Page 20 of Silver Fox Single Dad

I shut the door and slowly, I returned to my desk to finish out the work day. Even though I’d been successful thus far, I realized my plan wasn’t exactly a great one. At some point, I did have to see my employees, to make sure funding was going to the right places, to make sure they were fulfilling their deadlines and getting everything done they needed to.

But at least not today. I didn’t have to see her today.

Now to get through the rest of the days of my life. That would be a feat.

CHAPTER9

BRAD

Three days.It had been three days of agony and me being a total coward and hiding away in my office. I got a feeling the rest of the employees were talking about me. I had one visit from someone handing in their updates, and they asked how I was doing, as if I was ill or something. I knew I couldn’t stay locked in the room forever. I had to get out.

It wasn’t just that. I thought that the more time apart from Cassie would help diminish the impact of the kiss, but it only made it worse. The not seeing her was driving me crazy. I thought about it every second, and when I went home at night, I would think about it too. It only made me want her more, made me want to get it out in the open to see if there was something else behind that kiss.

It was now Thursday afternoon, and I was pacing my office, unable to focus or sit down and do any work. I was also worried about losing what reputation I’d built as the badass boss of the office. I needed to make sure I didn’t lose it, or else I would be right back where I started, with employees trying to take advantage.

After another few moments, I just said, “Fuck it,” and I left my office with a determined step. I was going to see her, to talk to her. I needed to get this off my chest, or I was going to go crazy. Work was my life, but now I was too distracted by a silly kiss to actually do anything productive. And no way was I going to lose this lab.

Outside of Cassie’s lab door, I paused, making fists at my sides, and I took a breath. Swinging it open, I found her instantly, my eyes drawn to her like moths to a flame. She looked up when I entered, and even though there were others in the room, it seemed like it was just us. Searching for my voice, I cleared my throat.

“Cassie, can I see you in my office, please?” I said, lifting my shoulders back and speaking in a low, commanding voice.

I knew how to feign confidence even if I didn’t feel it, and this was certainly the time to do it. Cassie popped off her chair and pulled off her safety glasses.

“Sure thing.”

It was surprisingly acquiescent for Cassie, and I was taken aback by how easily she agreed. Maybe she also wanted to talk about the kiss and was just waiting for me to make the first move? I stood back and held the door open for her as she walked through.

Our footsteps made the only sounds in the hall as we walked to my office together. My heart was pounding like crazy, and I was trying to take quiet deep breaths to prepare myself. I hadn’t actually thought of what to say, and now I was kicking myself for that.

I opened the door to my office, and she walked inside, but she didn’t sit down. Instead, she spun around and faced me as I closed the door. I’d never before felt silence like this. Thick and heavy like a blanket.

“So, Camilla would love to work with you again if you’re free? Today?” I asked, saying exactly the opposite of what I wanted to say.

“Sure, that would be nice.” She smiled, and even though she seemed tense, it was a genuine smile.

“Thanks. That would be great.” I breathed out, my head spinning. I had given lectures, written articles, and achieved a lot of notoriety in my life.

But in front of this woman who both frightened and intrigued me, I had no idea what to say.

Starting is better than saying nothing at all, you idiot.

“So, why’d you want to see me, boss?” she asked, folding her hands in front of her.

I hoped my chest wasn’t heaving as much as it felt like it was. I stepped closer. She noticed, and I could tell by the light color in her cheeks, but she didn’t step away.

“I want to know something. I can’t stop thinking about it. I want to know what happened in that bar on Friday night.”

Her chin lifted ever so slightly when I got closer so that she could look into my eyes. “I want to know why you kissed me back, Cassie.”

“Do we really need to talk about this?” Cassie asked. “Can we not just keep it in the past and look back at it as a…mistake?”

I was shocked she wasn’t angry with me. She wasn’t talking back; she was just talking. Like normal. Except for the fact that I could see she was breathing a little harder. I stayed where I was. I didn’t want to make her uncomfortable, so I didn’t move any closer.

“I didn’t see it as a mistake, if that’s what you think,” I said honestly. “Even if I am your boss. I think it was a surprise, though.”

“Yes, it was that,” Cassie said, not taking her eyes off me.

She licked her bottom lip and then bit it, and I looked there. I couldn’t help it. God, she was beautiful, and I wanted to kiss her again more than anything in the world. Still, if she wasn’t into it, I’d back away and everything would go back to the way it was. I’d never mention it again.

---