Page 26 of Pining for You

“Is that why you suggested I hire her?”

“I didn’t suggest you hire her.” I bit back the impulse to snap at him, instead working hard to keep my voice level. “You approached her, remember?”

“How come you didn’t think to mention you were dating her that first day?”

“I didn’t think it would be a problem. As far as I know there’s no company policy about dating a coworker. Especially given you and Molly work together.”

Not that there were any women on any of the teams, nor had there ever been. While I wondered if Finn and Chip’s friendship was actually something more, it wasn't any of my business unless they chose to make it my business. Not that I was about to mention it to John—he wasn’t homophobic, but if he decided to put a “no dating co-workers” policy in place, one of them or both might end up quitting and working for our competition. They were a damned good team that I’d hate to lose.

“Molly works in the office, not out on a site.”

“How’d you figure it out?” Had Chloe said something to him? Had one of the guys seen us somewhere and ratted us out? Had Molly been talking to Marilyn?

“You haven’t taken your eyes off her since she got out of that truck. Every damned day. You don’t look at the girls you date like that. Not the ones I’ve seen you with.”

Was I that obvious? I raised one shoulder and dropped it, hoping I didn’t give away this unnerving attraction.

John rocked on his heels. “What would you have done if she didn’t work out? If I had to fire her? Or if I have to let her go in the future? We going to have a problem?”

I shook my head. “Not on my end. She can either cut it or she can’t.” That was out of my control. Besides, Chloe was holding her own. I decided not to mention Chloe didn’t see the job as a permanent solution and was still looking for desk-oriented employment, shall we say.

“Be careful, Brad. You’re the chief arborist, which makes you senior to her. Everything you do in regards to her, every thought, every movement, everything you say to her or around her puts this whole company into a very dicey situation if your relationship with her goes south. I don’t want to find myself faced with a sexual harassment suit in the future because of your hormones. You hear me?”

Shit. “Yes, sir.”

“Good. Because I’m putting her on Blair’s team and you’ll be working with Nash again.”

Fuck.

“Oh, and get working on that business proposal for the bank. Molly’s father is in hospital. Heart attack. She’s wanting to move out there right the fuck now so I’m going to be selling. Sooner rather than later.”

Double fuck. I needed more time.

Despite John’s warning ringing in my head, I tried to focus all my attention on my tools, but I couldn’t help but be aware of Chloe sharpening one of the pruners beside me. Couldn’t help be aware of her throaty laugh when Finn said something to her. Aware of the way she handled the tools so efficiently. Okay, that was weird, I know, but I found her competency sexy as hell. While the company overalls hid her figure, I found myself imagining her at home, unzipping them and letting them drop to her feet. What was she wearing underneath? I could see a T-shirt underneath the collar, but was she wearing jeans beneath? Shorts? It was warm enough today to dress in something lighter than denim.

I caught my fingers in a pulley and yelped, then swore loudly as I dropped the damned device with a loud clatter, drawing everyone’s attention.

“Hey boss, looks like Calhoun set us back on our safety record,” Chip called from his workstation. “Better change that sign from ‘Days without an accident’ from 275 to 0.”

“Yeah, John you better dock Brad the fine,” Finn called.

“Fuck off, you idiots. I pinched myself. It’s not a reportable injury. There’s not even any blood.”

“There’s a fine if someone gets hurt?” Chloe asked.

“Not a monetary fine as such, but yeah, whoever caused the injury gets written up, especially if it was avoidable.”

“If you screw up and do something that could cause an injury, and we catch you, you’re expected to buy the whole crew lunch the next day,” Blair called. He scratched his head. “Do you think Brad owes us all lunch tomorrow?”

“I fucking pinched myself, B-man. I’m not a safety hazard.” To anyone but myself today, anyway. And possibly Chloe’s career.

For the record, to date, I’d never had to buy lunch for screwing up. Should I tell Chloe that if you had to buy lunch more than twice, you were let go because no one wanted to work with you after that?

“Hey, Chloe, how do you get down from a tree,” Chip called.

I threw him a grateful glance—Chip and Finn were always great with coming in with jokes to diffuse tension.

Chloe tilted her head in confusion. “I don’t know. One foot at a time?”

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