Page 20 of Rude Boss 2

He stands as I walk in his direction. He has on a white shirt, gray vest and matching pants. He must’ve left the suit jacket at work.

With each step I take, I grow more nervous. I don’t know why. I was just with him yesterday, but that speaks to his aura – or maybe my inhibitions are due to the fact that you never know what you’re going to get with Essex. Is this meanworkEssex, or chillweekendEssex?

As I approach the table, he stands and reaches for my chair, but I wrap my arms around him and say, “I’m so proud of you!”

“Why?”

“You know why,” I say, releasing him. After I’m seated, he returns to his seat. I say, “The email you sent about casual Fridays! OMG! I was like ‘did he really just do that’?”

“If I’d known it would get you this excited, I would’ve done it sooner.”

The smile eases from my face when I realize he’s sitting there staring at me. He’s not smiling. He’s expressionless and mellow.

I say, “So, what’s up? You got me sneaking out of the office, feeling like I’m cheating on my coworkers.”

“Cheating?”

“Yeah. Cheating…having lunch with the enemy.”

“I’m notyourenemy. You can’t classify yourself with them any longer because you and I—we have a different kind of relationship.”

“That is true, isn’t it?”

It’s a strange, twisted relationship, but a relationship nonetheless.

“It is. I’ve never taken them out to lunch, nor have I implemented any ideas they brought to me—not even the executives.”

“I see.” I narrow my eyes, trying to figure him out. I ask, “Why did you log out of messenger this morning when we were in the middle of a conversation?”

“Because I had a meeting to get to and besides that, I didn’t want you talking your way out of not meeting me.”

“And what if I didn’t show up?”

An arrogant grin lifts the corner of his mouth. I guess that’s my answer. He knew I’d show up.

I don’t feed into his conceit. I ask, “What was so urgent that you needed to meet with me in person?”

“I didn’t say anything was urgent. I said I needed to talk to you.”

“O-kay. Now that I’m here, what do you want to talk to me about?”

“Nothing much,” he responds, withholding a smile, and I can see how hard he’s working at it.

This man…

My forehead tightens with frustration, especially when I see the telling smirk on his handsome face. “What do you mean, nothing much? You had me come over here for nothing?”

“No. I wouldn’t do that. I know how valuable your time is, as well as mine.”

“Then why am I here, Essex?”

He smiles. His eyes make a soft landing on my lips before he connects his gaze with mine. “You’re here because I wanted to see your beautiful face without having to sit at my desk and visualize it. I wanted to talk to you. Face to face. I wanted to hear the way you pronounce my name. Smell your sweet perfume and gaze into your eyes until I forget what day it is. Is that a clear enough explanation?”

“I—” What do I say to that? I mean, I’m not blind to the fact that he likes me. He kissed me in his office for goodness sake! I never really brought it up, and neither has he, but the kiss still resides within me. And while I’m lowkey flattered by the attention, I can’t let this continue.Weare not the same. He’shimand I’m nowhere near his status. Plus, he got big-time issues. This little temporary infatuation he has with me needs to go away and fast.

I clear my throat and ask, “Where’s the waitress?”

“I already ordered for us,” he says, tapping his fingertips on the tabletop.

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