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I went to my office, sat in my chair with my laptop open in front of me, more of a prop than anything else, and was trying to figure out what to do next, when my phone binged.

It was Garner letting me know it was slow going, but they were making progress. That was my hint that I could take the day to get over these big feelings and get back to work. They had it under control.

Only I did the exact opposite, heading right to their headquarters, only stopping long enough to get Garner a coffee and a muffin. I wasn’t even sure if he liked them, but I figured it was the thought that counted.

Goodies in hand, I walked in, ready to conquer the day, choosing to trust Harold and unwilling to stay away any longer.

7

GARNER

As I headed to my office, hiding a yawn behind my hand, I paused.

Joss was leaning against my office door, two coffees in hand and a paper bag with the name of my favorite bakery emblazoned on the side. This had become his habit, and I loved it.

“Rough night?” He wasn’t smirking as Booker would have been, but there was concern in his voice and those deep brown eyes.

“Ummm, didn’t get much sleep.” I should have said that I couldn’t sleep because my response suggested I’d been busy, and I didn’t want Joss to think I’d been clubbing or someone was sharing my bed. “Had a lot on my mind,” I clarified.

I took the proffered coffee and gulped a huge mouthful.

“Can you spare ten or fifteen minutes?” Joss jerked his head at the window. “Beautiful day.”

For once I was grateful Uncle had insisted on including a terrace in the new building, and I slid open the sliding door. There was agentle breeze that ruffled Joss’s hair, and I drank more coffee so he wouldn’t catch me staring.

“I have an ulterior motive for bringing you out here.”

Hmmm. I stared at the street below and the people bustling across the street. “Hoping you’re not planning on throwing me over the railing.”

Joss spat out his coffee, and he wiped his mouth with a paper napkin. “Why would you say that?”

“Because I gave you an almost impossible task and you’ve been buried in paperwork since you got here.”

Joss shrugged. “That’s my job. I pull all the threads together into a manageable strategy so that my clients can do what they do best.”

“Do you say that to all your clients?”

He chortled. “I try to keep upbeat while tearing my hair out, but yeah, pretty much.”

I clutched my chest. “You’re telling me I’m not special? I’m hurt.”

“You definitely are,” he murmured under his breath. He wouldn’t have any idea that I picked up what he’d said. He sipped his drink and his face brightened. “But I have a proposal.”

Oh gods no, not more money. That wasn’t possible.

“I’d like to do a trial run of the new software.”

Did that involve money?

“Okay. What do you need from me?”

“Your time.” He extended his hand toward the doors. “But if we do it here, you’ll be distracted. At Denmarke Solutions, we prefer to take the CEO out of their regular environment so we can introduce and review our solution and conduct training.”

It would be more beneficial if he trained the entire department, though goosebumps paraded over my skin when I pictured Joss and me having a candlelight dinner. But when I brought it up—about my employees, not the romantic evening—he explained I needed to approve the new system first.

But I didn’t want to, because when I did, Joss’s contract would end and he’d leave. I plastered a smile on my face and agreed because I had to put the business and the den before my personal feelings, and Joss didn’t know who I was. He might not like me, as we’d not shared a meal or talked of anything besides work.

“I’m in. Should we rent a meeting room somewhere?” We had plenty of space, but if I was on the premises, my staff would badger me with questions.