Page 10 of Found By Him

Jack: Can you come by my office at some point today? I need you to fill out some forms for the insurance.

Iread the text as a yawn overtakes me. I couldn’t sleep last night. Between the stress from work and the mysterious texts I thought were long over, my mind would not turn off enough to fall asleep for longer than a few minutes.

Craig is out of the office, texting me that he’s sick. After the close call yesterday, it’s nice not to worry about hiding anything from him. Especially considering this morning, I received some of the requested documents from the other departments. But I was once again disappointed when what I thought would be my smoking gun wasn’t.

Iknowsomething is going on. I have to keep digging until I find it.

Picking up my phone, I text Jack.

Me: Sure, I just have to run home real quick after work. I can be there by 6. Is that okay?

Jack: Yes, I will be here.

He sends me the address, and I set my phone aside and refocus on the report I’m preparing.

A few hours later,I enter the elevator of Jack’s office building and glance down at the jeans and plain t-shirt I’m wearing.

Maybe I should have put on something cuter.

Squeezing my eyes closed, I give myself a mental shake. It doesn’t matter. He didn’t ask me here because he wanted to see me for any reason besides the accident.

My grip tightens on the container in my hands as my mind moves on to worrying about Jack thinking it’s weird that I am bringing him cookies. Well, not just him but his coworkers, too. I had too many after I baked everything for the senior center, so I didn’t want them to go to waste.

I could have brought them into my own office, but I liked the idea of giving them to Jack instead. The thought of him eating my sweet treats gave me an intoxicating feeling that I should probably have ignored.

It’s too late now to change my mind, anyway. It would be even weirder if I walked in with a random container of cookies without handing them over and, unfortunately, my purse is too small to hide them.

The elevator dings to alert the arrival on the floor, and I step into the large open reception area. It’s simple but modernly decorated, with some couches in a makeshift waiting area to one side and clusters of desks on the other.

“Ella!”

I smile when Tyler stands from behind the reception desk. “Hey, Tyler.” I glance around before explaining, “Jack asked me to come by today. Is he around?”

“He told me you would be stopping in. I’m filling in for our receptionist.” Tyler gestures to the nearby couches. “Go ahead and have a seat. He got held up at an offsite meeting, but he should be here shortly.”

“Thanks, Tyler.” He follows me over to the couch and sits in one of the chairs across from where I sit. I try to find a topic that will help settle my nerves. “I really hope you didn’t get in too much trouble over the accident.”

Tyler blushes and shrugs. “A little bit. But it’s fair and deserving.” Tyler glances around the office. “Jack is tough and expects a lot of his employees because of the nature of our work, but he’s a great boss. He gave me this great opportunity because we’re family, but he makes sure I earn the right to work here, just like anyone else.”

It’s obvious how much he respects his cousin. Even nicer is hearing Tyler confirm what I was beginning to suspect with the lunch delivery—that despite his serious and gruff exterior, Jack is actually a good guy.

A ding has us both turning toward the elevator as Jack and another man step out. He’s about the same height as Jack but a little slimmer, even if it’s evident he works out regularly with his muscular build. His light brown hair is longer on top, the style unruly, as if he runs his hand through it regularly. Dressed similarly in black slacks and a black button-up shirts, his is untucked, whereas Jack’s istucked in, with his sleeves rolled up to reveal his muscular forearms. Just a glance at Jack’s arms has me wondering how they’d feel wrapped around me.

When the man sees me, his face breaks into a wide grin as if he knows me.

Jack steps up to where I’m sitting on the couch. My stomach dips at the intensity of his handsome face. “Gisella, sorry I’m late.”

Shaking my head, I stand and take a step closer to greet him. “It’s okay. I understand.”

He juts his chin as the container in my hands. “What is that?”

“Oh! I, uh, brought some cookies.” I extend the container for him to take.

“Sweet! Let me get one of those, Jack.” The unknown man tries to take the container from Jack’s grip.

Jack shifts away from him and tucks the container under his arm, giving him a side-eye. “She broughtmethe cookies, Nate.”

I gesture around us vaguely. “Uh, well, they can be for everyone,” I stutter.

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