Page 137 of Stay With Me

She lifted her gaze to look at him, then to Nick, who was smirking, then finally to Kimberly, who had an odd look on her face.

“I feel a little funny,” she told Samantha.

Samantha made a face at Kimberly’s empty glass. “I told youonesip.”

Kimberly’s eyes grew huge. “I’m sorry! It was really yummy. Am I in trouble?”

Nick scoffed. “Of course not.”

He picked up the glasses and the plate. “Samantha’s just not used to restaurant industry culture.”

“You’re right,” she snapped back. “I’m used to a professional work environment.”

“Right.” He huffed, pushing Chase by the shoulder to leave the table. “Thanks for the feedback, Kimberly.”

After they’d disappeared back into the kitchen, Samantha couldn’t help clenching her fists and growling quietly, causing Kimberly to give her curious look.

“Did you guys break up or something?”

“No, we were never actually together,” she clarified, thankful for the opportunity to finally shoot the rumors down. “I know it probably seemed that way, but we only went on one date back in August,and since then we’ve basically been sort of friends I guess. He and I have different ideas when it comes to what’s appropriate in the workplace. That’s all that was.”

With that, the two women went back to their planning. Samantha attempted to concentrate on Kimberly’s endless listing of numbers and letters, as the martini seemed to go to her head and she grew more and more indignant over the whole exchange with Nick.

Eventually, she was just completely mad and abruptly stood from the table.

“Let’s take a little break,” she told Kimberly. “Go get a snack and a coffee.”

“But I’m not that hungry,” Kimberly protested, but Samantha was already halfway to the bar.

She stopped next to Nick and Chase, clearing her throat loudly and crossing her arms over her chest.

Nick tossed a flippant glance at her.

“Yes, Samantha.”

“May I have a word with you?”

“Absolutely.”

“Thank you.”

He gestured toward the hall, then followed her as she led the way. Upon arrival in the office, she closed the door behind them and attempted to gather her words in spite of a semi cloudy brain. She couldn’t quite think of why specifically she was mad, only that she was mad in general because merely being around him made her flustered and distracted to the point that she could barely function.

She clasped her hands together, resting them against her forehead, then dropped them to her sides. “Nick. Why am I here?”

He stood a few feet from her, leaned against her desk, hands slipped into the pockets of his slacks while he wore a thoroughly amused look.

“You’re the HR manager.”

“Right.And you’re the owner.In what universe does the person in my position have to constantly remind the person in your position of what’s appropriate and what’s not?”

“You don’t have to remind me of that. Nothing inappropriate took place just now.”

Samantha through her arms in the air. “You,and Chase, and Kimberly, and I are all now intoxicated!”

Nick chuckled. “Nobody’s intoxicated. Calm down.”

Much to her utter annoyance something about hearing him laugh caused a sudden fit of chortles to eek its way out of her throat so she covered her mouth in an attempt to stifle it. Nick lifted his eyebrows and smirked, taking one step closer to her, but not saying anything.