Page 49 of Sing it, Sam

I’m falling for him.

A sharp pang in my chest has me clawing at his waist. Our kisses grow feverish. Sam bites at my lower lip, drawing a groan from my mouth.

“A word, Miss Rhynehart,” a familiar voice says from behind me.

Shit. Shit. Shit.

Frozen in place, I squeeze my eyes shut.This isn’t happening.

When I open my eyes, Sam is staring back at me, his face flushed. “Whoops,” he whispers.

My veins fill with dread. This is happening. I’ve been caught snogging a resident. By my boss. I’m in deep shit.

Slowly, I pry myself from Sam’s embrace and turn to Kathleen. With my sweaty palms, I smooth the crinkled edges of my dress on my hips. “Kathleen,” I choke out. “I’m—”

“My office,” Kathleen interrupts, in a tone she could have blueprinted from my mother. She turns on her heel and rushes from the room, her shoes clicking down the hall.

I swing my head back to find Sam biting down on his lower lip. He chuckles. It makes me want to slap him. “You just got schooled,” he says.

I glare at him. “No shit,” I whisper and rush from the room, sheepishly following my boss to her office where I take a seat opposite her. It’s as if I’m a naughty teenager about to be grounded. My stomach sinks. She expects a lot of her staff. I’ve mucked up on this one.I can’t afford for this to end badly.

“Jane,” Kathleen says on an exhale. She places her hands out in front and presses her palms together. Her lips pull into a straight line.

“Yes, Kathleen.” I nod and straighten my spine. Now is the time to listen so I give her my full attention.

“I’m all for young love, don’t get me wrong, but you need to have some decorum around here.”

Please don’t let me lose my job over this.“I’m so sorry,” I say, my voice cracking with each word. “It was out of line. Unprofessional.”But I couldn’t stop myself. I squeeze my hands together in my lap.

“You’re right. It was. I hope we don’t have to have a chat like this again.”

“No, I hear you loud and clear.” I cross my legs, and then uncross them.

Kathleen stares at me for a moment. After a pause, her face softens. “Of course. Now, what I’m about to say next is between you and me.”

---