Page 34 of Yes to The Holidays
He laughed. “Not that. Iknowyou enjoy that.” He cocked a brow. “I meant this job. This work. You enjoy it here?”
“Oh. Yes. I love it. It’s my dream job.”
One side of his mouth quirked, then he leaned in closer. I braced against the counter, my eyes going wide. “Odin, you can’t do that here!” I whisper-screamed.
“I know. Just getting a smell of my favorite peach.” He grinned, then turned and left the breakroom.
I stood there for a few moments, still clutching the edge of the counter, when the door clicked and startled me.
“Oh, there you are. I watered the plant, and you were gone,” Candy said.
Grabbing my mug, I started to walk out.
“Did you make me coffee? That’s so sweet,” she crooned.
I turned back. He left his mug after only a few sips. “No, that was there. They must have forgotten it.”
“You mean our Viking owner left it?” She cocked her brow.
“What? Was he here? Hmm.” I shrugged.
I headed for the door as she pulled a mug down. Before I made it out, she said, “Your secret is safe with me.”
Stopping dead in my tracks, I didn’t even turn to ask, “What are you talking about?”That came out shakier than I meant.
She rushed over to me with her mug and a Cheshire grin on her face. “I know you have a thing with him. I think it’s hot!”
“Candy, you can’t say a word. Where did you hear that?”
“I suspected something last week, but I saw you together this weekend.”
Oh shit. First Donald, now Candy. “Oh, God. Has anyone else said anything to you?”
She shook her head. “No. But I would tell every living soul in this place if it were me. Especially your ex.”
A grin formed on my lips, then I shook my head, regaining my senses. “He is thelastperson that needs to know. What a nightmare that would be. He already said he suspected something and went on about me pushing him out.”
“Is that what you were bickering about this morning?”
“Yes. What a disaster.”
“Janie, we have no rules about this, and you haven’t done anything wrong. Everyone loves you, and most people think he’s an idiot. His staff listens because they value their jobs, not because of him.”
“Really?”
She waved her hand through the air. “Oh yeah. They think he’s a tool. Plus, after the affair, nobody hangs out with him anymore. Most of the men here have wives. Hanging with a known adulterer doesn’t sit well with the missus in most homes.”
Relief washed over me. “Thanks, Candy.”
“For what?”
“I thought they loved him.”
“Maybe they did at some point, but those days are long gone.” She gripped my arm softly. “Don’t worry. Anyway, I need to get back to work.”
She left the breakroom, and I stood there, my mind racing with possibility. Maybe it would be fine?
Chapter 18
