“I’m your boss,” I finish for her, voice strained. Shit. Shit! That’s why she stepped out of my hold. That’s why she seems so goddamn nervous. She didn’t know she was coming to work for me, and not even in my wildest dreams did I imagine that Savannahof all people would be my new hire.
Nothing is ever fucking simple, is it?
“This…this is weird…right?” Savannah clutches at her bag like it’s a lifeline. Or a shield.
Every inch of me is desperate for me to gather her into my arms and hold her until she feels better. I hate the mixture of nerves and worry on her gorgeous face. I never want her to be worried about anything ever again.
“It doesn’t have to be,” I answer. Distantly, I’m aware that the other employees can probably hear and see this, but I find that I don’t really care what they think. But it’s clear Savannah is worried about it, her eyes darting over my shoulder, her teeth ripping the skin on her lips now. “Come on,” I say, trying to keep the possessiveness out of my tone. “We can chat through the paperwork in my office.”
“Paperwork. Yes, right,” Savannah rushes to say, nodding and readjusting her bag on her shoulder.
A few employees offer her smiles and quick greetings as we pass through, but I don’t stop to make introductions the way I probably should. I’ll do it later, once this shit show has been sorted out and I’ve convinced Savannah that her role as my secretary doesn’t have to affect the fact that I want her in a very non-professional way.
“Have a seat.” I hold the door open and gesture to the comfortable office chair at my desk.
I wait until she’s seated before I press the small button to the right of the door that brings down the frosted film in the glass walls, hiding us from prying eyes. She gasps as we’re hidden from view, then coughs to try to hide it, looking around at my office with interest.
I stroll around the desk, taking my own seat on the other side. The desk serves as a barrier between us, one I resent but know is necessary to keep her comfortable. The fact she’s even here feels like a miracle, and the last thing I want is to chase her away when I’ve only just found her again.
“So…uh…the paperwork,” she breaks the silence, refusing to meet my eyes now.
Oh, absolutely not. I refuse to pretend that Friday didn’t happen. Not when it changed my damn life. “I’ve been thinking about you for days,” I tell her again. “Not getting your number is the biggest regret of my life. I can’t believe you’re here.”
“Sean, I…I need this job,” she says quietly, voice shaking. “I’m sorry for running on Friday. Polly, my friend, she needed me and I wasn’t thinking and I…well, I’ve been thinking about you too.”
Hope rises in me fast, and she must see it in the grin that spreads across my face because she shakes her head quickly. “But we can’t be together.”
“What?” I snap immediately.
“You’re supposed to be my boss.” Her eyebrows pull together. “It’s not…I mean, is that even allowed? Isn’t there a rule against fraternizing with employees? I’m sure that sort of stuff isn’t, like, HR approved…”
“Trust me, sweetness, fraternizing doesn’t cover the things I want to do with you.” I lower my voice and lace it with desire. “Besides, office romances aren’t not allowed. There’s HR paperwork and things to sign but that’s all. I’m the boss, Savannah. I make the rules.”
“Oh. But even still…I mean… God, what will everyone else think?” She ducks her head to try to hide her blush. I see it anyway, taking comfort in the fact that I clearly still affect her the way she affects me.
“I don’t care,” I answer without a second thought.
“But I do,” she whispers back, stopping me in my tracks. “You have to know how this would look, Sean. Like I’ve been hired just because I’m…dating…” She stumbles over the word, flushing, unsure of what to call this. “...the boss. There’s boundaries now. This changes things.”
“I want you, sweetness,” I repeat, undeterred by her argument. Fuck everyone else. Fuck the rules and fuck the boundaries. I need this woman in my life, and I know she wants that to. Christ, even now, the air between us is practically crackling with electric attraction. “I don’t care if I’m not supposed to. You weren’t my employee when we met, when you tripped into me and stole my breath, when I kissed you. You can’t tell me that you can’t see how good we could be together.”
“You don’t even really know me.”
“I want to. I want to know everything about you. Give me a chance.” I’m leaning across the desk now, a pencil snapping under my palm, invading her space but managing to keep my hands to myself.
“I can’t,” she says softly. “I’m sorry, Sean. I don’t want to be known as the girl that’s fucking the boss. Everyone will hate me. Please, just let’s go over the paperwork and get started, okay? I promise I’m actually a really good secretary.”
Even if she’s the worst secretary I’ve ever had, there’s no fucking way I’ll let her go. She’s said no, and I’m not so much of an asshole to push that. But I will change her mind.
She’s it for me. I’m sure of it. Everything I’ve been waiting for is wrapped up in one stunning package.
And I’m going to prove it to her.
7
SAVANNAH
I’m hiding in the bathroom. It’s immature of me, I know, but I don’t care. It’s only my third day here, but I can already feel cracks forming in my defenses.
