Page 52 of Don't Quit the Day Job

"Lila, get your mind out of the gutter. Would I do such a thing?"

"I don't know." She shrugs. "Maybe this was your way of telling me that..." She looks down at her desk. Her face is deep red now.

"This is my way of telling you what, Lila?"

"I don't know. Forget it. You're right. I do watch too many romance movies and I'm definitely reading too many steamy romance books."

"You like the smut, huh?"

"I mean, the men in those books are always way better than the men I meet in real life."

"Well, that's a shame," I say, though a part of me is happy at her comment, because if she had met a man that she considered to be as good as a fictional character, then it would make me slightly disappointed. "So are you going to open it or are we just going to stand here awkwardly with you accusing me of buying you sexy underwear or sex toys?"

"I never accused you of buying me a sex toy."

"I have a feeling that was going to be your next question."

She giggles slightly. "Maybe." She puts her hand into the bag and pulls out the present I got her. There's a confused expression on her face as she stares down at the magnifying glass. "What's this?"

"You've never seen a magnifying glass before? You must get out more, Lila."

"No, I mean, I know it's a magnifying glass, but why did you get me one?"

"Because you're a regular Sherlock Holmes now," I say, laughing. "Or should I say Sherlocka Holmes?"

"You can call me Enola Holmes." She grins. "Thank you." She holds it up gingerly and studies the circular glass before lowering it to her desk and looking at a paperclip through it. "This is really cool. Thank you so much. You really didn't have to get me this."

"I thought it was a nice welcome gift to welcome you to the team. I mean, I know it's not a million dollars or a contract asking you to be my naughty little secretary, but I thought?—”

"No, this is great," she cuts me off. "This is really, really cool. You're really nice." She jumps up and gives me a quick hug, her arms wrapped around my neck. I hug her back, and for a couple of seconds we just stand there holding each other close. I can smell her shampoo as she pulls away from me. "Sorry, maybe that wasn't appropriate."

"It's fine," I say. "I'm your boss, sure, but you can hug me anytime you want.”

"Well, thank you, I think?" She bites down on her lip. "You're really not as bad as I thought."

"I'm glad to hear that. Though maybe I should be. I don't want to lose my touch."

"Your touch?" she asks curiously.

"You know, as the big bad wolf of the law firm?"

"Oh," she giggles again, the girlish sound delighting my ears. "So is there any other work you need me to do this afternoon or…?"

"I think that you continue your research on Mrs. Whittington and I'd like a full update tomorrow morning as I will be contacting her then."

"Oh. Really?"

"Yes. I've put in an appointment with her personal assistant and we're talking sometime next week, but I’d like the full intel before then.”

"Oh, wow. Without her attorney?"

"I assume her attorney will likely be on the call as well." I shrug. "I have some other work to finish up right now, but you feel free to go to your meeting and also feel free to leave at whatever time you need to today. It's going to be a long day tomorrow, I think."

"Oh, really? Why is that?"

"Because we'll be going to New Jersey."

"New Jersey?" she asks in surprise. "Why are we going to New Jersey?"

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