Page 9 of Silver Fox's Intern Dilemma

"Stay. I'll take you home when I sober up." His eyes flicked back and forth on my face, searching me, and I bit my lip. The chemistry between us zinged across my skin. He was looking at me like he wanted to kiss me, but how the heck had this even happened? I wasn't making it up in my head when I sat across from him in his tiny closet of an office and I thought he was checking me out.

I wanted to protest, but I also didn't want anything to stop the train now that it had left the station. I wanted him to kiss me. I wanted Maylin to be right and for me to be able to snap out of my insecurities and use the momentum of this awkward moment to break out of my self-conscious reactions.

"I already called the Uber. They'll be here any minute." Why was I shying away, then? Why was I feeling like this was so wrong and we'd get caught and everything would blow up in my face? My father would be so upset. He'd say I brought shame on my family.

"Then I should probably do this while I have the courage, because I'm not the type of man to drink on the job and I'm pretty sure this alcohol is giving me the balls to take a chance.” Jack leaned down and hovered his mouth close to mine.

I clutched the champagne flute in my hand so tightly I thought I'd snap it in half as his lips brushed mine lightly. Then he whispered, "Is this okay?"

All I could do was nod.

Jack's lips claimed mine again, this time with a ferocity that surprised me. I kissed him back too, searching his mouth with my tongue and letting him suck my lower lip into his mouth. This was going to end so badly. I could already feel it in my bones. I just couldn’t help myself. After doing what everyone else told me to do my whole life, I wanted this for me.

8

JACK

When the horn honked, I knew it was Sophia's Uber. I pulled away and looked down at her kiss-swollen lips. Her eyes were starry, glistening with emotion. She was so beautiful, and I didn't need the four glasses of champagne I'd downed to know that. But I was a fool. She was very young and I was her boss. I'd crossed a line which should she decide she was uncomfortable with, it would cost me my entire career.

"I, uh… I have to go," she said, stepping backward. She held out her empty champagne flute, and I took it from her hand. "See you Monday," she said, and even through the haze of the buzz I had going, I knew I had done a very bad thing.

Sophia hurried out the doors into the darkness and climbed into the Uber driver's car. I stood there watching her, admiring her lean form and the curve of her ass in that dress until she was out of sight. I had opened myself up to a sexual harassment lawsuit and I knew it. Worse than that, I had opened a huge can of worms.

We worked together, and the hospital was very strict about their non-fraternization policy. It was in place to make sure there was no favoritism given, or so that emotions didn't interfere with the treatment of patients. Now all I would do wasbe distracted by her and my desire for her. That part of the alcohol's courage that I'd tapped into was a downfall. It gave me the guts to let my real desires come out, even when they stood at odds with what was right or what was ethical.

I sighed and turned back toward the ballroom. I knew when I was dressing for the event this evening that in my heart, I had unethical intentions. The more I interacted with Sophia, the fonder of her I became. I had worked with dozens of women over the years, but not a single one had piqued my interest. But Sophia Chen? She got under my skin by just being sweet and smart and backward. She was beautiful, but I couldn’t see that until I saw her, and I liked what I saw when I looked at her heart.

I set her empty glass on a table, then downed mine and sat in a chair to wait for the alcohol to wear off. I watched the crowd filter in and out. A few doctors waved at me, and a few nurses said hello in passing, but most everyone just left me alone. I credited the scowl etched on my forehead. The night had gone exactly as I hoped it would, but the result in the end bit me.

If she had stayed, we would have continued to interact and I would have continued to nurse this growing infatuation. It was good that Sophia went home. We would have crossed more lines than just a harmless kiss if she had stayed here. At least, if my personal feelings toward her got what they wanted.

And how did I know that she wanted to kiss me as badly as I wanted to kiss her? I didn't. For all I knew, she kissed me out of peer pressure, thinking as her boss, I'd reprimand her or fire her for disappointing me. I'd been a manager for a while now. I knew how positions of authority tended to push people to just please their boss.

Rubbing my forehead, I closed my eyes and wished I could take it back. But the image in my mind of Sophia in that dress, smiling at me, looking up into my eyes shyly, only made mewish she were here to do it again. I liked her—a lot more than I should've.

After an hour had passed, I looked at my watch and decided I had sobered up enough to drive. Dana would bring Leah to me, but there was no point in waiting around this fundraiser alone when I could just go pick up my little girl and spend time with her. I'd made my obligatory appearance and my duty here was done. So I got in my car and drove carefully across town to Dana's house.

When I walked up to the front door, she opened it and burst outward at me, yelling something over her shoulder at Leah. She looked angry and rushed and almost ran right into my chest.

"Jack, why are you here?" Dana's question didn't come out sounding like pleasant surprise. She sounded more annoyed than anything. The glare on her face matched her tone too.

"I got done early. I thought I'd save you the trip." I stood on the sidewalk down two steps from Dana, who seemed to tower over me now with the height difference.

"Leah! Now!" she shouted, and I almost winced. I hated how she was so angry and loud at times. It made me angry with her, but I used self-control so I wasn't shouting around our daughter.

"Dana, please. Do you have to scream like that?" My head was starting to throb just thinking about the nightmare I'd created for myself at work by not keeping my thoughts and feelings to myself. And it wasn't that I'd opened up to Sophia about my personal life. I'd vented to coworkers before. It was that I was attracted to her and I liked her, and I knew there was no putting that cat back in the bag.

"Look, if you teach your kid to behave and do what she's told when she's told, I won't have to scream at her. And if you spent half the time with her that you spend at work, you'd be a real father." Dana's harsh words stung, but I clenched my jaw rather than biting back at her.

Leah appeared in the doorway and smiled. "Daddy!" She grinned and raced across the front porch, jumping into my arms. I caught her and hoisted her up into my arms. She was getting too big for this sort of affection, but I refused to make her grow up if she wasn’t ready.

"Let's go home, baby. I want to do some fun stuff tonight." I didn't even say goodbye to Dana, and neither did Leah. We struck up a conversation about which board game we'd play even as Dana shouted out her reminder to have Leah back by four tomorrow.

The whole drive home, Leah told me about the exciting things happening in her school. They were taking a field trip to an art history museum. She got picked to play pickleball with a group of older kids. She was allowed to read morning announcements for her teacher, and best of all, her grade card said she had all As, which I praised her for while ensuring that she understood grades weren't everything, and she was loved for who she was, not what she did.

I wished I could tell her how excited I was to have made this weird connection with a coworker, but a seven-year-old's mind just couldn’t comprehend the significance of it. Besides, I knew Dana was already dating, but even after the few years it had already been, I didn't feel right. I didn’t want Leah to feel like I had moved on and forgotten her.

I also felt like if or when this blew up, it might mean my getting a lot more time with my daughter. I didn’t think any reputable hospital or practice would hire me if Sophia sued for sexual harassment.

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