Page 38 of Resisting Fate
“Well, I didn’t see her résumé,” Logan replied with some bite.
“Yes to all of that,” Missy said to Logan.
“Awesome, we can get started right away.” Logan gestured to follow him. “Come on.”
“I’m giving her the tour,” Ben said through his teeth.
Logan grinned and pointed out his version of the tour. “Three offices, kitchen, bathroom, supply closet, done. Missy, I’m not sure if Ben filled you in, but we have some important investor meetings coming up in January, and I’d like to be prepared.”
“Of course, I’ll get started right away,” Missy said.
Ben glared at Logan. “At least let her take off her coat, get situated.”
Both men reached for her coat, and she stepped out of reach, taking it off herself. “Just show me to my desk and I’ll get started.”
Ben turned to Logan and practically growled. “There’s paperwork in my office to get her on payroll.”
“We’ll just cut her a check,” Logan countered. “She’s only here for three weeks and change. Let’s not waste time.”
Her head was spinning as the two men faced off over her for some strange reason. “I’m here to work. Let’s get to it.”
Logan flashed a smile so dazzling she felt herself flush. “A woman after my own heart,” he declared. “Priority number one—work.” He shot a dark look at Ben. “Later.”
Ben grumbled something and then busied himself getting a cup of coffee, so Missy followed Logan out.
Hours later, elbow deep in numbers pulled from reports over the last three years, someone knocked on her open door. She was lucky to have her very own office with a door here and found it much easier to focus on her work. At Marino and Capello Construction and her previous job in Seattle, her desk was out in the open. She hit save. “Come in.”
“Coffee break,” Ben said, walking in with two take-out cups of coffee.
“You went out for coffee? What’s wrong with the coffee here?”
“Nothing. I like to start the week out with the good stuff from Something’s Brewing Café.” He handed her a cup. “It’s their holiday blend. Logan got the peppermint mocha stuff that barely has any coffee in it.” He made a face. “Tastes like a chocolate mint with a pound of sugar on top.”
“It is super sweet,” she agreed. “I love their holiday blend, thanks so much.” She wrapped her hands around the warm cup. Her book club met at the café, and she always made sure she was there early enough to get a coffee before they closed. The Happy Endings Book Club was allowed to meet there after hours because they brought in so much business to the attached bookstore, Book It, both owned by husband and wife Shane and Rachel O’Hare.
Ben took a seat in one of the cushioned chairs across from her. Even with a desk between them, she was overheating just having him in her office. Ridiculous. Not only was he out of reach, the door was wide open and the entire front wall of the office was glass, facing the central meeting area. Nothing was going to happen.
“How’s it going?” he asked. “Logan working you too hard?”
“Not at all. I like to be busy. Things are dead at my regular job. I’m just doing year-end stuff, wrapping up. This is a lot more interesting work. You didn’t tell me you were getting investors.”
He sipped some coffee, watching her over the rim. “We haven’t talked much.”
She concentrated on her delicious coffee, trying not to think of what they’d been doing when they hadn’t been talking.
“Did you get a chance to see Sabrina?” he asked.
She smiled. “Yes, we had lunch right before I came up here.”
“So what’s your deal? You have a roommate or…?”
She tensed. “Why do you want to know?”
He lifted one large shoulder. “Just curious about you.”
“I live alone. Planning on stalking me?”
“I don’t need to stalk you.” He leaned back in his seat. “I keep running into you.”
