Page 24 of Stuck with the Hot Boss
‘Sure. I’ve always loved running when I have to stop every five minutes and throw up.’
Evie hesitated. ‘If you crash at mine, work’s only a twenty-minute walk …?’
Leo met her eye, his expression wary. ‘Evie–’
‘Just a thought!’ said Evie, hastily, feeling her cheeks burn.
‘Agoodthought,’ said Leo, equally quickly. ‘But I’m still hung up on this whole boss-employee thing. Right now, it seems like too much of a risk. For both of us.’
‘Fair enough,’ said Evie, reluctantly. ‘I don’t actuallyknowKeith and Kev’s views on their employees shagging. In the four years I’ve been at Double K, the subject has never come up.’
‘You mean, no office romances in all that time?’ said Leo, with a frown. ‘Not one?’
‘Well, notopenly.’
Leo grinned. ‘Nigel and Ange. Come on. No two people can do jobs that dull and not have some major thirst going on.’
‘Nigel has five children, and his wife is a former Miss Grimsby,’ said Evie. ‘And last year, Ange andherwife renewed their vows on top of the Matterhorn, which they’d just climbed.’
‘Huh,’ said Leo.
‘Want that second pint now?’ Evie asked.
‘Thanks, but no.’ Leo gave her an apologetic look. ‘I want a clear head for tomorrow’s presentation.’
‘Oh, yeah.’ Evie’s shoulders slumped. ‘Have Keith and Kev given us a time yet?’
‘Not yet. But I’d be prepared for them to call us in on short notice.’
Evie made a rueful face. ‘You know, I’ve been really spoiled,’ she told him. ‘I’ve never been in a situation where my job was on the line.’
‘I have once,’ said Leo. ‘The company was down-sizing, and me and another guy were forced to compete for the same role.’
‘Did you get it?’
‘I did,’ Leo said. ‘And then a month later, they downsized me, too.’
‘Fuckers,’ said Evie.
‘Yeah,’ said Leo. ‘I wish I’d had the balls to quit first. Because fuck them – you shouldn’t treat people like that.’
Evie smiled and raised her glass to him. ‘That’s the attitude. If Keith and Kev don’t appreciate our brilliance, then we say, “Fuck them”. Only we’ll have to say it very quietly because Kev is terrifying beyond all reason.’
Leo gave her a crooked smile. ‘Maybe it’s time to grow those balls?’
They stared at each other. The noise of the busy pub faded around them.
‘You’re thinking about my balls, aren’t you?’ Leo said.
‘Guilty,’ said Evie. ‘So very, very guilty.’
‘Damn it, Evie,’ said Leo, in a low voice. ‘Now my balls are thinking about you.’
‘Oh, my,’ she murmured. ‘Whatever shall we do?’
But Leo shook his head. ‘No,’ he said. ‘Not yet. If – all rightwhen– we get together, I want to be able to focus a hundred percent on you. I don’t want visions of Keith and Kev,particularlyKev, popping into my head. And despite the fact that I’m going to have to walk out of here hunched over, I won’t change my mind. Sorry, Evie.’
‘That’s perfectly okay,’ said Evie. ‘It really is.’
