Page 162 of One Bad Idea

From behind me, an older female voice said, "He already told you, he doesn't want them, so why don't you scuttle back to your own desk?"

Shit.

It was Darla.

I turned to her and said through gritted teeth, "Excuse me?"

"You heard me," she said. "Quit bothering him."

"I'm not bothering him," I shot back. "I'm doing my job."

I hated this.Whenever Darla filled in for Karen, she did everything she could to make my work-life miserable.

And yet, this was the first time she'd hassled me in front of Jaden.

Now, she gave a snort of derision. "Your job?That'swhat you call it? Prancing in here like he needsyourattention?"

Prancing? Seriously?

I made a scoffing sound. "I wasn't trying to give him 'attention.'" Again, I lifted the small papers in my hands. "I was trying to give him these."

She crossed her arms. "Sure you were."

There were so many things I wanted to say in return, but most of them were laden with profanity of the worst kind. And the last thing I needed now was a scene at the office.

After all, things were shaky enough as it was.

I turned to give Jaden a nervous look, only to freeze in mid-motion at the sight of him standing directly beside me.

When did that happen?

He looked to Darla and said in a low voice, "I already told you, leave her alone."

"Why should I?" Darla said. "I see the way she looks at you."

I sputtered, "What?"

She looked to me, and her gaze narrowed. "What, you think I don't see you mooning over him? It's disgusting. Get a grip on yourself, will ya?"

I felt my fingers clench.Oh, I wanted to get a grip on something alright.

And now, Darla was saying, "Andas long as I'm laying it on the line, stop cozying up tomydaughter."

I stiffened. "I'm not cozying up to her."

"Yeah, well she's always in your office. You think I don't know what you're doing?"

I was staring now. "What are you talking about?"

"You're pumping her for information, aren't you?"

"Information? About what?"

Her gaze shifted to Jaden. "Abouthim. And God knows what else."

My fingers were still clenched. "Hey, it's not like I'mdraggingher into my office. She walks in on her own."Uninvited, too.But that was beside the point.

Jaden's voice cut through the noise. "Time to go."