Page 28 of Under the Mistletoe
“I can see him and you. I actually think it could work.”
“We haven’t… I mean, we’re not…” It doesn’t really matter what I say. The redness in my cheeks tells her everything she already knows.
“You don’t need to explain anything to me. I know you got this job on merit. I’ve seen your work firsthand. You’re dedicated, honest, hardworking. I’m on your side. But you need to be careful. He isn’t making you do something you don’t want to do, is he?” Her frown is immediate.
“What? No!” I rear back in surprise, but I guess it’s a logical assumption. It hits me then exactly how serious this is. For me. For Donovan. I knew it wasn’t a great idea, but it could ruin things for him if the gossip gets out of control.
“So… you like him? He likes you?”
“I like him. I think he likes me too.” I need a friend now. I have to be honest.
“Well, by the look of the scarf, I’d say he does. Suits you too. Red’s your color.”
“That’s it? Red’s my color? You're not going to talk me out of it? You're not going to tell me this is the worst decision I could make for not only my career, but probably my life? You aren’t going to warn me to pull back, stop it before it becomes something unsavable?” I may be projecting my own fears now, but she’s my friend. Hopefully she can help.
She pauses and gives me a smile. “No. You're a smart woman. Having a romantic relationship with your boss is a little outside of your usual life choices, and I’ve never known you to do something so risqué… but I can see you love this job. You excel at it, and I have a feeling that it isn’t just the work, but maybe the man you’re working with that’s making you smile so much these days.”
I swallow roughly, feeling nervous, but not in a bad way. “So you’re saying I should just go for it?”
“I’m saying that if I or any other red-blooded woman was in your position, we’d be having sex with Donovan York all over his office every day of the week.” She fans herself while giving me a grin.
“What about the office gossip?” My brow crumples, wondering why Ashley seems to have such a problem with me that she’s spreading rumors rather than deflecting them.
“What about it? Can’t stop it. People will talk, no matter what you do. So I’d probably just put my head down and prove them all wrong. Show them you didn’t get your promotion because big dickie Donovan wanted to come out and play.”
“Big dickie what?” I crack a smile then, and she grins even wider.
“Ohhhhh, you need to tell me everything…”
“It’s stupid of me, isn’t it?” I moan, my head falling into my hands, knowing it’s a line I shouldn’t want to cross. Yet I do.
“Maybe, but all good things usually are.”
My cell chimes, and I look at it.
“Is it him?” Her eyebrow rises, her smirk on full display.
“No. Jimmy.” I show her the screen, and she rolls her eyes.
“Is he still calling you?”
“Only about three times a week.”
“Three times a week?!” Again, she shrieks.
“You know what he’s like. He doesn’t have many friends.” I shrug. I feel bad for Jimmy, but his calls are excessive, especially since I don’t ever answer them. My stomach drops a little, unease filling it.
“Isn’t he a lawyer in the city? Of course he has friends. Does he still come into the shop on Saturdays?”
“Like clockwork.”
She frowns. “You need to tell him to stop.”
“I decline every date he asks me on. I don’t seek him out; I’m merely polite when I see him. Look, I don't even answer his calls.” I show her the screen, scrolling through all the missed calls.
“He’s weird.”
“Uncle Bob doesn’t like him.”
