Page 40 of The Cowboy and the Bombshell
“Good weekend, then?” she asked cheekily.
Remembering myself, I smoothed my skirt and pressed a hand to my bun, making sure all was in place.
“Fine, thank you,” I said, sounding like I’d just run a marathon. “And yours?”
To that she just smiled. I pressed my lips together and strode to my desk, firing up my lap top and getting to work.
The day passed quickly as I exchanged emails with several vendors regarding the Soft Launch event that was planned. We were going to host an opening week bash, but prior to that, we would be hosting a smaller, more intimate gathering, to get the word out and get people talking. It was going to be by invitation only and consist of some of Ava’s high rollers, as well as industry big shots, other casino owners, and all the right media. Celebrities would be contacted, Instagram feeds would be filled, and hopefully -hopefully- it would drum up even more interest for the Grand Opening Event.
The Soft Launch party was going to be one month earlier than the actual hotel debut, and that put it only eight weeks away. Carson and I had been organizing entertainment, which included Dolly and her girls, as well as some of the Cowboy acrobat troupe, a live show that was made to look like a shoot out at high noon, and even a staged robbery, with masked bandits and such. The ‘robbers’ were going to ‘hold up’ the guests, but any money collected was going to a local charity.
All in all, I felt like we were on the right track for both events. I was starting to feel really good about my role here and I could practically taste the promotion. I could see my office in Manhattan just waiting for me to come and take a seat.
But, while I pictured that office, I couldn’t help but think of the way Stone’s hand felt in mine as we walked together this morning, or the possessive way he fisted my hair when he kissed me.
Shaking off those thoughts, because there was no possible way the Stone and Manhattan would ever go together, I looked at the clock, realizing it was nearly five. I made one last run through my list of projects, ensuring that I had accomplished everything I hoped to do today, when a soft knock at my door distracted me. Glancing up, I saw that it was Toby.
“Hi, Penelope,” he said, a gentle smile on his face as he moved to stand in front of my desk. He was always so happy, smiling and interacting with everyone he came across in the most positive ways. I wondered if that was a prerequisite for being a Human Resources manager.
“Hey, Toby. Long time, no see.” With all the hiring that had been going on recently, Toby had been working full speed with interviews, hiring packages, training courses, and benefits packages. We would pass occasionally, but hadn’t really had time to chat in a week or two.
“I know,” he said with a chuckle. “It’s been kind of crazy. But I have all the department managers and their assistant managers hired now, and training for the second wave of workers started today, so it will slow down a little from here on.”
I laughed. “I bet. It’s been crazy here, too.” I leaned back in my chair, rolling my neck from side to side. I hadn’t realized I was so stiff, but sitting at my desk, on the phone and computer all day had taken its toll. Not to mention the constant thoughts of Stone and what was or was not happening between us. It was no wonder I was tense.
“I bet. What is it?” he questioned, stepping farther into my office. “Only a few weeks to the big show?”
“Yeah, crazy, isn’t it?”
“You’ll be out of here in no time,” Toby said, unaware of how his causal statement caused a bolt of unease to shoot through my chest. “I bet you can’t wait to get back to the city.”
“Yeah,” I said, though I wasn’t sure I believed it anymore. But that didn’t make sense. I had dreaded leaving Queens, and I was counting the minutes until I could be home, in my apartment, with my mother. Where I belonged. Wasn’t I?
So why was I so uncomfortable thinking about that now?
“So, listen,” Toby went on, completely unaware of my inner turmoil. “I was wondering if we could get dinner sometime? I know this great Indian place down just a few blocks from here. Really authentic.” He stared at me with hope glittering is his eyes.
Oh, jeez. This was bad. I had a feeling that Toby had been flirting with me, testing the waters so to speak, but I hadn’t expected him to just outright ask me to dinner.
“Toby,” I started. “I appreciate the offer, but I think we should keep things strictly professional.” I tried to be as diplomatic as possible.
“Sure,” he said, playing unaffected. “Of course. That’s probably best.”
“Thank you, Toby. I appreciate -” but I didn’t get to finish.
Without knocking, Stone entered the room, his head bowed over his phone as he typed frantically.
“Penelope, if you’re ready, I ordered take out from that Italian place. I know you prefer the lasagna from there. We can pick it up on the way home and- oh. Hi, Toby,” Stone ground out, his usual formal boss-man tone in his voice. “How’s things in the HR department?”
There was an awkward silence as Toby looked from me to Stone and back again, his gaze full of accusation.
“Things are fine, Mr. Montgomery,” he said, no trace of the casual and friendly Toby who had entered my office only minutes before. “I’ll see you both tomorrow then.” And with one last cold look thrown in my direction, he turned and left.
“What was that about?” Stone asked, taking a seat in the chair facing my desk and sounding like he new exactly what Toby had been talking about. He looked good, because of course he did. He had shaved again this morning, and his chin was just now starting to show the shadow of his beard. I tried not to think about how great that stubble would feel on my skin.
I was unsuccessful.
“Nothing,” I replied, attempting not to look at his warm hazel eyes because they tended to distract me to speechlessness. “Toby was just-” I cut off when my lap top pinged a message at me. Our inter office messaging system had a distinctive chime, and right now mine was chiming all over the place. I glanced at my screen and felt the blood drain from my face.
