Page 32 of Hale Yes
“That’s what it says on my jacket,” she says, and my eyes drift down to the name embroidered on her chest. And now I’m looking at her boob. Fuck’s sake, at this point, she’s going to file an HR complaint before lunch.
However, I still find myself looking at the soft round shape when she asks, “Um, Dr. Hale, can I have my glasses now?”
That’s when I realize I’m still clutching her glasses and hand them over with a mumbled, “Yeah, sorry about that.”
My eyes sharpen on the parting of her lips when she blows a light mist onto the lenses and then uses the tail of her coat to wipe them clean. I have no idea what’s come over me today with all this lip and tongue and boob scrutinizing I’m doing.
“I’m really happy to be here,” she tells me, fitting the glasses back onto her face. They don’t detract at all from the vibrant color of her eyes. If anything, they make her more attractive. “Your facilities are very impressive.”
“We’re lucky to have you,” I tell her, taking a step back because I’m standing way too close to Nicolette Bell to be work-appropriate.
“Knock, knock,” someone says from the doorway, and I recognize the voice immediately as Abigail. I turn and find her smiling with a familiar bakery box in her hand.
“What are you doing here, Abigail? I thought we got rid of you,” I tease.
“Well, I just wanted to drop these off for Nicolette’s first day.” She lifts an eyebrow. “But if you’re gonna be an ass, I’ll just take these goodies home and eat them all myself.”
Nicolette raises her hand. “I’d just like to point out for the record that I’m not being an ass.”
We all laugh, and Abigail sets the box down on the desk. “Okay, I’ll leave them and let you decide if you want to share anywith the boss.” She checks her watch. “I need to skedaddle. My daughter has a doctor’s appointment, and I’m going with her. Nicolette, I hope you have a great first day.”
Once Abigail is gone, Nicolette lifts the lid off the box, and the aroma of fresh blueberry muffins fills the room.
“Wow, these smell amazing. Would you like one, Dr. Hale?”
Damn, I like the wayDr. Halesounds coming from her lips… which I’m definitely not looking at. Nor her pink tongue. It doesn’t escape my attention that I didn’t notice Abigail’s tongue a single time while she was here.
I can feel myself sinking into troubled waters, and I know I need to tread carefully. This woman is an employee of my family’s company, and she will be an incredible asset to my laboratory. I can’t lose her over something stupid.
So I’ll remain completely professional, aloof even, and that starts withnothaving breakfast with her.
“I think I’ll just grab one and eat it in my office. I have some things to do before everyone else gets here.” I select one and give Dr. Bell a curt nod. “See you in the development lab in fifteen?”
Something trickles down my spine when her smile fades a bit. I don’t want to hurt her feelings, so I’m going to have to work hard to walk a tightrope between formal and cold.
Because if I don’t, I could see myself toppling off and crashing to the ground.
CHAPTER NINE
It’s a good thing I’ve sworn off science guys
Nicolette
Okay, it’s admission time. I’m a sucker for a hot nerdy guy. Give me a man with glasses and a brain, and I’m toast. And my new boss fits neatly into thehot nerdcategory, which leaves me feeling quite toasty.
But it’s not just the glasses. The man is tall… like so tall I have to crane my neck to look up at him. He seems broad beneath his lab coat too. And his face? He’s so handsome I checked the floor of my office after he left to make sure I hadn’t produced a puddle of drool—or other bodily fluids.
If you looked up square jaw in the dictionary, they would most assuredly have a photo of Helix Hale with arrows denoting the rugged lines of his face. And his eyes are so blue, I would think they were contact lenses if he weren’t wearing glasses. Though I guess he could be wearing them for cosmetic reasons.
And I’m not even going to discuss his lips.
Okay, okay, since you asked nicely, here goes. They are the softest shade of rose and perfectly plump, though not full-on Kardashian. He has the kind of mouth that would make me wail in despair if he grew a bushy mustache and covered the pronounced cupid’s bow with its soft peaks and gentle center dip.
There. I hope you’re satisfied because I’m not discussing Dr. Hale’s mouth anymore. Speaking of names, he called meDr. Bellall morning. I noticed he called Abigail by her first name, but he’s been very formal with me while we moved about the lab, so I reciprocated by calling him by his official title like the other employees do. Everything is just so… polite. Maybe he’s simply not comfortable enough with me yet to be on a first-name basis.
Which is fine. I’m here to do a job and not make friendship bracelets with my new boss. It’s not like we’re TayTay and Travis.
Late in the morning, as I peer into a microscope, I become aware of someone standing beside my stool. Pulling my eyes away from the device, I slip my glasses back onto my face and peer up at the star of my thoughts.
