Wait, why am I thinking about this?
“Sometimes the cover is hiding what’s really just underneath it,” he adds quietly.
My eyebrows furrow. Are we still talking about book covers? I decide to change the subject. “Have you always wanted to be your own boss?”
Surprise and something like pleasure lights across Alek’s face, like maybe he likes me asking all these questions. I’m disappointed when an alarm goes off on his phone, prompting him to look at the time before standing. He gathers his empty salad container before making his way to the trash can, glancing once over his shoulder. His gaze is heated again, something deliciously dark flitting across his expression. “Yes, actually, there are many different occasions in which I enjoy being in charge.”
I pause mid-chew. Why did that sound dirty?
He winks. “Don’t linger too long, Luke. You have more training to do.”
I struggle not to choke on a carrot, too busy watching his graceful movements as he strolls out of the breakroom to notice Finn’s return. When I finally look up, he’s standing there with his mouth hanging open. “That’s not fair! He’s never been anything but professional with me!”
Although I laugh at Finn’s pouty face, I’m secretly buzzing with energy. I’m like an addict, already craving my next hit of Alek Cromwell and wondering when I can get it.
Alek
Caleb: How are things going with Luke?
Alek: He has a creative mind, but Finn won’t stop flirting with him
Caleb: And?
Alek: My employees don’t get paid to flirt
Alek: They have jobs to do
Caleb: Ok… so tell Finn to cut it out
Alek: This is Finn we’re talking about
Caleb: Truth
Ido notwant to be subjected to another day of Finn flirting with Luke. In the past two days, I’ve spent way too much time peeking my head out the door and scowling in their general direction. Even though Luke seems oblivious, it’s turned me into a possessive, growly brute. It makes me want to smash something.
Finn is a flirty, eccentric guy by nature. He rarely means anything by it. He flirts with…everybody. Hell, one time I ran into him at the supermarket and overheard him tell a woman who looked to be no less than eighty years old that she looked ‘‘smokin’ hot”. She had blushed and giggled before swatting at his arm.
Finn is a kindhearted soul who likes to make people feel good. Pair that with boundless amounts of energy and the lack of a filter, and you often get Flirty Finn.
It has never bothered me until now.
When I overheard Finn telling Luke he was attractive and then ask him out for a drink, steam threatened to billow out of my ears.
If anybody’s going to flirt with Luke inmyplace of employment, it’s going to beme.
Preferably when Caleb’s not around.
An aggravated sigh escapes my throat as I place my coffee mug onto my desk with an audiblethump. I wrack my brain, trying to think ofa solution that will appease me enough so I can get some work done today without making it too obvious that what I really want to doismark my territory all over my son’s best friend.
Honestly, if Luke gave me even the tiniest amount of confirmation he was interested in me—that I’m not imagining the heat in his eyes—it would take a Herculean amount of strength to hold me back.
Fuck me, I deserve a one-way ticket to Hell.
I could let someone else finish his training, but most of my other employees are too busy now. I purposely lightened Finn’s workload so he would be free to help Luke get settled.
My lips curl into an amused little smirk when a new idea occurs to me, and I call for Maria. She gives my request an odd look, tilting her head with pursed lips and furrowed brows, but quickly acquiesces. Before long, we’re moving a spare desk into my office and setting Luke’s computer monitors on top.
“Are you sure this is what you want, Mr. Cromwell?” she asks, dusting her hands off of her white shirt and readjusting her green, pleated skirt.
