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“To assist me,” I clarify.
He stares at me, face relaxing a moment later. “Oh,assist you. Got it.”
I frown, not liking the emphasis he put on his words. “What are you implying?”
He clears his throat hastily. “Nothing.”
“Miss Shepherd and I have a professional relationship.”
“Yes, of course,” he backpedals, finally seeming to catch on to my seriousness. Performance management has never been my favorite thing, but unfortunately, it’s part of the job. “I apologize if I did or said anything wrong. Won’t happen again.”
I nod, moving on to what’s going on in his department, and a half-hour later, we’re squared away.
As he’s about to leave my office, though, he asks, “So, Emma—” He clears his throat hastily. “Miss Shepherd, I mean. Did she complain about me? Go to HR or something?”
“No, she didn’t. But I’m proactive with all employees about job roles and expectations within the workplace.”
What a load of shit. But he doesn’t need to know that. And would I honestly have cared as much if he’d said it to someone who wasn’t Emma?
I push that thought away, not wanting to examine it too closely.
“Right.” He nods, showing himself out, and I lean forward in my chair, rolling the tightness out of my shoulders. There’s been no time to hit the gym lately and I’m starting to feel the difference.
I tug at my tie, loosening it slightly, and pick up my cell when I notice it blinking.
Gabriel:Dinner tonight?
I open my calendar, finding everything booked solid through the rest of the day. Plus, Emma canceled the block of time I was scheduled to spend going over notes for a project meeting tomorrow so that I could meet with Richard instead. I’ll still need to do that later. And if I’m attending that benefit, I’ll already lose working time…
Me:Sorry, it’s a late work night.
A minute later he replies, a stab of guilt piercing me.
Gabriel:Seems like I talk to you even less now that you’re in town.
He puts an emoji in after to soften the blow, but it doesn’t change his meaning. I should make time to see my brother.
But there’s a small part of me that’s…
I shy away from the train of thought, not ready to go down that path just yet.
Me:We’ll get together soon.
Vague promises are all I can make for now.
A knock on my open door has me looking up, Emma there in the doorway with a blueberry muffin on a napkin. “Need an afternoon pick me up?”
“I thought you’d keep those all for yourself.”
A soft smile graces her lips. “I’ll share with you.” She hands me the muffin, our fingers brushing, sparks running through me at the slight contact. “I know you’re busy, so I’ll leave you to it.”
I shut my eyes as she walks away, determined not to watch how her ass moves in that tight skirt. My imagination already does plenty filling in the blanks. I can’t be a complete hypocrite after lecturing Richard.
Even if my body wants to be.
Chapter Nine
Emma