Page 23 of Forbidden Desires

He really is worried about my safety. I don’t know why, but I hand him my phone and watch as he enters his number. I’ve never received so many mixed messages from one person before.

“Mr. Alexander, your gumbo is ready,” calls a freckly-faced teenager in an apron as he holds up a takeout bag. He hands me back my phone, and I slip it into the pocket of my dress. He takes the bag from the kid.

Reaching into his wallet, he pulls out a couple of bills to tip the teenager. “Thanks,” he says with a nod, acknowledging his effort. Then he turns his attention back to me. “See you at eight in the morning.”

I furrow my brow in confusion, still processing that moment between us. “Eight? I thought I started at nine?” I stutter out.

“I have a meeting I want you to sit in on. Mary, my assistant, should have emailed you the details today,” he explains. “Also, I’m not sure if she mentioned it or not, but you won’t need to wear the company uniform unless you have an event. Normal office wear is sufficient.”

“Okay, see you in the morning,” I respond. Walking back inside to my new friends, I feel his eyes on me every step of the way. I slide into the booth, trying to get my heart under control. What was that?

“Everything alright?” Mae asks, with a mischievous smile. I only met this girl yesterday, but I can already tell she wants the gossip. Paisley is also giving me all her attention, leaning in.

“Just work stuff, a meeting I need to attend in the morning,” I tell them, not wanting to give away what it really was. I glance down at my phone, pretending to be engrossed in checking emails, mainly because I have no idea what else to say. He called me outside in front of them all to tell me I have chosen the wrong friends? To check up on me? He’s so confusing. And the way he looked at me when he took my hand, what the hell was that? And giving me his number in case I get into trouble. I check my emails and see he wasn’t bullshitting me; there is an email from Mary stating I have an early meeting in the morning. Then a text pops in. It’s from someone calledMy Southern Hero. And I have to cover my mouth to stop my laugh escaping.

MY SOUTHERN HERO: One more thing. I’m sorry I was an asshole today. I was surprised to see you. Tomorrow will be better.

I see the message above that, sent from my phone to his number, which he must have written when he was entering in my number. It says:Thank you for a perfect first day. How lucky am I to have my own personal hero as my boss.I can’t help but laugh again. Is this guy for real? This is the guy I met in New York. He’s fun and playful, naughty even. Not the grumpy asshole I met today.

With a stupid smile on my face, I go to text back, but the sound of Parker’s voice stops me.

“How did you find your first day?” Parker asks, taking a sip of his beer. He’s more reserved than Elliot, but he has a calmness about him I like.

I smile at him. “Honestly? Overwhelming. I feel like a fish out of water.” I chuckle nervously, twirling a strand of hair around my finger. “It’s going to take me weeks to get on top of it all and actually understand what I’m doing.”

“You have Em, and she’s the best. The rest of us go in and out of the place on the regular. If you ever need help, one of us is always close by.” He nods reassuringly.

“Thank you. Southern chivalry is a real thing.”

He nods. “You bet it is.”

“Glad I picked Georgia for my life-changing adventure then.”

He sips his beer, looking me over. “What did you do back in New York?”

“That’s a good question, isn’t it? She’s being very secretive about it,” says Paisley, moving in closer and butting into our conversation.

“I’m not. I told you I worked in theater.” I shift in my seat.

“Uh-huh, and that was it. What did you do there? You have to give us something more to go off. It’s exciting having someone new around.” Paisley leans back, a teasing smile on her face.

All eyes are on me again, and I feel my face heat. I’m not ready to tell them who I am. I don’t want them treating me differently. I glance at Parker, and he smiles at me sympathetically. I like him already. He’s quieter than the rest of this group and more reserved. It’s hard to believe he’s Paisley’s brother, they are so different. He watches what’s going on around him, unlike his sister who is all go. She talks a million miles a minute and likes to have the attention on her.

“Leave the poor girl alone. Clearly, she doesn’t want to talk about it,” he tells his sister, and she rolls her eyes at him dramatically.

“You ruin all my fun. I’m not trying to be pushy, I just know it’s going to be an interesting story. I’m just going to say it: Gisele,you’re like the most beautiful girl I have ever seen. I’m kind of obsessed with how blue your eyes are.”

A gentle warmth spreads across my face in the spotlight of their collective eyes. I nervously play with the edge of my drink coaster. “Thank you. I will give you all the juicy details of my life in New York another time.” I smile at her. “I might head home for the night. I’m exhausted, and I have to be at an early management meeting in the morning.”

“I’m beat too. You coming, Paisley?” asks Mae.

“I’ll catch up with you guys in a bit,” she tells us, eyeing off some guy across the room and adjusting her hair.

“Nice to meet you, Gisele. I’ll see you in the morning for that meeting,” Parker says, extending a hand to shake, and I wonder who else is joining in on this meeting. Maybe it’s the whole fix-up crew?

“See you then, Parker.” I return the handshake, the warmth lingering in my palm.

Elliot winks at me as I slide from the table, and I tuck a loose strand of hair behind my ear.

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