Page 126 of One Night Only
Spinning back around, I notice Emily trying to hide her smile behind her hand. Hell, even the bald guy, what was he? The HR manager? Even he’s smirking like a smug bastard. What the hell is going on?
“Dallas,” Andy continues, walking around me to the table where a folder sits. He picks it up and opens it, going through the papers inside. “I’m not firing Emily.” His gaze lifts, meeting mine. “Chrissake, she’s the best goddamn assistant I’ve ever had.”
My shoulders sag as I glance at Emily, and the little brat has the audacity to wink at me. Wink. Here I am, going full Tom Cruise inJerry Maguire, and she winks at me.
“If business keeps up, I’m going to need a COO someday soon, and with a little development, I think Em is going to be a fantastic fit for the role.”
My head is spinning. And I’m not sure if it’s my concussion or whatever the hell is happening here. I take a seat on one of the boardroom chairs, relaxing back. “Wait… so… you’renotfiring her?”
“No.” Andy shakes his head. “Before you interrupted, we were actually revisiting the non-fraternization clause we have in our employment contracts and discussing some potential ideas on how we might be able to reword it to avoid instances just like this.” He points his pen between Emily and me.
I look at Emily and she laughs silently, shaking her head at me.
I glance at the doorway where Fran and Robbie are stillstanding, and I can’t stop myself before I say, “This is all Franny’s fault.”
Fran’s jaw drops with a gasp. “I beg your finest pardon!”
“You messaged Mason and told him Emily was being taken into the boardroom. What was I supposed to think!” I guffaw.
“Robbie was the one harassingmefor updates!” Fran points a finger at Robbie.
Robbie looks between Fran and me, clearly confused as to how he’s catching all the blame.
“Alright, everyone who isn’t Dallas Shaw and Emily Cole, please remove yourselves from this vicinity,” Andy interjects in that tone he uses when he’s trying to be the boss. It works, as the HMC employees outside the door quickly scatter, the HR Manager stands and walks out with his laptop, and Robbie grabs Fran’s hand, pulling her out the doorway.
Suddenly it’s just Emily, me, and Andy, and the room is prickly with an overwhelming tension hanging low throughout.
Andy takes a seat across the table, looking at me, his gaze assessing and face expressionless, nothing but the hint of a smile in his eyes.
“I’m happy for you both,” he finally says.
I release the breath I’ve been holding and I roll closer to Emily on my chair, finding her hand and linking my fingers through hers.
“I really wish you felt that you could have come to me and told me. Like you said, before anything, we were friends first. But…” He sighs. “I also understand why you didn’t.”
Emily squeezes my hand.
“I just ask that it doesn’t come between your work—” Andy lifts his chin at Emily. “And your hockey.” He nods at me.
“It won’t,” we say in complete unison, looking at each other and laughing at how weird that just was.
“And Dallas?”
I turn back to Andy, meeting his serious eyes.
“Don’t fuck it up,” he says bluntly, his gaze flitting to Emily before returning to me as he continues. “I have a feeling she might just be the best damn thing to ever happen to you.”
I grin, looking at Emily. “I have no doubt about it.”
EPILOGUE
EMILY
One month later…
“What the hell is in here?” Tess groans, struggling with the box she’s carrying from the elevator and into Dallas’s apartment. Well, technically mine and Dallas’s apartment now, I guess.
“It says on the top—” Bron cranes her neck and reads out loud, “Dildos and vibrators.”
