Page 25 of Holly versus Mr. Ivy
Rhettcalledinsick.I’d seen him the day before, and he’d seemed fine. I was worried. Not in aI like him and want to see him, so I wonder why he’s not heresort of way. More of awe’re coworkers who may possibly be starting a friendship, so is he going to be okaykind of way.
All right, that was a lie. I was starting to like Rhett, and the fact that I wouldn’t get to see him bummed me out. The arrogant, sexy man was right. Work was better when friends were around, though I loathed admitting it. I wanted to call Rhett friendandcoworker. Which was absolutely crazy because he annoyed me to death.
Before work, I called and left him a voicemail asking him if he was doing better and if we were still on for tomorrow’s movie morning. I even offered to drop off chicken noodle soup if he wanted.
He texted an hour later saying he felt much better and that I’d better not use his illness as an excuse to cancel on him. When he’d suggested we get together outside of a work function, I’d immediately panicked for multiple reasons:
The no-dating policy at work made me worry that if anyone found out about our movie-watching activity, they’d think we’d gone out on a date.
I wasn’t ready for Rhett to see Mom and ask a million questions about her disease.
I hadn’t spent time with anyone in a fun, casual way in months. Could I act normal? Would I be scared? Too excited?
What would I wear? Sweats? Jeans and a nice shirt?
What if Mom had a bad day? How did I take care of her without Rhett getting in the way—or worse, what if I completely ignored him?
I honestly could not remember the last time I’d dated or spent time alone with a man I wasn’t related to. What were we supposed to talk about?
See, this was why it was better to keep personal and professional boundaries. Tomorrow, Rhett would find out a whole lot about me, including how pathetic my life was as a caregiver. Already today, I’d cleaned the entire main floor of the house, including vacuuming underneath the couch cushions. Why?
What if Rhett saw that we had crumbs (like normal people) hiding beneath the seats? I’d even wiped down the flat screen tv to ensure optimum viewing without any dust particles getting in the way. I’d organized Mom’s medicine, gone through the pile of junk mail that had sat in the center of the table for the last two months, and opened all the windows (except in Mom’s room) to air out the house.
Basically, I’d stress cleaned because my coworker was coming to my house, which had not seen a guest besides family in months. Really, I should be thanking Rhett for being the catalyst for this chaotic tidying up.
Satisfied all the surfaces were spotless and Rhett wouldn’t think we lived in a barn, I showered and got ready for work. I really hoped Rhett was back today. Bubbles were bouncing around my stomach at the thought of seeing him again. The physical giddiness was foreign in my body. When was the last time I had even thought of a man besides the dreamy ones I read about?
Rhett’s truck was in the restaurant’s back lot when I pulled in. I parked next to him, excited that he had come in today. It was stupid. As a grown woman, I shouldn’t be so giddy about a coworker doing his job. I needed to focus on my own—not him.
Once inside the restaurant, I dropped my purse and jacket off in my office before going to say hello to Rhett. We had gotten in the habit of alerting each other when we arrived.
I rapped my knuckles on Rhett’s doorframe. “Hey. Good to see you back. Are you feeling better?”
He stopped typing and faced me. Immediately, I noticed his red, bloodshot eyes and the tightness around his mouth. He forced a smile, the one he’d been using all too often lately. “Much better. I’m sure I’ll be one-hundred-percent by tomorrow.”
Rhett just lied. To my face. I blinked as I battled my old self—the version who would have taken his word for it and gone back to my office. But I was a new woman, and I legitimately cared about this man. My feet decided for me and walked me to the leather chair across from Rhett. I sat, tilting my head as I continued to study his face.
Rhett’s gaze stayed on me. He’d followed my movements as I’d come into his office, making myself comfortable.
“What?” he asked as I just stared at him, trying to figure out what ailed Rhett.
“Would you answer a few questions for me?”
His brows furrowed for a moment. “Possibly. What’s your question?”
I circled a finger over my face, then pointed to Rhett. “What’s going on with you? I know we haven’t known one another long, but I can sense something is off. Your eyes are red too.” I wasn’t great at reading emotions, but for how often I’d stolen glances at Rhett over the last month we’d worked together, I was starting to be able to read his.
Rhett frowned. “I thought you liked to keep work and home life separate.”
I did. Until Rhett came along. I just hoped as we became friends, the staff wouldn’t think something else was going on between us—and that I wouldn’t lose Rhett’s respect. “With my employees, I do. But I think you’re on to something about us opening up to one another. Working with friends is…nice.”
Rhett tucked his lips in between his teeth, no doubt keeping a gleefulI told you sogrin in check. “You’re officially asking me to be your friend, then?”
I sighed dramatically. “You kind of wormed your way in. Which is what you had planned all along”—I pointed at his face—“so stop smiling like that, because this is the only chance I’m offering.”
He rubbed his palm over his mouth. “May I call you Holly now?”
He really didn’t like saying Chef. “When we’re around employees, I’d prefer you still use Chef. But otherwise, yes, you may call me Holly.”
