“Sure thing.” Blanca’s face is all smiles. I wonder if she ever goes against the grain.
Phil walks down the hall, stopping at a cubicle farther down to wish them a good morning.
“You should get to work,” Blanca says, swiveling her chair to face her computer.
“Yeah, I’m going to make a list of my favorite lunch places.”
I tear myself away because I’m fairly sure I could stay and watch her the entire day. Sitting at my desk, I put in my AirPods so I can concentrate on something other than the fact that she’s right next to me.
I may have been late today, but I use my time wisely, researching stories of co-workers who dated and digging to find real life people who had a horrible experience after dating a co-worker.
After scanning article after article and one Reddit story after another, I’ve determined that most work romances are all about secret sex in the copy room or inappropriate touches under the conference table. It’s then that I nail down the direction I’m going with my article. Work romances are a taboo thing that people get a high on just like a drug. It’s the thrill of possibly being caught.
By the time one o’clock arrives, and I pass Blanca in the hall talking to Tina from proofreading, I know I’m gonna be the winner.
“Hey Ethan,” Blanca says, waving to me.
“Blanca.” I nod. “Tina.”
“Ethan,” Tina says with zero excitement in her tone.
I sit in the chair next to where Phil will sit. He’s a creature of habit and believes his chair is the one at the head of the table. Blanca arrives minutes later and slides into the chair across from me.
“Tina’s nice.”
I nod.
“What is with you? Why are you so against socialization at work?”
“I get paid to work, not find out that one of Tina’s lizards is constipated again.”
Blanca laughs, one of her curls falling in front of her face. She’s so beautiful that it’s almost a physical ache that I can’t have her. Especially after the dreams of her under me, riding me, stripping for me. I’m almost scared to close my eyes. “How on Earth did you…”
“I might not speak but I have ears.”
She steadies her gaze on me like she’s searching for something. “You are one mysterious man, Ethan Ryland.”
“Why do you say that?”
I’ll be damned if I give her any personal information but at the same time I fear she has the capability of getting it out of me without me even knowing.
“Because you don’t want to get close to anyone here, yet you listen to their woes…”
“Since I have functioning ear drums I can’t stop from hearing their complaining.” I raise an eyebrow in challenge.
“You’re not closed off with me. You even got me a bagel this morning.”
The reason I became a writer is because I need time to think about what I want to say. I’m not good on the spot, so I take a brief moment to consider my response. But before I can say anything, Phil and Cassie walk in. I’m saved.
Blanca gives me a challenging smirk that says she’s thinking the same thing as I am.
“Okay you two. Blanca, this is my assistant, my niece, Cassie.” He holds out his hand toward the young woman at the end of the table who’s pulling out her phone.
“Hi, Cassie,” Blanca says with a genuine smile.
Cassie returns the smile and pops a bubble from her gum, positioning her phone in her hands with both thumbs armed to take notes. I roll my eyes and see Phil release a breath.
“Ladies first,” Phil says, leaning back and swiveling his chair to face Blanca.
It’s the first time I’ve seen her ill at ease. She’s smiling, but it’s not the casual one that suggests she’s in control. Her teeth are biting down on one side of her lip and then she clears her throat. “I took the position of co-worker relationships being a positive thing.”
Phil nods and waits silently.
“I have a list of five reasons why dating a co-worker is healthy.” Her gaze flicks to me.
“Okay, I’m not sure I want you to list them yet.” He swivels his chair my way like he’s Dr. Phil. “Ethan?”
“I’ve got six reasons why you should never date a co-worker with a great final argument.” I glance at Blanca who’s back straightens.
“More doesn’t necessarily mean better,” she says.
I swear my dick perks up when she fights back.
“Maybe not, but it’s more of an argument than your five.”
“How do you figure? Your reasons might not hold as much weight as mine.”
“Oh, they do.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“Okay you two.” Phil stutters out a laugh holding his hands up in the air. “I never would’ve predicted this dynamic between you two when I hired Blanca.” He concentrates his attention on her. “I thought you were a school fish.”
“School fish?” she asks, eyeing me like I can fill her in.
I have no idea what the hell he’s talking about.
“That you’d swim with everyone—but I like this shark attitude. Ethan needs someone to keep him on his toes.” He stands up and signals to Cassie that he’s done here. She blows another bubble and has to take the gum out of her mouth to get the residue off her lips.
We all watch her until she’s done, Phil’s eyes closing briefly.
“I just wanted to see the dynamic of the two of you talking about the articles. I can’t wait to see what I get. Articles are due Friday.”
He leaves the room and Blanca stands.
“School fish?” she says more to herself I think. Her disappointment of being classified that way bothers her, I can tell.
“You do have a goody two-shoes vibe.”
She scoffs.
I laugh at her pouty lip.
“But after today I’m thinking you might have a big bite when you get cornered.”
She smiles wider. “Just ask my brothers.”
Yeah, Phil definitely underestimated this girl who grew up with three older brothers. I guess I did it too, which only turns me on more.
I wish that was a good thing.
Chapter Ten
Blanca
Friday afternoon at three o’clock, I click send an email to Mr. Copeland, which contains my very first article that will be published in a magazine. Exhilaration spreads through my veins. I finally accomplished what I wanted. I am going to have something published in print.
Sliding out of my chair, I peek over the partition to find Ethan wearing his AirPods, his back to me, typing away. I use the moment to savor the glimpse of his back muscles flexing as he raises his shoulders up and down for relief. If we were girlfriend and boyfriend, I’d be able to give him a massage and relieve some of that tension.
Breezing by him, I head to the break room to celebrate by myself, wishing there was a bottle of champagne around. Instead of popping the bubbly, I pull out my phone and message Sierra that I’ve submitted my article and how excited I am.
Sierra: Party on the rooftop tonight!
Me: Rooftop?