Page 1 of Heart Like Yours

PAIGE

Something that no one warns you about is just how much time you’ll spend wishing that grown adults would figure out how to communicate. Especially in the work environment.

“Everyone is ready when you and Mr. Walker are,” Evalyn says, pulling my attention away from my computer screen. Behind her and across the hall, the team files into the conference room.

I flick my attention back to Eva. She must see the question I’m about to ask as she shakes her head, steps into my office, and closes the door behind her.

“Brandon’s not here. He called this morning. Apparently, he spent the night with his mother at the hospital again.” She rolls her eyes, pulling her phone from her pocket before leveling me with an unamused glare. “Which is code for he was clubbing all night long.”

Eva taps her phone screen and clicks through the videos he posted showing him enjoying a night out. When she taps on the last update, I sigh at the five in the morning time stamp.

I drop my head into my hand, pinching the brim of my nose.

Even though I had anticipated his absence, a part of me hoped he would prove me wrong.

Instead of going with my gut and firing Brandon, one of the thriller and horror editors on the team, two weeks ago, I bit my tongue and let him leave my office with only a final warning. Mostly because I couldn’t handle the waterworks. While he cried his excuses for why he fell behind on yet another deadline, it took all my effort to remain in my seat and not call him out for lying. What little restraint remained went toward not throwing a box of tissues at him.

But I mean really, if you’re going to say that you missed work because you had to take care of your mom, at the very least make sure that your coworkers aren’t friends with you on social media while you’re posting videos of you at the club.

Also, maybe don’t be a dick and lie about family illnesses.

I suck in a deep breath, forcing myself to focus on coming up with a backup plan for Brandon’s work. I’m not about to risk another deadline on the small chance that he’ll get his act together. There are still three weeks left until the book is due back to the author, which means I’ll have to see which editor can be moved.

“There should be room in Clay’s or Asher’s schedule for one of them to pick it up. If not, I might be able to jump in,” Eva offers. I nod, adding a note to check with the team during the meeting.

Pushing from my desk, I round it and beeline for the small table in the corner. Eva sees what I’m about to grab and squeals.

“You are a goddess!” Eva gushes, opening my office door before rushing over to take one of the boxes of donuts from me.

I laugh, some of my earlier tension easing away, and follow behind her toward the conference room with the second box. “You say that twice a week.”

She shrugs, not waiting to set the box down as she opens the lid and pulls out her favorite.

“I’m just making sure you never forget what a gem you are,” she says before biting into one of the cannoli donuts and moans. “How the hell does Cal make these perfect every week?”

“Did someone say Cal?” Asher, our team’s Fantasy and Sci-fi editor, asks from the doorway, immediately moving to drop his notebook on the table, and is beside Eva in a heartbeat. “That woman has never made a bad pastry in her life.”

Shaking my head, I leave them to praise the owner of the cute little café that’s just around the block from the office and duck out to grab my things for the meeting.

Their excitement is the whole reason I continue to bring them treats from Cal’s a couple times a week. Just like I make sure to treat those who don’t make it to the meetings. SweetHeart Publishing is an ever-growing team of editors, designers, marketing specialists, and so many others who work in the office. I never want them to feel unappreciated when they do so much for those who partner with us for publishing.

They work hard to meet each deadline and rarely complain. The least I can do is bring them some sugar or make sure there’s a constant supply of snacks and caffeine in the break room.

Just as I’m grabbing my tablet, notepad, and pen from my desk, double-checking that I have everything we need to go over this week, someone clears their throat. I look up to find Garrett leaning against the doorframe with two cups of coffee in his hands. My breath catches at the sight of him. His fitted gray suit fits his tall, muscular body perfectly. Hazel eyes shine as he watches me from where he stands. He’s clean shaven today, with his dark hair styled perfectly. Before I can stop it, I find myself wondering what it would be like to run my fingers through it. Thoughts of seeing his perfect composure rumpled take over for a second.

As if he can read my mind, a lopsided grin stretches across his face. My cheeks heat as I round my desk.

“Good morning,” I greet, attempting to cover my inappropriate thoughts with a smile.

“Morning. I brought you some coffee.” Garrett holds one of the cups out to me when I pause in front of him.

“You are my savior,” I tell him, eagerly taking the coffee and carefully hugging it above my heart.

“Hopefully I got your order right,” he says, gripping the back of his neck with his now free hand. It almost looks like he’s blushing, but I shake it off and take a quick glance at the label of my cup. My heart skips a damn beat, but I simply nod and lead the way out of the office, knowing he’ll follow.

Lifting the straw to my mouth, I take a sip before turning to flash him a wide grin. “Down to the extra shot of espresso and extra extra caramel. I’m impressed.”

Garrett hums in acknowledgment, following me into the conference room. As we make our way toward our seats, I slow my pace and keep my voice low so only he can hear.

---