Page 36 of Love, Luck & Clusterf*ck

I nodded, chomping my cheeks. It didn’t help because a giggle escaped anyway. Adam should not have been acting inappropriately in front of Stephen, especially in light of the recent nonfraternization reminder. It was so wrong, but I couldn’t help finding it funny. I was too giddy and light-headed.

Stephen’s jaw clenched but he didn’t comment. Instead, he waved me towards the glass-walled office. “We’ll be in here,” he told Adam.

“Do you still want that donut?” Adam asked.

“Yes, please.” I’d changed my mind again. Who couldn’t use more sugar? “Something big with gobs of frosting.”

“You got it.”

“Tell them to charge it to my account,” Stephen said.

Adam waved his hand. “No, that’s all right. I’m taking care of it.” Then he took off, leaving Stephen not looking too pleased.

We went inside the manager’s box, and he shut the door, gesturing to the chair. “Have a seat. You look like you could use one.”

I realized I wasn’t making the best impression. “Sorry, I don’t usually come in like this. Roommate crisis.”The same roommate you turned down.

“I hope everything’s resolved.”

“Yes.” I glanced around as Stephen made himself at home behind the desk. “Um, where’s Mr. Krismer?”

It dawned on me all over again that this man was right here, sharing my space, and filling my head with all kinds of thoughts I didn’t want to have. The unease crept back in. I’d been so confident the day before, but now the fear of losing my job had come back with a vengeance.

“His wife is sick, so he’s taking a leave of absence to take care of her. I’m filling in while he’s away.”

Uh… filling in? As in working the same department as me? As in me reporting directly to him? As in him beingmyfreaking boss?

“Something wrong, Perry?”

“How long is the leave?”

“That’s undetermined at the moment.”

“I thought you headed up programming or something. In the other office.”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“Well, isn’t this worlds different here? I mean, it doesn’t seem like something you’d be… qualified for.” Shit, that hadn’t come out right.

He raised an eyebrow. “I can assure you I’m qualified to take over as acting manager until he returns.”

“Okay. I didn’t mean to imply otherwise.” I wrung my hands together. I was really discombobulated. I was starting to wonder if I was just hallucinating the whole thing. I didn’t like the way he was looking at me. It was distracting. But maybe I was imagining that too.

“So.” He leaned forward, clasping his hands together. “Have you enjoyed your first couple weeks at FiTech? It seems like you’ve been fitting in well.”

Hmm… was that a trick question? I was going to tell him that I liked it just fine when the rap on the door startled me. I jolted, then willed myself to chill out already. Adam stepped in a second later and handed me a jumbo-sized cup.

“Your coffee, milady.”

“Thanks so much, Adam.” I took a long sip, closing my eyes. Mmm. So good.

“My pleasure.”

I raised my lids to see them both looking at me. Adam was smiling. Dammit. I probably looked like I was loving that sip a little too much.

He set down an enormous chocolate monstrosity on the desk. God, it was fantastic and appeared very, very messy. I wanted to dive right in but decided to wait until I wasn’t being inspected.

“Thank you, Adam. That’ll be all,” Stephen said. “If you’re not in the middle of anything, I’d like to speak with you next after I’ve finished with Perry.”

---