Page 11 of Found By Him

Jack’s gaze locks onto mine. “No.”

I breathe out a nervous laugh, rolling my lips to tame my amusement. “Okay.”

He gestures to a door on the other side of the office. “Let’s go into my office. I have those papers for you to fill out.”

Heading in the direction he indicated, I enter his office ahead of him. It’s dark, moody, and masculine, fitting for the man who occupies it.

I take a seat in one of the chairs facing his desk. The large leather office chair creaks under his weight as his muscular body sinks into it across from me.

He slides the forms across his desk, explaining because of the kind of corporate car insurance his company has, additional information is needed. I nod and begin filling them out while his attention stays focused on me. I can smell his cologne from here, and it reminds me of the other day. My heartbeat picks up as the pull I feel toward him makes me squirm. I fight the urge to smooth down my hair or straighten my shirt to ensure I look presentable enough to be worthy of his fierce appraisal.

After a few minutes, I sign the last one and slide it back to him. “I think that’s everything.”

He doesn’t immediately move to take the forms, so I raise my eyes to his. He is studying me.

“You look tired,” he remarks as he gathers the forms, tapping them on the desk to straighten them.

A laugh pops out of me. “Is that your way of saying I look like shit?”

With a wince, he sets the papers in a neat pile on the side of his desk but replies, “I don’t think you could if you tried.”

My eyebrows raise in surprise at his compliment. “Thank you,” I respond softly. “It’s been a long week, and I think it’s catching up with me.”

He doesn’t say anything for a moment, just watches me as he scratches his fingers through his short beard. Something about that makes my core heat. I cross my legs a little tighter. His presence is so blistering and masculine, with his assessing eyes and the dark scruff lining his strong jaw. “Let me take you to dinner.”

I’m unsure if I’m more surprised by him asking me to dinner or his comment about how I look. “You don’t have to do that, Jack.”

He leans forward and places his elbows on the desk. “I know I don’t have to. I want to.”

It’s my turn to study him for a few moments. Every cell in my body is screaming at me to agree, wanting him to lean closer. But my brain is telling me to proceed with caution. Not because it’s scared of him or not interested, far from either of those things, but because it’s scared of getting hurt. It also reminds me that, considering everything going on in my life, now might not be the best time to start a new relationship. Ultimately, my brain loses, and I’m agreeing with a breathy, “Okay.”

A hint of a smile graces his full lips. He grabs the cookie container and rounds the desk, ushering me out of his office with his hand on my lower back. My core warms further at the contact.

The reception area is silent, and neither of us breaks it while we wait for the elevator.

Once outside, Jack asks, “I’m assuming you would prefer to drive?”

I lift my chin to look up at him. “That would probably be easier.”

He nods and names a restaurant nearby. “Will that be okay?”

I smile. “Yep, that’s one of my favorites.”

Anticipation grows on the short drive to meet him there.

I really should have put on a different outfit.

8

Jack

I’ve been an asshole the last couple of days. I couldn’t help it. I was frustrated when Sampson called me about all the issues with Gisella’s car.

How could she have been driving that death trap?

I snapped at everyone all day on Monday. It did get slightly better after I spoke with her, but not by much. It didn’t help that I had a restless night of sleep. My conversation with Nate on Saturday kept running through my head.

Sure, I’m attracted to Gisella. How could I not be? She’s gorgeous. But there is something about her—the way she comforted Tyler after the accident and stood up to me when she tried to convince me not to fire him. There’s just something about her that intrigues me.

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