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Was I overreacting?
Maybe. I wasn’t really sure.
“That’s not for you to decide, James.”
He stopped beating the eggs and turned off the burner. He faced me again with arms folded over his chest and I realized he was wearing jeans and a t-shirt instead of one of his many tailored suits.
“I’m the one who hired you for the project you’re working on,” he said bluntly. “Anything that needs to be done at the hotel can wait another day.”
I narrowed my gaze at him, hands on hips. “Yes. You hired me. ButIam in charge of that project because youchoseme to do it. I decide my hours and when I work,notyou.”
“You need to take a damn day off,” he snapped, a vein pulsing near his temple. “I could see through you yesterday. Take the damn day off.”
“No.”
He shoved off the counter and stormed over to me. “You need to take a break.”
“That’s not your decision.” Leaning in until we were practically nose to nose, I added, “You only get my submission in the bedroom—and only after you earn it. What you’re doing now is a step away from crossing the line.”
His temper flared in the dark, velvety brown of his eyes. “I’m not crossing the line. I’m takingcareof you. Or at least I’m trying to.”
“You crossed the damn line by makingdecisionsfor me!” Jabbing him in the chest with my index finger, I added, “If you’re going to be like this, then maybe I shouldn’t work for you.”
“Tina…”
I turned away with a shake of my head.
“Stop,” I said, not looking at him. “Just…stop. I need to get to my office—I have meetings and other things to handle. And if I put them off, theentireproject will be delayed.”
He said nothing as I left the room.
* * *
I was still broodingabout it later as I parked behind my office building. When we met Friday night, I’d driven my car to the new hotel where we had first met and my car had stayed in valet parking since.
Earlier, I’d stiffly asked James to drop me off so I could get my car and he’d done so without saying more than a few words.
That was fair. I had little to say to him, too.
Maybe later I’d be capable of logical conversation when I was less emotional. But right now was not that time.
Once inside, I checked the blinds to make sure they were closed. I knew I should unlock the front door and remove the note I’d taped up yesterday, but I still wasn’t up to handling people. James had been difficult enough. Strangers, though? Potential clients? The idiot at the real estate office at the end of the complex who kept trying to talk me into coffee, or any suitable beverage, whenever I had the time?
Okay, maybe the idiot would be acceptable because I’d be fine exploding on him and showing him the sharp edge of my temper.
But nobody else.
It would take another day or two before I was ready to talk to a potential client. I’d be fine with the inspections—I knew the people.
Sitting behind my desk, protected by the dim lights and the lowered blinds, I eyed my desk calendar. I selected a colored marker and circled the coming Thursday. Two days. I’d give myself two days to take it easy. I’d had a rough time, but after that, I’d turn on the lights and roll up the blinds.
Feeling better with that decision, I pulled up my email on the desktop computer and opened the calendar app on my phone.
“Let’s get to…”
The knock on the glass door was solid and loud.
“Shit!” I nearly jumped out of my seat.