Page 5 of Big Built Boss

“Thought so. You work with Alex, huh?” There’s a teasing edge to her tone that makes me wonder if I’m imagining things.

“Yeah, I’m handling the accounting.” I force my voice to stay light.

“Cool, cool,” Erica says, leaning back casually. “If you ever need anything, let me know. My best friend Joy works aroundhere, and she knows everyone. Oh, and if your car ever breaks down, she’s got a great mechanic hookup.”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” I tell her with a small laugh, grateful for her friendliness.

We chat a bit more before I excuse myself and roll up my mat. Erica waves as I head back toward the office, feeling a little lighter after the conversation.

But my mood shifts the moment I see Alex in the hallway. He’s leaning against the wall, his broad frame taking up most of the hallway as he scrolls through his phone. He really is gorgeous with his honey blonde hair that’s just a tad too long and that chiseled jawline that just screams to be traced with my finger. When his green eyes lift to meet mine, it’s like the air between us changes.

“Hey,” he greets, tucking his phone into his pocket.

“Hey,” I reply, my voice tighter than I’d like.

We fall into step together, walking toward the office in a silence that feels louder than any conversation. The tension is palpable, every brush of our arms as we walk igniting sparks I’m trying desperately to ignore.

“How’s it going so far?” he asks, his tone casual and his gaze anything but.

“It’s going well,” I say, glancing up at him briefly. “I’ve been working on consolidating the spreadsheets. It’s kind of meditative, actually.”

His mouth quirks into a small smile. “Meditative, huh? You might be the first person to describe accounting like that.”

“Guess I’m just special,” I quip, surprising myself with the flirtatious tone.

His smile widens, and for a moment, I think he’s going to say something else, something that will cross the line we’ve been tiptoeing. But instead, he just nods toward the office door.

“Keep up the good work,” he encourages before heading off in the opposite direction.

I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding and slip back into the office as I try not to be disappointed that our interaction was so short.

I dive back into work, trying to lose myself in the numbers again. For a while, it works. My mind clears, and I find myself in a productive flow, the hours slipping by without me noticing.

But the reprieve doesn’t last. Thoughts of Alex keep creeping in, tugging at the edges of my focus.

There’s no way this can go anywhere. Alex is my boss. An affair with my employer is improper. Although, it’s not like there’s an HR department here.

I groan inwardly, frustrated with myself. Just because there aren’t rules explicitly forbidding it doesn’t mean it’s a good idea. If things go badly, there’s nothing stopping him from firing me.

I go back and forth with myself for what feels like hours, battling my attraction to him with the voice of reason. But as conflicted as I feel, I manage to make solid progress on thespreadsheets. I even slip into a meditative state as I consolidate repetitive columns and rows.

“You’re still here?” Alex’s voice breaks through my focus, startling me.

I blink a few times to refocus, the brightness of the screen making the room seem dim in comparison.

“I guess so,” I reply, glancing at the clock.

“You could’ve left twenty minutes ago,” he says, crossing his arms as he leans against the doorframe. His head tilts slightly causing a lock of blonde hair to fall over his eyebrow.

“Sorry,” I say, standing and stretching my back. I scratch the back of my neck, feeling a little sheepish. “I just got really into what I was doing.”

“I didn’t know accounting was that interesting,” he chuckles, his gaze tracking my movements as I bend to grab my purse.

“Oh, it’s incredibly interesting,” I say with mock seriousness, quirking a smile at him. “I can’t wait to get back to it tomorrow.”

“Well, I look forward to seeing you then,” he says, his voice warm.

He takes a step toward me, and suddenly we’re standing so close I can feel the heat radiating off him. The spark between us flares, a live current that crackles in the air. I’m losing myself in those green eyes and I know I need to say something, do something, but I can’t. I’m a fly caught in a spider web and he’s the spider waiting to devour me.

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