Page 51 of To the Chase

That seemed to please him. “Good.”

I held up a finger. “I said maybe.”

Tore snagged my hand before I could drop it and rolled his thumb over my ring. “This isn’t the same one you were wearing that night.”

My breath caught, and warmth flooded my belly. I wasn’t sure if I was reacting to his touch or the fact he’d remembered such a small detail from so long ago.

It was probably a little of everything.

“I lost that one.”

He rolled the spinner back and forth. “I like this. I never see you playing with it.”

I swallowed the lump in my throat. “I don’t. Not really. But I like knowing it’s there.”

“Bea—”

A knock on the door stopped him from saying anything else. Paul strode in, glancing between us, while Tore took his time letting go of my hand.

“Hey, Bea. Do you have a minute to talk about changes in the menu?” Paul asked.

“Yes.” I swiped my hands on my pants and edged away from Tore. His scowl burrowed into the side of my face, but I refused to look at him. “Should I find you when I’m finished?”

“What’s wrong with the menu?” Tore bit out.

Paul held up his hands. “Nothing. Bea’s food is perfect, but she mentioned switching it up so people didn’t get bored. If you don’t want to change, we don’t have to.”

Tore frowned at him. “Who’s bored? Did someone say they’re bored?”

He shook his head. “Absolutely not. I’ve only gotten positive feedback since we brought Bea in.”

“It was my idea, Tore,” I cut in. “No need to bite Paul’s head off.”

He whipped his attention back to me. “I don’t like changes being made without notice. Paul knows this.”

I arched a brow. “I find it hard to believe you manage this company on such a micro level. Do you also pick Paul’s ties out for him every morning? How do you possibly get anything done?”

Paul looked like his head was going to explode at the way I was speaking to his boss. Technically, I guessed he was my boss too, but I doubted I was in danger of being fired.

“I don’t like change when it affects me,” he repeated, his jaw tight. “Paul is more than capable of picking out his own ties.”

Shoot. I’d probably stepped over the line. In my day-to-day life, that wasn’t unusual. At work, though? Never. I was even more mortified I'd done it at Tore’s expense.

“Of course. I’m just teasing.” I leaned around Tore to address Paul. “Hey, I’ll talk to you in a few minutes, all right?”

“Got it.” He backed toward the door like he couldn’t escape quick enough. “I’ll be at my desk.”

When we were alone again, I exhaled slowly. “Sorry. Paul’s your employee. I shouldn’t have poked fun at you like that in front of him.”

“Thank you. I appreciate that.” He snagged my hand again and went right back to rolling my ring. “Do you have a boyfriend?”

I blinked at the sudden subject change, then laughed. “Do you think Paul and I are having a secret affair?”

The idea was so wild to me, it might’ve been from outer space. Paul was fine looking, but as far as I was concerned, he was sexless. Nothing about him piqued my interest. Unfortunately, Tore had been the only one who’d captured my attention in a long while.

“Paul?” He cocked his head. “It hadn’t crossed my mind. Are you interested in him?”

“I’m not.”