Page 37 of UnLucky Christmas
I’m trying to keep my full attention on Mr. Burton, but Grant is standing next to him. Today he’s wearing a royal blue suit, and it’s tailored to fit him like a glove. As usual, he’s clean shaven and unwrinkled. Physically, he and Mr. Burton are polar opposites. Grant towers about five inches over Mr. Burton. And while Grant hits the gym most likely on the daily, Mr. Burton looks more he swallowed a volleyball.
“We’ve made the decision to outsource our financial department,” he explains. “This is Grant Williams and Justin Cantrell, their firm is going to handle our company financials for the foreseeable future.”
I feel like I’m going to pass out.
Grant gives a half wave, and as usual shows very little emotion.
Mr. Burton is still talking, but I’m not listening to a word he’s saying. Grant has barely acknowledged me, and I’m fine with that. I probably won’t have much interaction with him anyway. As soon as Mr. Burton stops his rambling, he asks Callie and the director of sales to meet with them in his office. Callie’s the head of the marketing department, so that makes sense.
I overhear my co-workers Katherine and Sadie whispering to each other, and I know immediately they’re talking about Grant. I can’t blame them because he does look dashing in his perfect suit. Too bad I know his personality. He’s living proof that looks aren’t everything.
After Mr. Burton, Grant, and the others leave the conference room, I return to my desk. I stare at my laptop for a few seconds. It’s too early to leave for the day, so I need to stay busy and, hopefully, Grant will take off without us having to interact at all.
I scroll through my emails. When I see the evite reminder for our company holiday event, I remember I RSVP’d for Pete to be my plus one while we were still together. I click to modify it until I get an idea—I could invite Chad to come with me. Instead, I decline the invitation. It might be too soon to ask him to join me at my office party.
After another hour of staring at my screen, I feel my eyes get heavy. This mid-morning lull happens to me almost every day. I head to the lounge to get a cup of coffee where I find Grant standing in the hallway. His back is turned to me, and he’s on his phone, so I try to sneak by without being seen. Unfortunately, he turns around, and I’m caught.
“Yes, that needs to be taken care of ASAP,” he says, his eyes on me.
Crap.
I continue down the hall.
“Ah, so you’re too cool to say hello?” he asks.
I let out a frustrated sigh. “You haven’t exactly said hi to me.”
He smirks. “I was going too, but then I remembered you don’t like me, so I figured it was pointless.”
“Who told you I don’t like you?” I ask.
He glances at his phone and then puts it in his pocket.
“I can just tell,” he says, moving toward me. “I’m good at reading people.”
I try to stand up straight to make myself taller, but despite wearing heels, I find I’m craning my neck to look up at him.
An image from my dream suddenly flashes in front of me, and it throws me off my game.
“Well, you don’t like me either, so I guess that makes it mutual,” I reply, my voice cracking slightly.
He stands directly in front of me, and there’s a strange stir in my chest. “I never said I didn’t like you. Although your taste in men is questionable.”
Neither of us moves from our stand-off, and admittedly I wonder what it would be like to feel his lips on mine.Oh hell, what’s the matter with me? I try to shake those thoughts away. It doesn’t help that he’s close enough for me to get a whiff of his heavenly scent again.
“My taste in men shouldn’t matter to you,” I snap. My heart is beating against the wall of my chest.
He looks around.
“Maybe we should continue this discussion somewhere more private,” he says. “Having an argument out here in the open isn’t very professional.”
Without a word I walk to the lounge and open the door. Thankfully its empty. He follows me in and as soon as the door closes, I turn to face him.
“Why are you so worried about who I date?” I ask. “From what I can tell you’re not exactly winning in the relationship department.”
A chuckle escapes his lips.
“You’re so infuriating,” I exclaim. I start to turn toward the door, and then without thinking I reach for the lapels on his coat and pull him towards me. He follows my lead and wraps his arms tightly around me. My arms move up around his neck while his hands slide down the sides of my legs and just below my butt, and then he lifts me off the ground. I pull his face to mine, and before I know it, our lips are touching. The kiss starts off slowly and then intensifies until he gently places me back on the ground. We stare at each other for a few seconds, and I quickly move away, bringing my fingertips to my lips. He looks as confused as I feel.
