted across his face for a quick second. It quickly faded as he resumed his typical easy-going smile. Only a little tenser. “Just slightly?” he asked.
Crap. He thought I was serious. I really wasn’t racking up any brownie points with the guy who signed my paychecks.
“Okay, very. And I was kidding. I’m in charge of your schedule, so it’s only right I know where you are during business hours.”
His look said it all: Riiiiight. “Tell me again how you passed the background check?” Even though I assumed he was most likely joking, there held a hint of unease in his voice.
“Would you believe I bribed HR with cookies?”
Must. Stop. Talking.
Joking around with him was the last thing I needed to be doing. He was my boss. And yet, my smart mouth refused to shut for one damn second. It was like the elevator ventilation system was laced with some sort of nerve gas that lifted inhibitions.
I stood there, unsure of what to do, or if I’d gone past the point of no return, and my comedy routine had landed me with a pink slip.
After a moment of painfully awkward silence, his lips cracked into a smile, and he chuckled. “Lainey Taylor, you are quite an interesting addition to my staff.”
“Interesting” was not exactly a ringing endorsement, but given the current situation, I wouldn’t complain about his choice in adjectives. Color me impressed, because nothing seemed to faze this guy. Calling him the devil? No big deal, rolled off his shoulders. Having a conversation about stalking in the elevator? Brushed it off like a pro. Why would I have assumed any different? I was sure if I’d told him I wanted to dress him up as Thor and lick Nutella off his bare chest (not a half-bad idea…), he’d nod and smile and pretend like I’d just asked him about the weather. This guy was the poster boy for even-keeled.
I nodded and decided it’d be smart not to speak anymore.
“It’s comforting to know I have such a dedicated employee who knows where I am,” he said, a hint of amusement in his voice.
Heat licked my cheeks, and I held back a groan. This was the part where the oversize anvil fell on my head, right? If only I could just pluck the words out of the air and stuff them back into my mouth and pretend that I did not schedule-stalk my boss, that’d be much appreciated.
The elevator stopped at our floor, and we both exited. He kept walking toward his office as I plopped my purse down on my chair.
Before closing his door, he turned and said, “Have a nice day, Lainey. And if you need me, you know where I’ll be.” He winked.