Page 7 of Say You Remember Me
My heart hammered in my chest as I slowly looked up, hoping against hope that I was imagining things.
“Hi,” he said, his voice smooth and all too familiar even though we’d only spoken a few sentences to each other on Friday night. “Marsha tells me you’re my new assistant.”
The blood drained from my face as reality hit me like a freight train.Thiswas Ian Hastings.My bosswas the man I’d kissed in a moment of wild spontaneity.
Not just kissed, but full-on made-out with.
I’d stroked the stubble on his jaw. Lost myself in the heat of his embrace.
How could this happen? How in the world had Sloan not stopped me before I’d gone up to a complete stranger and kissed him?
And why the heck hadn’t she warned me about what I’d done before I showed up to work today, stupidly not having a clue that the one moment I’d decided to be reckless, it had been with my freaking boss?
When I met Ian’s gaze, his dark brown eyes widened like he was only just then recognizing me.
Oh crap! This was not good.
Is he going to fire me on the spot for sexual harassment?
I mean, I hadn’t kissed him in the workplace, and he’d seemed happy to take part in that kiss at the time…but with my luck, there was probably some sort of rule against throwing yourself at your future boss in a club.
I watched his Adam’s apple bob as he swallowed hard. And for a moment, he just stood there, speechless, clearly as thrown off as I was. But then he licked his lips, seemed to gain his bearings, and then said, “Hi…I guess we’ve actually met before.”
“Yes…” I nodded, desperately searching for words. “I, uh…”
But I couldn’t finish the sentence because my brain was currently in the process of short-circuiting.
This can’t be real. This can’t be happening.
I’m so going to die.
Ian cleared his throat, seemingly trying to break the awkwardness. “Well,” he began, his voice strained but polite, “it’s nice to officially meet you, Maddie. Why don’t we…uh…why don’t we step into my office?”
I nodded again, unable to trust my voice. With shaky legs, I stood up, my heart pounding so loudly I was sure he could hear it.
As I followed him into his office, all I could think was that it was no wonder Sloan had been so anxious to hear if I’d met my boss yet.
She’s so dead when I get home from work today.
I just hoped I’d still actually have a job when this meeting was over with.
3
IAN
Well,this morning just got complicated, I thought as I led Maddie—my new assistant—toward my office, fighting to keep my steps steady and my expression calm.
Calm on the outside, at least. On the inside, my pulse raced like a hummingbird's wings, my mind spinning in a hundred different directions.
How was it possible that out of all the women at the club on Friday night, the woman who had reignited a spark I hadn’t felt in…well, longer than I wanted to admit…was the very woman I couldn’t afford to feel any sparks with.
Man, the universe really had a twisted sense of humor, didn’t it? After nearly a year of feeling numb, the first woman to tempt me into breaking my ten-month celibacy streak had to be my new assistant.
My new andextremely attractiveassistant.
I pushed open the glass door to my office, shoving those thoughts aside.Professional.I needed to stay professional. I needed to handle this like the executive I was—and the future CEO I hoped to be.
“Please, take a seat,” I said, gesturing toward one of the chairs in front of my desk.
