Page 18 of Jealous Boss

I spotted it at the team meeting yesterday. Then in the car this morning. Now I’m one hundred percent convinced.

What else is she into? What other secrets can I coax out of her?

I look away. Sit back in my chair like that will give me some distance. It doesn’t.

She’s everywhere in this room. The smell of her hair, the soft pink of her mouth, the way her ankles are crossed like she’s trying to hold herself together.

So am I.

This girl is unraveling me.

I clear my throat, reach for my tablet, and try to speak like a man who still has control. “You’ll help Maggie prep the summary. I want it out before lunch.”

Her head bobs up and down and she jumps to her feet. She’s an eager puppy. I want to pet her. As she sucks me down her throat.

Then I recite every reason on earth why I shouldn’t. Why I can’t.

“And Pia?—”

She looks up from her tablet, lips parted slightly.

“Nice work.”

Her cheeks bloom pink. She nods. “Merci.”

That French of hers, slipping out when she’s nervous.

She doesn’t know what it does to me.

Or…maybe she does.

Either way, that’s exactly why it’s dangerous.

* * *

We don’t talk muchon the way back home that night.

I don’t talk about why I had Maggie cancel the car service I initially had her arrange.

She’s beside me in the passenger seat, tapping something into her phone with quiet concentration.

The sun’s low. My grip on the wheel is tighter than it needs to be.

I should drop her at the condo building. Find somewhere else to be tonight.

Simple. Done.

But I already know I won’t. Because the groceries meant to have been delivered to her place this afternoon?

I had them rerouted.

No reason. No explanation.

Just… instinct and a quick text to Stanley at the condo’s concierge desk to have the stuff delivered to my place instead of hers.

I tell myself I’m well within my rights to ensure she’s eating properly.

That was my promise to Philip, after all. Besides, she’s my intern. I have control over when she finishes her work and therefore know roughly when she’ll be taking her meals, at least on the weekdays.

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