Page 56 of The Fun Part
“I used to do corporate work, so I’ve seen this situation before,” Cal says.
Oh, okay, so we’re going to pretend it’s completely normal that we’re now working together after I kicked him out of bed? For good reason! Cool, cool. No problem here.
“Mackenzie?” Nathan gives me a searching look. “Did you hear me?”
I stare at him blankly. “Say again.”
“The contracts for our clients.”
I pull them up on my laptop and address Cal’s eyebrow, unable to meet his eyes without imploding. “What’s your email? I’ll send you the contracts we have with them both.”
“Already got them from Nathan,” Cal says, giving me a strange look.
“Can you go over it with him?” Nathan asks patiently. “I have to go visit another potential client in the financial district.”
A zip of pure panic races up my spine. Alone with Cal? No, no, no. “We’ll reschedule for a better time. What potential client?”
Nathan stands and grabs his jacket, putting it on. “Someone I found on my own this weekend during basketball. I’ve been working all the angles.”
I stare at him imploringly. “Nathan, wait.”
He slaps Cal on the shoulder. “You’re in good hands here with Mackenzie. She basically runs the place.”
“So she told me,” Cal says with a grin.
Nathan barks out a laugh and strides to the door. I nearly topple over my chair in my hurry to catch up to him. I grab him by the sleeve before he gets to the door.
He turns. “What’s wrong? You look like somebody ran over your cat.”
“Never say that! Felix is the best cat ever.” I lower my voice. “Listen, you can’t leave me here with him. I’m unprepared. You should’ve run this by me first.”
“It’s no big deal. You know the clients inside out. Just answer his questions. We’re lucky he’s not charging us by the hour. I worked out a project fee that’s very reasonable. He’s trying to build goodwill here in town.”
He reaches for the door, and I plaster myself against it. “Reschedule your other meeting.”
“What is wrong…oh.” He gives me a knowing look. “You slept with him.”
“Shh!”
He pats my shoulder. “Good for you.”
“I ended it,” I whisper fiercely. “Now it’s awkward as hell. I can’t work like this. You need to take this on at another time.”
He looks perplexed, his brows crinkling together. “Ended what? Was it, like, a relationship? Don’t you usually have acarefullyoutlined with all the rulesfling?”
I bristle at his teasing. It’s my organized, rule-following nature that keeps this place running. “It’s none of your business. I just want to reschedule for a better time when you and Owen can be here.”
He gives me a look bordering on pity. “Mackenzie, from a guy’s perspective, he’s over it. Did you see how relaxed he was in there? He’s fine. So you’ll be fine too.”
I grit my teeth. “I am fine.”
He smiles, showing both dimples. “Good. Then you can manage to work on one small project together. He’ll probably bore you to tears with all the legalese, and all that pent-up lust you’re holding onto will vanish.”
I purse my lips. “I don’t have pent-up lust.”I’m way too satisfied for that, which is not the point. Focus!
He lifts his palms. “No judgment. Now if you’ll excuse me, I really do need to get to this meeting.”
I reluctantly move away from the door. He makes a quick exit.
