Page 24 of Sweet Little Thing

He didn’t look like he believed me. “I like it. It’s cute.”

Why, oh why, was he doing this? It was embarrassing enough as it was. I diverted my eyes from his view. Now he couldn’t magically read my thoughts and see last night’s naughty dream.

I then heard his stool move, and I knew he was leaving. Thank God.

“I’ll see you at work,” he said.

“Yeah, see you then,” I replied without turning around. I lifted a hand as if to wave, which was stupid but all I could manage. Today, everything I did was stupid, and I was becoming more foolish by the second.

Chapter

Eighteen

Beulah

Finding something to wear to the office wasn’t easy. I decided on a pair of white shorts. They were nicer than my others and looked good with my black top, which I knew was versatile. My flats and a necklace helped dress it up a bit. I didn’t know if it mattered what I wore. I was in a back room, alone with paperwork, but I put some effort into it.

Brandy Jo wasn’t all smiles like she’d been for Jasper whenever I walked into the building, but I greeted her anyway. Her response was a cold, frozen stare. I wasn’t her competition. The entire feminine world was Brandy Jo’s competition. She didn’t understand how Jasper worked. I almost felt sorry for her.

The card that Jasper had given me was tucked in my purse. I slipped it out while the elevator rose, taking me to his floor. I was a paper filer, but it felt important, like I had a fancy job that required a degree, though I didn’t want to work in an office, not forever and ever. Being a nurse has been my dream since I waslittle. For now, I’d enjoy this experience. I was thankful to Jasper for giving it to me.

When the elevators opened, I walked into the beautiful but empty waiting room. I doubted many people waited here. This wasn’t a dentist’s office, which was a shame because if I had to wait, I’d have wanted to stay in this area.

The doors opened easily with a tap of my key. I knocked lightly before pushing, in case Jasper was busy. No response, so I went on in. His office was completely empty. I made my way to the back room and for the next three hours, opened letters and made piles all around me. The smell of food caught my attention. I looked up from my work as Jasper walked in, holding two paper bags and grinning.

“I brought lunch. Come in here and help me eat it.”

It smelled incredible, and my stomach growled. I hadn’t eaten since early this morning. Standing, I straightened my shorts and slipped my shoes back on. “Thank you. I was getting hungry. Didn’t think about packing a lunch.”

“That works for me. I need a lunch date with all this food.”

I wanted to think he’d bought it for me, but I knew better than that. More than likely, he’d bought it, having other plans that suddenly fell through at the last minute. I followed him into his office.

“How is scraping and paving the pits of hell going in there?”

“It’s not that bad,” I replied. “I enjoy the organizing. Makes me feel like I’m accomplishing something.”

He gave me a crooked grin. I tried not to stare. “Not sure what that says about you.” He was teasing, I could tell.

Before he finished unloading the bags, the door to his office opened. It was Stone, oh, joy, perfect way to ruin lunch.

“You eating in here?” he asked. Again, he was dressed in his casual clothing.

“Yes, and there isn’t enough for three. I thought you had abusiness lunch.”

He shrugged, “It’s over, not hungry,” Stone paused, glancing briefly at me. “Just didn’t expect you to be eating in here.” He left out the “with her,” but it was understood, the tone of his voice altered.

“Better company in here,” Jasper responded. Jasper had no problem with me. He didn’t think I was lower rung. Sure, I worked for him, but he accepted me as a human. Unlike Stone, who considered me beneath him.

“I’ve got the contract from lunch today if you want to go over it while you eat.”

I didn’t look at either of them. I kept my eyes focused on the food Jasper was placing before me. I felt in the way when Stone was around or near. He managed to make me feel awkward and unwanted, about ten times more than Portia.

“I’m going to enjoy my lunch date, then I’ll look it over. Leave it on the desk, will you?”

“Date?” Stone asked, his voice displeased as if the word were crude or distasteful.

“Yes. . .Stone. . .date.”

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