Either way, I needed to be careful. The last thing I needed was to fuck this up because of some damn guy.
Sleep claimed me before I could worry further, pulling me under into blessed oblivion.
7
ELENA
Imade it to work on time, barely. The digital clock on the dashboard read 7:45 AM as I pulled into the parking garage, giving me fifteen minutes to get upstairs and settled. My travel mug of coffee sat in the cup holder, still steaming. I grabbed it and took a long swig, wincing at the bitter taste. I'd need more than this to function today.
Sleep had been elusive. Between researching the Donatis and worrying about Ivy while lying in bed, I'd managed maybe four hours. My eyes felt gritty, my body heavy. I checked my phone one last time before heading in. No new messages from Ivy, just the text she'd sent earlier.
Working longer tonight. Extra $$$. Don't wait up. Will be home after you finish work. Don't worry!
Don't worry. Right. Like I could stop that.
I grabbed my purse and coffee, locked the car, and headed into the building and for the elevator. The security guard nodded as I passed, and I managed a smile in return. I reached the elevator, relieved to have made it early despite the traffic, and hitthe button. The doors opened, and I stepped inside, patting my pocket for my elevator keycard as the doors closed on me. I felt nothing but fabric as the elevator moved two floors up.
"Shit."
I'd left it in the car. I groaned as the doors opened and a stout man in a suit stepped inside, hitting the button for the main floor. I mentally calculated how much time it'd take me to get outside and back. The elevator descended, and I waited for the man to exit before I rushed out, heading for the door and praying I could get to my car and back before the clock ticked over to 8am. I looked down at my phone to check the time as I stepped through the door, only to collide with a solid wall of muscle.
Coffee splashed between us as I gasped. I stumbled backward, and strong hands gripped my upper arms, steadying me.
"I'm so sorry, I wasn't—" I looked up into Jackson's dark eyes.Oh, fuck me."Oh. Shit. Hi. Sorry." The words tumbled out.
"Morning." His voice was calm despite the coffee now staining his crisp white shirt. "In a hurry?"
My face burned. "I left my keycard in the car. I didn't want to be late on my second day and—" My phone buzzed in my pocket, and I fumbled to check it, heart racing when I saw Mom's name. But it was just a sweet message.
Hope your second day goes well, sweetheart. Love you.
I exhaled shakily, relief washing through me.
"Breathe," Jackson said, his voice gentler than I expected. "You're still early."
"I just spilled coffee all over both of us."
"I noticed." His lips quirked slightly. "But if it helps, Macey always runs late on Tuesdays. She stops at her granddaughter's coffee shop."
"Really?" The tension in my shoulders eased slightly. "Still, I'm sorry about your shirt."
"It's fine."
"No, it's not. I can help clean it." I glanced at my own blouse, now sporting an impressive brown stain. "I should have a spare in my car."
He raised an eyebrow. "That's either impressively prepared or highlights concerning levels of clumsiness."
A laugh escaped me. "Neither. I just moved into a new place and haven't unpacked everything yet. Still have bags of clothes in my trunk."
"That makes more sense." He glanced at his watch. "Want me to walk you back to your car?"
"You don't have to?—"
"I'm heading that way anyway." He gestured toward the parking lot.
We walked to my car in silence. I popped the trunk, rifled through a duffel bag, and pulled out a pale blue blouse. I also grabbed a small hand towel I kept for emergencies.
"Here," I offered him the towel. "For your shirt."
