Page 69 of Friend Me

I blinked away the moisture in my eyes. “You’re the best. Thank you.”

With one last press of my hand, he stood and walked back to his desk. His back to me, he said gruffly, “Now, shouldn’t you be telling me where I need to be this morning and what I need to be doing?”

I smiled. Jackson had never been good with gratitude. Or tears.

I pulled up his calendar on my phone and started filling him in. Maybe this wouldn’t be as bad as I’d feared.

* * *

I’d just finished cleaningoff Ben’s desk when he emerged from the stairwell with his brand-new laptop bag slung over his shoulder. Another set of footsteps to learn. Ben’s were stiff but quiet, the rubber soles of his urban combat-style boots muting his purposeful strides. I waved him over.

“Are you ready to start?”

He rolled his eyes. “I have a ton of online compliance training to do. But can I please do some actual work first?”

I chuckled. “Cooper’s a fanatic about our respectful, harassment-free work environment.” Well, except when faced with the incompetent temps I’d hired. But they’d have brought out the worst in almost anyone. “Plus, there’s all the legal stuff. It’s not a lot of fun, but Cooper and the lawyers are sticklers for it.”

He compressed his lips and looked at his new boss’s closed door. Doubt flickered in his narrowed eyes. Crap, we couldn’t lose him this early. He was exactly what Cooper needed. “But he’s a great guy,” I rushed to say. “You’ll love him.”

He tilted his head to the side, watching me, but then he looked down at the desk. “So this is me?”

Relieved, I gave him a quick smile. “Yes. Let’s fire up your laptop, and I’ll set you up with Cooper’s calendar and email.”

Two hours later, Ben had mastered his new boss’s calendar, and I’d filled him in on Cooper’s work habits and preferences. When the light finally blinked out on Cooper’s phone line and his office door swung open, we stood to greet the man himself. He emerged looking more formal than usual in a slim-fitting charcoal suit with a crisp cornflower blue shirt that matched his eyes. No tie. Like always, I couldn’t hold in a tiny sigh at his gorgeousness. Ben’s gaze flicked to me and then to Cooper. I wondered what his too-observant eyes saw.

Cooper strode over to us and extended his hand. Ben shook it, leaning in a little.

“You must be Ben. I’m Cooper Fallon.”

“It’s great to meet you, Mr. Fallon.”

“Please, call me Cooper.”

Ben’s pupils dilated, and his nostrils flared. I held in a smug smile. Cooper had that effect on everyone, not just me. Their hands separated.

“God, you’re tall,” Ben blurted out. “Taller than you look in the photos.” He blushed. “Not that I’ve been stalking you online or anything.” He pressed his lips together.

“He’s always standing next to Jackson, and you think they’re both normal height, but they’re not,” I said, trying to ease his awkwardness. Jamila was an Amazon, too, especially in heels, but I wasn’t about to bring her up.

Cooper had been staring at Ben, flexing his right hand at his side. He raised it in front of his chest and rubbed it for a second with his left hand.

Something odd was happening here. “Cooper, can I talk to you for a minute?”

I didn’t think it was possible, but Cooper’s jaw became even more rigid. Sweet Darwin on theH.M.S. Beagle, I wasn’t going to try to jump his bonesnow.

“Just—just for a minute,” I said.

He followed me over to my desk and stood, hands in his pockets.

I whispered, “Look, Ben is very qualified and a great guy. Do. Not. Screw. This. Up. Give him a chance.”

His forehead creased. “I will. Of course I will.”

I narrowed my eyes at him. “Good. Behave yourself at lunch.”

Leading him back over to Ben’s desk, I asked, “Where are you guys going?”

Cooper named a trendy restaurant nearby. He asked Ben, “Do you know it?”

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