Page 70 of A Lot to Unpack
The office is still alive with activity – the UK team still set up in a pop-up office in the conference room.
Bella is on the phone – I don’t think I’ve seen her off it yet, not even when she introduced herself to me – and then there’s Pete and another guy called Karl who appear to be elbow deep in code right now.
And then there’s Jordan, whose face lights up when he sees me. He’s on the phone too, but not for long.
‘I’ll call you back,’ he says as he hangs up the phone. ‘Hello.’
He really does seem genuinely pleased to see me, and it makes all of my internal organs feel sort of fizzy.
‘Hi,’ I reply. ‘Your shirt, boss.’
‘Why thank you,’ he replies. ‘Do you have a minute?’
‘I work for you,’ I say, stressing each word.
He laughs.
‘In here,’ he suggests.
Alison’s office must be free again, so I step inside with him. I’ve no sooner closed the door behind me when I turn around and see him standing there, shirtless, grinning at me.
‘So, what did you decide on?’ he asks.
‘What?’ I reply, mildly lost for words. I just… his body… wow. His tattoos almost look as though they tell a story. I’ve only got to look at them fleetingly, but I want to get a closer look. Problem is, if I get that close to him, I think my priorities might change.
‘The shirt,’ he prompts me. ‘Something with stripes? Something floral?’
‘Oh, no.’ I laugh as I get my thoughts back on track. ‘A plain white one. I’m trying to get a rise, not the sack.’
‘You’ll get a rise,’ he replies, almost like he has his tongue in his cheek. ‘Which reminds me. Tonight… I was thinking about picking up where we left off, at the ice rink, but I’m thinking we might have to do the whole date again…’
‘LikeGroundhog Day?’ I reply.
‘…but I’m thinking we might have to do the whole date again…’ he says again, which is the most adorable joke.
‘I don’t know, as perfect as last night was, doing it again feels like cheating,’ I point out.
‘Not the same date,’ he replies. ‘I’m working on a plan for another one – an even better one.’
‘Last night won’t be easy to top,’ I remind him as he buttons up his new shirt. ‘How are you going to do that?’
‘I don’t know, I think what I had planned for the finale might have swept you off your feet,’ he tells me. ‘So, what are you going to do until then? You know the hotel has a spa…’
I love how he drops a bomb like that and then swiftly moves on.
‘You don’t need me here?’ I reply.
‘You may as well go and enjoy yourself,’ he says. ‘Save you sitting around here watching us talk tech.’
‘Well, if I’m definitely no use here, I’ll see you in the hotel bar at nine?’ I say – I swear, I can practically smell the spa’s essential oils in anticipation of my arrival.
‘Sounds good to me,’ he replies. ‘I’ll get things wrapped up here, get changed, and then knock your socks off.’
‘Sounds like it’s going to be big,’ I say.
‘Well, now you’re just trying to make me say something dirty,’ he replies with a laugh. ‘See you at nine. I’m looking forward to it.’
‘Me too,’ I tell him.
