Page 28 of Head Over Heels

"She's the only one that Dr. Harris and Mel will work with." I groan. "She has a full schedule supporting both of them. In fact, Dr. Harris even changed his surgery schedule to work around her schedule with Mel."

"You talk about her a lot. You know that?" she asks softly.

I shake my head. "This is about Renna. I was doing all this before she and Mel got together."

She looks at me for a long moment. "It just seems like there'd be better ways to spend your time. I hope she compensates you well."

I sigh, standing. "That's the difference between you and me. You're a business woman. I'm a people person. You make a difference from the top down. I help build them from the bottom up." Working with individuals and small groups is as important as the work she does, whether she sees it or not.

I reach for the door, but she stops me, her hand on my shoulder. "Can I kiss you goodnight? To get our first kiss out of the way?"

"If you want to." After the disaster at Trattoria's, I wasn't expecting it. We still have a few weeks before the charity gala to get comfortable with each other.

She cups my cheek, trapping my gaze. "I want to," she says, her voice low and throaty.

"Then kiss me," I whisper, teasing. I lean in, close enough to feel her breath on my lips.

Her lips are soft, gentle. At first, it's just the brush of her lips against mine, but then she breathes me in, deepening the kiss. Her breath quickens.

I slide my palm to her clavicle, up to the curve of her neck. This is always how I imagined it would feel with Mel, how I wanted our friendship to evolve.

I groan softly. How long is she going to dominate my thoughts? It was never like this with Ruby. She took care of a physical need. She never came close to my heart.

Florence moans, her tongue seeking permission.

I pull back. "Florence." I have to remind myself where I am—who I'm with.

"Sorry." She exhales shakily.

"You're going to get me going, and we just said no to that." I bite back a groan. That was an emotionally charged kiss on her end if I've ever felt one.

12

Florence

"Boss." Gwen's serious tone pulls me out of the work in front of me. She knows better to interrupt me without cause. Normally she sticks her head in and waits to be acknowledged.

"What is it, Gwen?" I look at the time on my laptop. "We still have half an hour before our meeting."

"I need five minutes. It's important." She steps inside and closes the door. She waits patiently for me to finish the task I'm working on.

I nod. "What is it?" I ask her again, this time giving her my full attention.

"You're aware of the rumors on social media about you and Woodhouse."

"They have no merit, but yes—I'm aware," I tell her.

She presses her lips together, shifting nervously. "I overheard a conversation earlier today that concerns you. That situation."

I lean back in my chair; she has my complete attention. Gwen does not get nervous approaching me about anything, not afterbeing my right hand for nearly fifteen years. "Sit." I motion toward the chair opposite my desk.

She shakes her head. "I overheard Woodhouse talking to Bakker. He made a comment about Bakker getting special treatment… and asked if he was sleeping with you, too."

"Too?" I repeat, confused.

She rolls her eyes. "He was implying that he's sleeping with you, Boss, and that Bakker must be getting the same perks."

"That's ridiculous." I raise an eyebrow at her. "Do you believe that?" If she does, I need to find a new assistant.

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