Page 7 of No Rings Attached
And the man I’d gotten to know I liked.
I really, really liked him.
How had I not recognized him?
I stared at his picture from the website practically every day since I started. Drooling over his strong jawline, his high cheekbones, wondering if his short honey brown hair was as silky as it looked. His eyes had been hidden behind a pair of thin rimmed glasses, but I could tell they were light, either blue or green.
A fissure of disappointment ran through me as I realized the night was too dark to determine the color. But I was also grateful for the darkness. My cheeks heated. I’d been entertaining less than appropriate thoughts and fantasies about my boss since I was hired. Now wasnotthe time to be lusting after him.
I’d have thought I’d know him anywhere, although, to be fair, he wore a suit in the photo. The man in front of me sported faded jeans that hugged muscular thighs, an old t-shirt that did amazing things for his chest and biceps, and a short beard that gave him mountain man vibes.
When he crossed his drool-worthy arms earlier I had to force my gaze away. It was bad enough that I accused him of being a murderer and a kidnapper. I didn’t need to addwackoto the mental list he’d surely make of me as I gawked at his arm porn.
I cautiously peered up when my choking spell ceased. Even with my five foot six height, he towered over me. Underneath the brim of his cap I noticed the longish strands of hair curled under and plastered to his forehead from the heat.
In the website photo, he’d been clean-shaven, a little leaner, features sharper than this rugged version in front of me. In the beams of his truck’s headlights, it occurred to me that the picture online must have been an older one.
He frowned, and I almost smiled at his annoyance. It was the same expression, the same tiny wry twist of his lips that I’d memorized over the past twelve weeks. I’d always imagined him telling the photographer to get on with it because he had more important places to be.
The charged air hung thick between us as he ended his call.
How was I going to explain this?
I’d been employed by an agency, so the only contact we had prior to me being hired was an initial phone call from his previous administrative assistant detailing my job and our daily communication. I came to Ruby River for us to meet and for me to better understand the operations side of the business.
“I’m sorry, I—” I couldn’t finish my sentence. There weren’t any words in my brain that would make what I’d claimed make sense.
His lips turned up into an endearing smirk. “This is the first time I’m hearing that I have a girlfriend. I would’ve thought I’d remember that.”
So, was he saying hedidn’thave a girlfriend? I quickly shoved the thought away.Not appropriate, Eleanor Mae Remington! He’s your boss. B-O-S-S.Boss.
I bit my bottom lip and froze when his gaze laser-focused on the action, making me self-conscious. Before I could overthink it, I stuck my hand out. “Nice to officially meet you, boyfriend. I mean, boss. I mean. Mr. Kingsley. Um, Drew.”
There was zero possibility my cheeks could get any hotter or I could be any weirder. I’d never called himMr. Kingsley.
Why couldn’t I be the cool girl? Why am I always so darn awkward?Just once? Now would have been the best time for me to suddenly become normal.
“Ellie?” His eyebrows knitted together as he reached for my hand. Instead of shaking it, his grip tightened and his expression changed into one of joy. “Itisyou!”
A zing of electricity passed between us and I couldn’t stop my gasp or the tingling that spread from my palm up my arm. “Surprise?” I gave a bizarre jazz hands wave with my free hand and wished the ground would open up or a freak storm would zap me with a lightning bolt to turn his attention away from me.
This wasnothow I’d hoped our first meeting would go.
His fingers flexed, pressing into the back of my hand, gently rubbing against my skin, reminding me we were still connected. I shivered at the contact, so badly wanting to keep holding onto his warm, soothing grip, and wondering what it would be like to feel his touch in other places on my body.
Not appropriate thoughts about your hot boss if you want to keep your job, Eleanor!
I also needed to not use the word ‘hot’ in regard to the man who signed my paychecks.
“I should’ve realized it was you with all the murder/kidnapping references and your love of true crime shows.”
I gave an awkward laugh as we both let go at the same time. “Yeah, I’m sorry about that and for the girlfriend remark.”
What a way to make a first-ish impression.
He regarded me with such tender kindness, but didn’t reply.
I sighed and continued to talk to fill the unbearable silence. “It was totally inappropriate.”
