Page 20 of Melted by a Man

I was pretty sure this was on my work playlist.

His dancing was…awful. Not good at all.

He was awkward and lanky and downright uncomfortable to watch.

But he was smiling, ear to ear. Mouthing the lyrics I was vaguely familiar with but couldn’t quite focus on because there was too much happening around me.

I stood next to Signe, who was laughing so hard at the performance that she was crying. She was wiping tears from both eyes when she laughed, “Good morning,” to me. Everyone else was having fun.

There was so much positive energy in the space.

And I hated that I didn’t know how to react to it.

A nervous smile took over my face, torn between watching Leo swing his hips in a way that was probably meant to look seductive, but just reminded me of awkward preteens from the one middle school dance Marco made me attend with him.

The old pop song eventually ended, and Leo concluded his performance by slumping over and supporting his weight on his knees as he gathered his breath.

Cheers erupted throughout the office, and even though I winced from the unexpected sound, I found myself raising my hands to join in with the applause.

And that’s when Leo looked up from his crouch and made accidental eye contact with me.

It felt accidental because I saw a small pinch in his brow form before he looked away from me.

“Oh no, look away!” Mary was suddenly standing directly in front of me, lifting her arms up in an attempt to conceal Leo from my view, “Nothing untoward or unprofessional is happening over here!”

Mary was smiling, and obvious humor filled her tone, but I still felt my own half-smile flatten at her words.

You’re the office buzz-kill.

No one wants you here.

I gave her a grin that probably looked more like a grimace before shouldering my purse and turning away from the crowd, heading toward my office. A nervous and embarrassing pressure started to expand in my chest. I knew about the bet Leo made with the engineers. I knew about him dancing and embarrassing himself for the sake of office morale. Perhaps that was why Mary’s words felt like an attack.

“Wait!” Mary’s voice made me pause and turn back toward her, allowing her to catch up with me, “I’m just kidding, Jacqueline.” Mary looped her arm through mine, and I squeezed her limb against my ribs without a second thought as we continued towards my office arm in arm, “What did you think of his moves?”

I snickered, still wounded from Mary’s teasing but feeling a little better knowing she confirmed that that’s all it was, “I think he needs some more practice.”

“You’re not wrong,” Mary halted, pulling her arm out of mine and jogging toward her girlfriend, who had just arrived, “Babe! You missed it!”

“Aw, man!” Jamie slumped her shoulders and pouted before Mary wrapped her up in her arms.

I let the two employees have their moment before everyone else got settled into their workday and did my best to settle in my own office for the time being. I opened my laptop, knowing exactly what my to-do list had on it and what my schedule was going to look like. And yet, I couldn’t stop thinking about my conversation with Mariam the day before.

So after going back and forth with myself for a few hours, I grumbled and stormed out into the upper management wing.

I marched with determination before I knocked on Leo’s office door, my heart jumping up in my throat when I heard his very British, “Come on in,” on the other side.

Deep breaths, Jacqueline.

I let myself in, keeping my gaze on the ground until I was able to close the door behind me. I leaned back against the wood, crossing my arms over my chest, and finally forced myself to look at him.

Leo sat at his desk, braced on his elbows. He looked surprised, but he quickly masked his expression into a neutral, almost bored one before turning toward his monitor.

“How can I help you, Ms. Williams?” Leo sat back in his chair and set his hand on his mouse, clicking on something without meeting my eyes.

“I…” I blew out a puff of air and tried again, “I need to apologize to you.”

Leo stiffened. He flicked his blue eyes to me for a moment before glancing back at his screen, “No need.”

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