I plop down in my chair and run my hand through my hair. I hear the knock but don’t glance up, since I already know who it is. Instead, I take a deep breath and try to forget the way her sweet lavender scent stirred up something in my chest it had no business stirring.
“How’s the rest of my Monday looking?” I ask Jane, grabbing the ink pen on my desk and making notes on the first sheet of paper I can find. When she’s silent for a few seconds, I finally glance up to find her smiling. “What?”
Jane takes a seat across from me. “Look at you, pretending Marley Smith didn’t just get to you. How’s that contract coming?” she asks, mischief lighting her eyes.
I glance down and realize I’m jotting down notes on a purchase order for new dining room tables for the Cleveland location. “Fine,” I grumble, pushing it out of the way. “Can I help you with something?” I ask, my tone reflecting my agitation. I should feel guilty for talking to Jane as if she’s interrupting me, but it’s hard when she clearly isn’t fazed by my attitude.
“Not really,” she replies, schooling her features. “I just wanted to check to see how the meeting went with Miss Smith.”
“It went fine,” I state, leaning back in my chair and meeting her eyes.
She slowly nods. “Okay. If that’s how you want to play it, I won’t mention how frazzled she looked when she practically sprinted out of this office a few minutes ago.”
“Frazzled?” I ask, my throat tight.
Jane shrugs. “You know, how a woman gets when she’s attracted to a man and caught off guard.”
All I can do is stare at her. Attracted to me? Could it be true? I know how being near her has affected me, but is it possible she’s just as wound up as I am?
Then I recall the incident last week that got me into this new-hire mess. I sigh and close my eyes. “Doesn’t matter, Jane. Nothing will happen. She’s my employee.”
“So?”
My eyes widen as I gaze across my desk at the woman I’ve known practically my entire life. “So? Do you not recall what happened with Jeanie? I just fired her for coming on to me.”
“Right, because that was an unwanted advance.”
“No, because it’s inappropriate for a boss and employee to have a relationship outside of the office.”
Jane doesn’t reply for a few seconds, just watches me, which makes me fidget. “Your grandfather is one of my dearest friends. I’d consider him one of my closest confidantes, outside the office and within these walls. Are you saying it’s inappropriate for us to have a friendship?”
I sit up straight, knowing exactly how close my grandparents and the Haskins are. Many dinner parties I grew up attending had them in attendance, including the holiday ones with family.
But it’s different. There’s a big difference between a friendship and a sexual relationship.
“Of course it’s not inappropriate, Jane. There’s nothing wrong with a friendship-based relationship outside of work.”
“But there is something inappropriate about a sexual one?” she asks, her eyebrows arched upward in question.
I scoff at her use of sexual. Not something I’ve ever wanted to hear come from Jane’s mouth.
“Listen, Eli. What happened with Jeanie was different. Did you reciprocate her advances?” When I don’t answer, she continues. “No, of course you didn’t. If you found out Miss Smith was attracted to you, would you reciprocate those feelings?”
Again, I don’t answer with words, but I know she reads my body language as I sit up straight, my attraction to Marley forefront in my mind.
“Exactly. There’s nothing wrong with two adult individuals, who are interested in each other, exploring that attraction.”
“Even if one of the two was technically the other’s boss?” I ask
Jane shrugs. “Even then. There’s nothing in the handbook that says you can’t date an employee.”
“I’m sure it was never an issue, Jane. My grandpa was happily married and not looking to date his employees.”
“Maybe so, but he’s not the only one in management. The CFO was single when he started here, Eli, and your grandfather knew that. He didn’t add anything to the handbook to keep Cliff from dating anyone within the company.”
I sit here for a few minutes, mulling over her words, but at the end of the day, it still doesn’t matter. There’s one big problem with my attraction to Marley Smith.
Cameron.
No way would my best friend ever be okay with me dating his sister. What man would? There’s an unspoken bro-code one must follow when it comes to best friends’ little sisters.
Even if that little sister was twenty-two and sexy as fuck in her professional business attire.
Jane sighs. “That issue could be rectified with a conversation.”
My mouth falls open. “Are you a mind reader now too?”
My assistant just laughs. “No, but I can see the internal debate written all over your face. Talk to your friend. I bet he won’t be as opposed to you courting his sister the way you think he would.”
“Courting?” I ask, a grin cracking my lips.
“Would you prefer me to call it hanky-panky? Doing the nasty? The horizontal mambo?”
I gape in horror at the older woman across from me. “Stop!”
Jane just laughs. “I may be old, but I’ve not always been old, Eli. I do recall what happens when a young couple dates and gets to know each other. I didn’t meet and marry Roland until I was in my mid-twenties.”
“I’d rather not think about you courting, Jane.”
She stands up and heads for the door. “Those were the days.”
“Stop.”
She laughs and opens the door between my office and hers. “I’m going to go back to work.”
“About time,” I tease, smiling easily.
“I’m just going to say one thing before I go,” she starts, making me groan. “If there’s something between you and Miss Smith, don’t be afraid to explore it. I’d hate for you to miss out on something amazing just because you’re hung up on the reasons why it’s a bad idea. Some of life’s greatest joys started off as questionable decisions.”
With that, Jane leaves me alone with my thoughts, closing the door tightly behind her as she goes.
I pick up the pen and find the right paperwork, determined to get back to the contract review I was working on earlier. Before Marley Smith walked into my office and shook up my entire world. My mind instantly replays our meeting, including the way she felt in my arms. Too good, dammit.
I also think back to what Jane said. While I see her point, there’s too much gray matter surrounding us. I don’t like the prospect of starting a relationship with someone on my payroll. In fact, I’m struggling hard with that one. But then there’s also Cameron. His is the longest friendship I’ve had, and no way do I want to jeopardize that.
I’m just going to have to forget about Marley.
Shouldn’t be too hard.
She’s my best friend’s annoying little sister.
I can ignore the pull I feel when she’s around. Overlook how amazing she looks dressed up in her business attire and how much her scent turns me on. Disremember the way her hot hand branded me when it was pressed against my chest.