Page 109 of David's Love

“Do you have a good time, Elizabeth?”

He startles me and makes me spin, almost falling from his chair.

Great.

My hand jumps to my chest, a smile tugging at my lips.

“You scared me… Damn it,” I say, laughing.

He wears a dark blue suit that catches the ceiling light slightly, a white shirt, and a blue tie. The one I picked.

His hair seems darker, all brushed back, his eyes alight, his lips tilted in a smile.

Our eyes stay locked for a little longer.

“I’ll see you in the conference room?” he says quietly.

“Yes,” I murmur, pushing out of his chair and sweeping my tablet off his desk.

His eyes go down.

“You look perfect,” he says as I close the distance between us.

He’s in the doorway, the door blocking everyone’s view from outside when I stop.

He steps in to slide the door behind him and kisses me on the cheek. The smell of his cologne blends into my perfume. Spicy, woodsy tones and oranges––the best.

“You smell good, too,” he says, his hand on my neck. “I’ll see you tonight,” he adds, bringing his hand to my cheek and slowly rubbing my skin.

I kiss his palm and watch genuine love flood his eyes.

I see it so clearly now, and I’m astonished that I was so blind and looked for it in other men’s eyes, not ever crossing my mind that I couldn’t see it because it simply wasn’t there.

“All right…” I say quietly before a few voices grow louder behind him, and I step back while he pivots toward the door.

“You met Julie?” he asks in a different voice as if someone has stopped nearby.

“Yes. She went over everything with me.”

Not much, frankly.

“Good. Keep up the good work, Miss Fox,” he says in a bossy tone, and I smile while he gives me a soft nod and turns his back to me.

Once he steps away, the man behind him comes into view.

“James,” I murmur, my voice strained.

“I’m glad he brought you in, and you work for us, Elizabeth,” he says in an indistinguishable raspy voice. “David is a well of knowledge. You’ll learn a lot from him. He also has an eye for talent.”

I can’t say there’s innuendo in his voice, yet David’s cheeks suddenly seem flushed.

Without another word, the two men walk away from me while I stare at their backs for way too long not to feel like a fraud.

ELIZABETH

Thursday

Oh,man.