Page 8 of His Off-Limits Christmas Gift

Nate grinned as Mr. Rollings turned red.

I didn’t blink as the man huffed and grumbled, stalking off a moment later.

“You sure have quite the go-get-’em attitude,” Nate commented. He leaned against the copier and eyed me closely.

For three days, I’d tried to get used to being near him. And for three days, I gave it my all to accept this tingling sensation of his gaze being on me like this. Three days, and still, I struggled to breathe properly when I had his attention—solicited or not.

I didn’t trust myself to speak. Lifting my brows, I looked at him expectantly and hoped he’d clarify. When he didn’t, seeming too pleased to have my attention directly on him for a change, I caved. “I am here to work, am I not?”

“Sure. Of course, you are.” He looked me over again, hanging on to that loose smile. “But for someone as young as you are, you’re awfully… ambitious.”

“Are you trying to say I’m bossy?” I set my hand on my hip.

“No. Just more dedicated and serious than what I expected.”

“Nate, you last saw me when I was a teenager. How can you even know what to expect from menow?” It felt like a jab, reminding him that he didn’t know me. He couldn’t since he’d been in the city and I’d been back home or closer to it.

All I could detect in his words was an insult. As though he found it surprising that someone my age could have the gumption and confidence not to be a pushover in an office setting.

Do you think I’m too young to be taken seriously?

Do you think I’m not able to be dedicated because I haven’t been here long?

He was quiet for a moment. Almost pensive. Then he leaned in a bit, close enough to whisper before he walked away. “You got me there, Rach. Idon’tknow what to expect.”

I blinked, turning to watch him walk away. Staring at his back, I wondered if I was making a mistake in trying to expect anything from him. A mistake in thinking I knew him at all.

He was my brother’s best friend. And… a ridiculously sexy, tall man who’d made a successful career for himself in the city.

Before he strode off, he spun, catching me looking after him. I quickly averted my gaze, but he saw me looking.

“I don’t know what to expect with you, Rachel, but I can’t wait to find out.”

That sounded like a threat. A challenge. A promise?

My God…I walked back to my office, rubbing my hands over my warm cheeks.Is heflirtingwith me?I couldn’t tell, too inexperienced and naïve. All I had for knowledge of how to deal with guys was Kyle, and that hadn’t ended all too well.

Oh, stop being ridiculous.I shook my head as I got to the office and saw the piles of papers I had to comb through from supervisors dropping them off. I’d bet my email inbox was just as full.

I’m here to work, to hide from home during the worst time of the year.

That was it. Even if Nate was flirting with me, it—whatever it could be—would go nowhere.

As I settled into my desk to work, I caught snippets of Nate laughing and talking with people out in the hall.

How can he be so damn happy all the time? So charming?

Doesn’t his face ever hurt from smiling too much?

“Life isn’t all sunshine and sparkles, Boss,” I muttered aloud in the privacy of my office.

Mine sure isn’t.Just the thought of Nate flirting with me had me all twisted up, and I wondered if that reaction was because of how Kyle dumped me or because I was ignorant of how to process it. Or if…

Argh! No. No more thinking about him. He’s the boss. And I’m only here to work.

My phone rang, jarring me from focusing on the wordy-ass email that I kept rereading because my focus was shot.

“Oh, great. Now what?”

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