Her heart stopped for a moment then started racing. She swallowed hard and consciously finished the sentence—easily learn to like.
That’s not what you were thinking, Marley.
She ignored the voice in her head, wishing her pulse would calm down. No such luck as they made small talk across the parking lot. When they reached her truck, she stowed her briefcase and turned to thank him.
An alien feeling of shyness attacked her when she met his gaze again. He, on the other hand, looked downright serious.
“Marley, I’ve been thinking about what happened earlier.”
Her breath hitched. Would he kiss her again? Her heart thumped faster, making her lightheaded.
“I shouldn’t have kissed you.”
Acute disappointment deflated her lungs. Anger filled them again. “The only thing between me and your father is a professional relationship.”
He stared for a moment, then nodded with what she’d swear was relief. “Okay. But about the kiss…if anyone other than Jordan had walked in on us, they could’ve gotten the wrong impression.”
“We certainly don’t want that, considering how quickly people jump to conclusions around here.” Sarcasm colored her voice, but she didn’t care.
“The thing is,” he explained with a frown, “Your new position typically requires experience. I wouldn’t want anyone to think less of you—to not respect the job you do—because they thought you got the job with something other than your talent.”
“How very noble of you.”
“Well, you wouldn’t want that, either, would you?” He looked and sounded irritated.
“Of course not,” she snapped with equal annoyance.
“Then we agree. It won’t happen again.”
Darn right, she thought emphatically as she slammed her door shut.
No—wait. Not kiss him again? He made her feel like a two-ton bulldozer had just rumbled across her neatly landscaped life. He’d torn it all up, and now he wanted her to forget about it and go back to the way things had been?
Not if she had anything to say about it.
Chapter 12
Justin pulled into the parking lot the next morning and smiled. Marley’s truck was parked near the front, just as he’d guessed it would be, even thought it wasn’t quite six-thirty a.m. He knew her so well already.
His smile turned to a scowl. He’d found a woman he liked, who he actually understood, and who was hotter than hell—and she was off-limits. Maybe he could fire her again.
Pushing that tempting, unfair thought from his head, he parked his Jeep and met her on the sidewalk. Immediately he noticed her free-flowing hair. Damn, what happened to the ponytail she’d worn yesterday?
“I see you’re back in uniform,” he commented to distract himself.
Her chin tilted with instant defiance. “More than half the people I saw yesterday wore jeans.” She let her gaze drift slowly downward. “Including you.”
Heat spread through his veins like a wildfire. “I wasn’t criticizing. From what I’ve seen, there’s no dress code. Wear what you like.” But stop giving me the once-over, he added silently, moving past her to unlock the building.
“How long have you been waiting?” he asked as he held the door for her. He only half-heard her answer because his eyes were busy appreciating the fit of her jeans. He’d have to talk to Jordan about establishing a dress code.
“I didn’t think about what time the office opened and then hoped someone would be in early,” she said on the elevator ride to the third floor.
“I remembered you said something about it last night.”
The doors opened, and she gave him a beautiful smile before stepping out. “Thanks for paying attention.”
He enjoyed the view again as he followed her to their offices. Damn, it would be a long day if he couldn’t keep his eyes off her.