Something in my chest loosened at the familiar teasing lilt in her voice. “Nan, I rang you two days ago.”
“Did you? My memory must be going.” Her laugh was bright and infectious. “And here your mother had me thinking you were too busy with that fancy executive job to remember your old grandmother.”
“Never too busy for you.” I moved farther down the hallway, lowering my voice. “Are you really okay? Mom said something about dizziness.”
“Oh, for heaven’s sake.” She sighed dramatically. “I got a little lightheaded at swing dancing, and suddenly everyone’s acting like I’m at death’s door. I’m perfectly fine.”
“Swing dancing?” I couldn’t help but grin at the image.
“With Henry from across the street.” There was a distinctly smug note in her voice. “He’s only seventy-three, you know. Your mother nearly had an aneurysm when she found out.”
“I bet she did.” I ran a hand through my hair. “You’re sure you’re alright?”
“Fit as a fiddle and twice as loud,” Nan assured me. “Now, are you okay? You sound stressed.”
“I’m fine,” I said automatically.
“Humph. I doubt that. Tell me what’s going on.”
“Nothing, Nan. I promise. Just work stuff.”
She made a soft noise that told me she didn’t quite believe me but wouldn’t push further. “You should come visit soon. I haven’t seen you in forever.”
I squeezed my eyes shut. “I’ll try.”
There was a beat of fraught silence before she said, “Maybe I can come to you.”
Nan knew, better than anyone alive, how hard it was for me to go home. And that while ever she lived so close to my parents, seeing her was far from easy for me. Still, “No, you’re not well. I’ll come to you.”
“Pshaw. I said it’s just a little dizziness, didn’t I? Anyway, we can talk about it later. Henry’s on his way up to visit, so I’ve got to go.”
“Take care of yourself,” I cautioned, unable to help myself.
“Always do, darling. Love you.”
“Love you too, Nan.”
She ended the call before I could say anything else. I slipped my phone back into my pocket, dragging in a breath to ease some of the tension in my shoulders. Then I headed back to theconference room, mentally rehearsing an apology to Mia for the interruption. But when I pushed open the door, the words died on my lips.
Mia was asleep.
Her head rested on her folded arms, dark hair spilling across the table like ink. Her shoulders rose and fell as she breathed, deep and even. Papers were still clutched loosely in one hand, as if she’d dozed off mid-review.
I moved closer, noticing the dark sweep of her lashes against her cheeks, the soft part of her lips. Something protective and fierce rose in my chest, a feeling that had nothing to do with her being my employee and everything to do with her being Mia.
Before I could stop myself, I reached out, my fingers hovering just above her cheek where a strand of dark hair had fallen across her face. Gently, barely touching her skin, I brushed the hair back, tucking it behind her ear.
The moment my fingertips grazed her temple, I froze. What the hell was I doing? This wasn’t just crossing a line; it was obliterating it.
I pulled my hand back as if burned, reality crashing back around me. I was her boss. This was wildly fucking inappropriate. It had to stop, right now.
“Mia.” I spoke softly, taking a deliberate step back. “Mia, wake up.”
She didn’t stir.
I cleared my throat, a little louder this time. “Mia.”
Her eyelashes fluttered, and she made a small, confused sound as consciousness returned. For a moment, she looked disoriented, her gray eyes unfocused as they opened. Then she registered my presence and jerked upright.
