Page 26 of Holly versus Mr. Ivy
He eyed me. “And you’ll call me Rhett?”
I worried I’d like the way his name sounded on my tongue, but I’d concede to his wishes anyway. “Only when no one else is around. I want to maintain that boundary.” I pointed at the door. “I know our new plan makes things a little less formal, but I’d feel better keeping that line in place.” I’d worked on being more complimentary with my staff, but I wouldn’t repeat my mistakes from the past. Happy Holly, who didn’t know how to lead, was gone forever. I was trying to figure out a balance between friendly and authoritative.
He nodded. “You’ve got a deal.”
“So, my question?” I quirked a brow.
He rubbed the side of his neck. A shadow passed over his features, darkening his brown eyes from mocha to black coffee. “This is a bad time of year for me.”
That was vague…“Why is it a bad time?”
He harrumphed. “You know, maybe being friends with you isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.”
I wagged a finger at him. “Too late. Spill it.”
He leaned his elbows on his desk, placing his head in his hands. I barely heard him speak. “My grandpa died two years ago in October, so I usually miss him more around this time of year. And then yesterday my best friend, Jack, shared some devastating news with me. I wasn’t quite physically ill. I needed more of a mental break. Did everything run okay without me here?”
Whoa. That was not what I’d expected. Woman troubles, or maybe some family dispute, sure, but not this. I walked around his desk and placed my hand on his shoulder. Hisfirmshoulder. Warmth seeped into my palm where it touched him. “There were a few minor hiccups, but it was fine,” I said. “I’m sorry to hear about your grandpa and your friend. How can I help?”
He lifted his head and peered at me. “I’m not sure. Our movie marathon tomorrow will take my mind off things for a bit.”
Was that why Rhett had pushed it so much the other day? Becauseheneeded this? Well, if I hadn’t already been starting to like Rhett, this moment right here just sealed the deal. My heart tugged in sympathy. And I found Rhett more attractive because he not only understood his own feelings, but spoke about them. He didn’t hide behind them or bury them under some half-baked excuse. Ugh. Why did he have to be so amazing? It was annoying that someone could be so attractiveandhave such a soft side. No wonder women fawned over him like he was Aquaman.
I steeled myself to admit, “I know what it’s like to lose someone you love. The pain never goes away; you just learn to live with it.” I removed my hand, which lingered a ridiculously long time on his wide shoulder, and moved to the side of his desk. “I’m glad our time tomorrow will help. Anything I can do right now? I can whip up some hot chocolate or a batch of cookies.” Any time I had a bad day at school or issues with female problems, Mom’s solution had been to offer chocolate in one form or another. I was happy to pass along the tradition to help a friendin need.
Rhett glanced at the clock hanging on the wall to his left. “You’d risk cooking for me this close to everyone else arriving? What happened to those boundaries?”
I fisted my hands, placing them on my narrow hips. “Do you want anything or not?”
He smiled. “Of course I want something you made. Have you met yourself? You’re a master in the kitchen. I just want to make sure you’re comfortable with possibly being caught, then having to explain yourself to your staff.”
His compliment warmed my core. I held up a finger. “Ah. But no one has to know I made them especially for you. Who’s to say I wasn’t also craving something sweet? Hmm? Anthony may own this building, but that ismykitchen. If I want to make something before we have to start on dinner prep, it’s my call.”
“Going rogue after one conversation.” His smile hinted at pride. “I like it.”
Dang it. So did I. If only because of that look Rhett was giving me. The way his eyes gleamed, his lips pulled up into a slight smolder. My stomach swirled like someone was spinning cotton candy around in there. “Pick your poison, Rhett. Cookies or hot chocolate?”
“If I do what you tell me to, can we work together to make both?”
I grinned. Boss Rhett around? Abso-freakin-lutely. “I won’t treat you any differently than one of my employees,” I warned. “Do you understand?” Could I be nicer to Rhett? Sure. I didn’t even know if he could bake—and, admittedly, I cooked way better than I baked—but if he wanted both treats, we had to hurry, which meant all work and no play until the time came to make ourselves sick with a sugar overdose.
Rhett stood and saluted me. “Yes, Chef.”
“Music to my ears.” I walked out of his office, motioning for him to follow me. “Let’s go.”
Chapter 11
Rhett
IfollowedHollyintothe kitchen, grateful she’d decided to trust me enough to ease up on some of her boundaries. I got it. Sometimes you didn’t click with other people, and it didn’t make sense to push for anything more than coworker status. But from the moment I’d met Holly, I’d known we were bound to become friends. I didn’t know how or why I knew that, but I did.
I also didn’t know what had made Holly change her mind. Was it because I’d had a bad day and she wanted to make me feel better? But then why had she agreed to a movie night before? I’d worn her down. It was the only explanation. She’d finally realized I wasn’t some jerk.
Holly threw a white apron at me. I tied the strings around my waist.
“We’re going with my mom’s chocolate chip recipe because I have that one memorized. Grab two sticks of butter and two eggs from the walk-in.”
“Yes, Chef.” I went to the walk-in refrigerator and grabbed what she wanted.
