Page 22 of Bear Boss's Mate
Fidgeting in her chair, she held her breath with anticipation when she heard his deep voice from out in the hall. Austin and several other staff members filed in and took seats around the boardroom table.
“Good morning,” Austin said with a wink and a lopsided grin.
“Hey,” she said with a sexy lilt in her voice.
Bern entered the room and sat across from her, wishing her a good morning. She wondered if Austin had told him about their date.
Sheila entered the room and stopped when she saw Marcy seated next to Austin. She huffed with exasperation when she noticed Bern had taken the other seat closest to him.
Marcy glanced at Austin, but he was looking down at some papers in front of him. He didn’t take any notice of Sheila or her over the top annoyance at not being able to sit close to him.
He began the meeting by mentioning the vandalism that happened over the weekend.
“It’s being investigated,” he concluded after telling the rest of the staff about it. Marcy wondered if he’d assumed Mick had done it. The thought had crossed her mind, but she never said it out loud.
As the meeting continued, Austin smiled. “The time is approaching for the annual Christmas party. Bern has just informed me it’s going to be at Paul’s Bar and Restaurant. I hope everyone will join us.” He looked at Marcy as he spoke. “It’s always a fun time and a chance for Bern and me to thank the staff for the hard work they’ve done all year.”
There was a slight buzz as several people began whispering about the upcoming party and the holidays. A couple of minutes later, the meeting broke up. Marcy waited while everyone filed out.
Sheila hovered for a few seconds until she realized Marcy wasn’t going anywhere. She sauntered out with her nose in the air. Austin took his time rising from his chair, realizing that Marcy was hanging back.
“So, did you have a good weekend?” he asked, grinning at her.
Marcy blushed, recalling the hot and heavy dream she’d had about her and Austin. “I did,” she murmured.
“Great. Let me know when you’re ready to do it again.” A mischievous grin lit up his face. Marcy didn’t know how to respond. She hadn’t expected him to say that.
She wasn’t sure that going out with him was the best move forward, even though she liked the idea of seeing him outside work again.
Austin stood, and Marcy followed suit. Almost as if he sensed her hesitation, he looked over at her. “Let’s have lunch today?”
Marcy thought for a moment. The problem was that she found him so damn irresistible. She hesitated. What could it hurt? It wasn’t a date, after all.
“Um, sure,” she said, and left to go back to work until lunchtime.
THE MORNING FLEW BY, and Marcy worked hard to remain distracted.
She was tidying her desk just as there was a knock at her door.
“Come in,” she said.
The door swung open. Austin stood with one hand in his pocket and the other on the door handle. She eyed him, unconsciously licking her lips. Damn, he looked good. How did he always manage to look so hot?
He had a devilish grin on his face. “Ready to go?”
“Yes,” she said, grabbing her purse to follow him out. Aside from her date with Austin, Marcy had not eaten out in months. She found Austin’s presence comforting, even though they’d not known each other for very long.
She was glad he was so easy to be around. Just being near Austin at work, she appreciated he treated her so much better than her previous employer or Mick. She wished now that shehadn’tspent a month avoiding him.
Perhaps we can be friends,she thought as they walked back to the office side by side after lunch.
When they returned to the office, they passed Sheila in the hallway. She glared at Marcy as she walked by.
Marcy said goodbye to Austin and headed to her office. As soon as she put her purse away and sat down, there was a knock on the door. “Come in,” she beckoned.
Sheila opened the door and stepped inside, closing it behind her.
Uh-oh.Marcy was glad the desk was between them.
