Page 39 of Resisting Fate
Fate, she thought but didn’t say, a little surprised he didn’t tease her about it. He was being the professional he’d promised to be. Dammit. She missed warm, teasing Ben. This version of Ben was cordial, but distant. But he did bring her this wonderful coffee on her first day.
She bit back a sigh. “Guess it’s no longer fate that we run into each other since I work here.”
“Mmm,” he said noncommittally. “You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to…” She tried not to fidget, already dreading whatever he was going to say. “I was just wondering if you’d ever lived with someone, like a boyfriend or husband. I’ve always lived alone.”
Husband?Her gut clenched. She didnotwant to talk about Louis. He was probably holed up in some hovel, all that money he stole already spent on drugs. Just the thought of him filled her with shame. Had Ben found out somehow? He had said he could find out anything on the internet.
“Missy?”
She swallowed hard, heart hammering against her ribcage. “Did you look me up? Digging for dirt on the internet?”
He sipped his coffee. “It was just a question.”
“What’s with the third degree?” she snapped.
He stood, saying calmly, “No need to get worked up. We’re just getting to know each other.”
She took in a slow deep breath. “I have a lot of work to do.”
He tapped her desk. “That you do. Glad to have you here.”
“Thanks.”
He left and she stared at his retreating back, wishing she could take back all her defensiveness. She’d driven him away when he’d just been trying to be a friend. She stared at her wonderful coffee. It wasn’t a secret that she lived alone. But why had he mentioned a husband? That was always a hot-button topic for her. Was it just conversation, or did he know something? Her sister knew about her marriage, and Missy had mentioned in passing to her friends that she’d been married before, giving no further detail other than marriage was not for her. She supposed it was possible word had gotten out. He probably wanted to know more, just being curious about her like he said. She shouldn’t be so paranoid.
She went back to work and didn’t stop until six when Ben stood in her doorway again.
“Workday’s over,” he said.
“Almost,” she said, her eyes glued to the computer screen.
“I’m going to have to pay you overtime if you keep going.”
She copied and pasted the next column of data, hit save, and left a note to herself where she’d left off. “Okay, done.”
He stood on the other side of her desk. “Here.” He handed her a check. “An advance so you don’t have to worry about helping out that family in time for Christmas.”
She glanced at it. Three thousand dollars. They hadn’t discussed salary, but this was very generous for three weeks of part-time work, especially in advance.
She handed it back. “I can’t accept this. I haven’t done the work yet.”
“I trust you.”
“I don’t feel right accepting money for something I haven’t done.” She pressed it into his hand. “Just pay me when you do the regular payroll. Okay?”
He folded the check in half and tucked it in his back pocket. “Why won’t you accept a little help?”
Because I’m the only one I can depend on.“Not necessary.” She pulled her purse from the bottom desk drawer and stood.
He gestured for her to go ahead of him through the door. She met his eyes, warmer now when they looked at her, not lusty so much as caring. Like he really saw who she was and liked it.
She moved forward, her stomach fluttering for no good reason, and then something made her stop. Standing right next to him, looking up into those warm blue eyes, she wanted to say…something. She didn’t know what.Thanks again for the coffee and the job, and I really like you? Sorry I drove you away after you were so nice?
His lips curled into a hint of a dimpled smile. “Yes?”
Her heart hammered because this felt real. Not just lust. So much more than that.
“Night, guys!” Logan called cheerfully.
