Page 2 of Double Take

My face falls. Oh, no. He’s going to fire me. My hand shakes as I grab a pen. I burnt the coffee this morning, and it took me twenty minutes to find a file he needed.

Not to mention, it took me four rings to answer the phone. You’re such a loser. It’s a shock you managed to find a job in the first place.

He was already on another call in the five seconds it took me to collect my things and open the door. The second I’m in the room, I catch a whiff of his cologne and inhale deeper, drawing it into my lungs and basking in it. He smells like a mixture of spice, wood, and musk. It’s a headier scent than my ex used. He nods toward the guest seat across from him. The chair isn’t as nice as his, but it’s leather with thick padding.

As I settle into my seat, he jots down notes and taps the end of his pen on the notepad. Dickerson Construction’s main headquarters is a one-floor building with nine rooms–a kitchen, two bathrooms, four office spaces, a lobby, and a conference room. From what I’ve seen, they conduct most of their business at the construction sites.

It might be small, but that’s where the simplistic concepts end. The building itself is mostly glass with open vaulted ceilings and numerous single-lighted fixtures hanging down from silver poles. The office furniture is oversized, custom-built pieces. The stuff that’s made from oak or some other type of solid timber and not pressed together shredded wood particles.

The walls are painted cream with watercolor paintings dressing the place up. Along one wall of Axel’s office is a matching brown leather sofa and two recliners positioned in an intimate meeting space with a bar beside it. If all the other buildings they construct are as quality as these, it’s no wonder they’ve made a lot of money.

I wipe my palms on my dress pants. If he’s going to fire me, he needs to get to it. I’ve got to update my resume–again–and start applying for open positions. Where? Here? Or somewhere else? My head pounds as the stress of moving again gives me a headache.

After he hangs up, he lays his forearms on the table and folds his hands together. His knuckles are scarred and covered in black ink. “How’re you settling in?”

“Um….” I shrug as his eyes bore into mine, making my armpits sweat. The man is enormous. His chest and biceps strain against the white button-down dress shirt, and that’s nothing compared to the way his pants hug his thighs. He’s walking power and sin.

I shudder and swallow over the dryness in my mouth as my shoulders sink inward on instinct. I’ve never been around anyone like him or his identical twin, Oliver. “I’m learning. I’m sorry about the coffee pot and the missing file.”

“Don’t worry about that.” He waves his hand dismissively and smiles, emphasizing his strong cheekbones and dimples. He’s the kind of guy who doesn’t even try to be good-looking. It oozes out of him.

If Mario had seen me talking to someone like Axel, he’d have dragged me home by the hair while yelling and hurling insults at me the entire way. I’d have never heard the end of it. I learned quickly not to even look at men, let alone make the mistake of speaking to one.

Don’t think about him. He’s not here.

“This is still new for you. It’s perfectly normal to have a learning curve with new things.”

“Thank you.” My knee bounces up and down as I nervously tap my heel on the tile floor. I straighten my back and stop all movements. “I appreciate your willingness to accept my blunders graciously.”

His eyes narrow as he studies me, causing my heart to thunder in my ears. “Rylee, don’t worry, you’re doing fine. You’re smart and pick things up quickly. Our last assistant took weeks to learn the payroll system, and payroll went out to the dime this week. I’m impressed.”

“I….” Heat covers my cheeks. “T–thank you.” I clear my throat and attempt to regain my composure. “I enjoy the job and learning new things.”

He leans back into his chair, causing it to creak under his weight. “So, tell me, how does Dickerson Construction compare to your last job?”

I lick my lips and clasp my hands together. “There are similarities, but lots of differences. You’re more modern in both design and equipment than Mr. Rosenbaum. He was content to keep things status quo.”

He tilts his head and studies me with an interest that can’t be genuine. I’m the most dull person in the world. “In what way?”

“There weren’t any fancy windows or light fixtures in the building. It was metal with cement floors, and only a few things were computerized in his office. He had everything from his first project to his last stuffed in filing cabinets. He even completed spreadsheets in pencil. It was a lot of work.”

The thought of my old boss, Charles Rosenbaum, fills me with momentary nostalgia. He was a big burley teddy bear with a salt and pepper beard, more salt than pepper, and ruddy cheeks. I blink back at the sting of unwanted tears.

How can I miss my unwanted and unloved life back in California? That makes no sense. The only explanation is that Charles was kind to me. He was the only person who cared if I was having a good day or not, and if it wasn’t for him, I’d still be under Mario’s thumb.

“I’m sorry.” Guilt eats at my gut. Charles gave me a job when no one else would, and Mario only let me work with him because he was in his late sixties and overweight. “I was speaking out of turn. I shouldn’t have said anything negative about my previous employer. That was very unprofessional of me.”

“Rylee.” He shakes his head as if he’s disappointed in me. That makes two of us. Why do I always do stupid things? “It’s fine. I’m not quizzing you to get information about your ex-boss’s business to steal his clients, and not for one second do I think you’re the type to badmouth your boss to anyone. Not to mention, you didn’t say anything that would be deemed insulting.” He shoves his chair backward. “I was making polite conversation and trying to get to know you better. That’s it.”

“Oh….” Oh…. The room spins as he stands to his full height. Why does he want to get to know me better? Is he interested in me? That’s crazy. He’s–all that–and I’m–not.

“You’re my employee. I should know a few things about you.” He waves to someone behind me. Dumbass. That’s what you get for thinking he meant he wanted to get to know you. You’re a fool. No man is going to want someone as boring and plain as you.

“Axel.” Oliver’s deep voice sends a shiver along my spine. I glance over my shoulder at Oliver, Axel’s twin brother and co-owner. They have the same eyes and cheekbones, but when Oliver smiles, there are no dimples. Not that it mars the beauty of the man.

“Oliver.”

“Rylee.” Oliver winks, and my heart skips a beat as I drink him in like a Lemon Drop Martini. Their matching physical attributes are where their similarities end. Axel is serious, polished, and buttoned up. And Oliver? Oliver is a brute force of laidback charm.

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