Page 7

7

Ella

Jack: Can you come by my office at some point today? I need you to fill out some forms for the insurance.

I read the text as a yawn overtakes me. I couldn’t sleep last night. Between the stress from work and the mysterious texts I thought were long over, my mind would not turn off enough to fall asleep for longer than a few minutes.

Craig is out of the office, texting me that he’s sick. After the close call yesterday, it’s nice not to worry about hiding anything from him. Especially considering this morning, I received some of the requested documents from the other departments. But I was once again disappointed when what I thought would be my smoking gun wasn’t .

I know something is going on. I have to keep digging until I find it.

Picking up my phone, I text Jack.

Me: Sure, I just have to run home real quick after work. I can be there by 6. Is that okay?

Jack: Yes, I will be here.

He sends me the address, and I set my phone aside and refocus on the report I’m preparing.

A few hours later, I enter the elevator of Jack’s office building and glance down at the jeans and plain t-shirt I’m wearing.

Maybe I should have put on something cuter.

Squeezing my eyes closed, I give myself a mental shake. It doesn’t matter. He didn’t ask me here because he wanted to see me for any reason besides the accident.

My grip tightens on the container in my hands as my mind moves on to worrying about Jack thinking it’s weird that I am bringing him cookies. Well, not just him but his coworkers, too. I had too many after I baked everything for the senior center, so I didn’t want them to go to waste.

I could have brought them into my own office, but I liked the idea of giving them to Jack instead. The thought of him eating my sweet treats gave me an intoxicating feeling that I should probably have ignored.

It’s too late now to change my mind, anyway. It would be even weirder if I walked in with a random container of cookies without handing them over and, unfortunately, my purse is too small to hide them .

The elevator dings to alert the arrival on the floor, and I step into the large open reception area. It’s simple but modernly decorated, with some couches in a makeshift waiting area to one side and clusters of desks on the other.

“Ella!”

I smile when Tyler stands from behind the reception desk. “Hey, Tyler.” I glance around before explaining, “Jack asked me to come by today. Is he around?”

“He told me you would be stopping in. I’m filling in for our receptionist.” Tyler gestures to the nearby couches. “Go ahead and have a seat. He got held up at an offsite meeting, but he should be here shortly.”

“Thanks, Tyler.” He follows me over to the couch and sits in one of the chairs across from where I sit. I try to find a topic that will help settle my nerves. “I really hope you didn’t get in too much trouble over the accident.”

Tyler blushes and shrugs. “A little bit. But it’s fair and deserving.” Tyler glances around the office. “Jack is tough and expects a lot of his employees because of the nature of our work, but he’s a great boss. He gave me this great opportunity because we’re family, but he makes sure I earn the right to work here, just like anyone else.”

It’s obvious how much he respects his cousin. Even nicer is hearing Tyler confirm what I was beginning to suspect with the lunch delivery—that despite his serious and gruff exterior, Jack is actually a good guy.

A ding has us both turning toward the elevator as Jack and another man step out. He’s about the same height as Jack but a little slimmer, even if it’s evident he works out regularly with his muscular build. His light brown hair is longer on top, the style unruly, as if he runs his hand through it regularly. Dressed similarly in black slacks and a black button-up shirts, his is untucked, whereas Jack’s is tucked in, with his sleeves rolled up to reveal his muscular forearms. Just a glance at Jack’s arms has me wondering how they’d feel wrapped around me.

When the man sees me, his face breaks into a wide grin as if he knows me.

Jack steps up to where I’m sitting on the couch. My stomach dips at the intensity of his handsome face. “Gisella, sorry I’m late.”

Shaking my head, I stand and take a step closer to greet him. “It’s okay. I understand.”

He juts his chin as the container in my hands. “What is that?”

“Oh! I, uh, brought some cookies.” I extend the container for him to take.

“Sweet! Let me get one of those, Jack.” The unknown man tries to take the container from Jack’s grip.

Jack shifts away from him and tucks the container under his arm, giving him a side-eye. “She brought me the cookies, Nate.”

I gesture around us vaguely. “Uh, well, they can be for everyone,” I stutter.

Jack’s gaze locks onto mine. “No.”

I breathe out a nervous laugh, rolling my lips to tame my amusement. “Okay.”

He gestures to a door on the other side of the office. “Let’s go into my office. I have those papers for you to fill out.”

Heading in the direction he indicated, I enter his office ahead of him. It’s dark, moody, and masculine, fitting for the man who occupies it.

I take a seat in one of the chairs facing his desk. The large leather office chair creaks under his weight as his muscular body sinks into it across from me .

He slides the forms across his desk, explaining because of the kind of corporate car insurance his company has, additional information is needed. I nod and begin filling them out while his attention stays focused on me. I can smell his cologne from here, and it reminds me of the other day. My heartbeat picks up as the pull I feel toward him makes me squirm. I fight the urge to smooth down my hair or straighten my shirt to ensure I look presentable enough to be worthy of his fierce appraisal.

After a few minutes, I sign the last one and slide it back to him. “I think that’s everything.”

He doesn’t immediately move to take the forms, so I raise my eyes to his. He is studying me.

“You look tired,” he remarks as he gathers the forms, tapping them on the desk to straighten them.

A laugh pops out of me. “Is that your way of saying I look like shit?”

With a wince, he sets the papers in a neat pile on the side of his desk but replies, “I don’t think you could if you tried.”

My eyebrows raise in surprise at his compliment. “Thank you,” I respond softly. “It’s been a long week, and I think it’s catching up with me.”

He doesn’t say anything for a moment, just watches me as he scratches his fingers through his short beard. Something about that makes my core heat. I cross my legs a little tighter. His presence is so blistering and masculine, with his assessing eyes and the dark scruff lining his strong jaw. “Let me take you to dinner.”

I’m unsure if I’m more surprised by him asking me to dinner or his comment about how I look. “You don’t have to do that, Jack. ”

He leans forward and places his elbows on the desk. “I know I don’t have to. I want to.”

It’s my turn to study him for a few moments. Every cell in my body is screaming at me to agree, wanting him to lean closer. But my brain is telling me to proceed with caution. Not because it’s scared of him or not interested, far from either of those things, but because it’s scared of getting hurt. It also reminds me that, considering everything going on in my life, now might not be the best time to start a new relationship. Ultimately, my brain loses, and I’m agreeing with a breathy, “Okay.”

A hint of a smile graces his full lips. He grabs the cookie container and rounds the desk, ushering me out of his office with his hand on my lower back. My core warms further at the contact.

The reception area is silent, and neither of us breaks it while we wait for the elevator.

Once outside, Jack asks, “I’m assuming you would prefer to drive?”

I lift my chin to look up at him. “That would probably be easier.”

He nods and names a restaurant nearby. “Will that be okay?”

I smile. “Yep, that’s one of my favorites.”

Anticipation grows on the short drive to meet him there.

I really should have put on a different outfit.