Page 28 of The Ice Queen in the Corner Office

She grinned. “We aren’t talking about my husband, Mr. Owings. And I didn’t suggest you wait until she comes to you. That’ll never happen. I’m suggesting you give her a day or two to adjust to whatever ideas you put in her head last night and then woo her with lunch.”

“What makes you such an expert?” I asked, hating that she was making me doubt what I knew to be a fool-proof plan.

“I pay attention. It wouldn’t hurt you to do that once in a while.”

I stood and grabbed the lunches from the corner of my desk where she’d set them. “I’ll pay attention while I’m eating lunch with her.” I didn’t back down, but my brain was already working, considering Agatha’s advice and re-thinking my plan.

“You do that,” Agatha said, but the look on her face suggested she expected me to make a huge mess of things.

I smiled as I walked with her to her desk. “Don’t worry, Agatha. I learn from my mistakes. I won’t put you in the middle of this.”

“Sure, you won’t,” she muttered. “I’m going to lunch.”

“Take an extra-long one today. Maybe stop by and see your husband. He’s still working on the Turner case, right?” Her husband was a successful lawyer who was working a couple of blocks away.

“He is,” she said. “And he should have a few minutes for a visit from me.” She grabbed her purse and stood, giving me a broad smile. “Don’t wait up.”

I waved her off and made my way to Jill’s office. She was on her feet, her back to me, staring out the window. She had her fingers on her lips, rubbing them gently. Was she remembering our kiss? Wishing for another one? If Agatha hadn’t warned me off, I might have asked.

She spun to face me, her hands dropping to her sides, her cheeks pinking. I bit my lip not to grin at the effect I so obviously had on her, not to tell her how beautiful she looked when she blushed. “I’ve got lunch.”

She sighed. “I appreciate the thought, but I’ve got a ton of work and—”

“I want to talk to you about the Landerly resort. There’s been an odd loss of money from the accounts. I’m starving, so I brought lunch for you, too. Didn’t want to be rude and eat in front of you.”

“Okay.” Her back straightened and all emotion left her features as she went into business mode. She sat at her desk and gestured to the chairs in front of it. “I do appreciate the offer of lunch, but I’m—”

“Vegan. I remember. I brought you a bean burrito and a green shake. Your assistant said you’d like it.”

“I do, but I—” She bit her bottom lip and crinkled her aquiline nose. It took everything in me not to lean over the desk and pull that lip from her teeth with my lips. “I am hungry. Thank you.”

She typed on her computer while I pulled our meals out of the paper bags and set them on her desk. “The Landerly resort. I haven’t looked at it in a few days. Where’s the problem?”

I spent an hour with her, looking for a problem that didn’t exist. I didn’t get to talk to her about anything personal, but I learned that her brow wrinkles in thought when she can’t figure something out. I learned that she ate the bean burrito in its entirety before she drank the green smoothie, like that green horror was dessert and not some sort of punishment. I learned that she’s like a hawk when she thinks someone might be stealing from the company.

Even when I admitted I must have been mistaken, she insisted on continuing to look into it. She demonstrated loyalty and a serious concern for the company and the people who worked there. If she was an ice queen, it was because she cared too much, it was because she expected everyone to work as hard and care as much as she did.

I walked out of her office even more convinced that she was the woman I wanted in my bed and in my life.

***

I walked up the creaky front porch steps to the door of the expansive, elegant bed and breakfast in the middle of the Virginia mountains and double-checked the information Agatha had given me.

The resort was nothing like what I’d imagined. I’d assumed, knowing what I did of Jill, she would choose a swanky place with some purpose, a mediation slash yoga retreat or an adventure resort of some kind.

I couldn’t picture hard-working Jill laying on a lounger in the sun staring at a beautiful view. She’d want to be doing something. Or maybe that was me, because I hated to sit still, and I couldn’t imagine anyone enjoying it.

I turned the knob, but the door was locked. It was after ten at night and I didn’t want to knock and wake everyone up.

Damn it, I’d called and told them I’d be late. I pulled out my phone, ready to text my contact at the resort.

“Mr. Owings?”

I managed not to scream like a little girl, but I did startle and nearly drop my phone. I spun to see a woman, younger than me, blond and smiling, at the bottom of the stairs.

I smiled. “Please tell my you’re May.”

Her smile widened, but her expression was wary. “I am. If you follow me I’ll take you to your room.”

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