As annoying as it is, I have to admire his persistence.
Before I can accept the meeting request, another text pops up on my phone.
JLAW: Unless you’re willing to ignore your next payday, I expect to see you in my office.
Ugh. Resigned to my fate, I put my phone in my pocket and leave the bathroom. His office is at the other end of the hall from mine so I take my sweet time getting there, stopping in the employee break room for another cup of coffee. Someone brought in donuts and left them on the counter so I take one for good measure. By the time I get to Law’s office, I’m halfway through eating it and have white powder all over my fingers.
“Nice of you to show up to do your job today,” Law grumbles as I sit in the chair in front of his desk.
“Just participating in a little office socialization. Donuts do a lot for morale.”
“Noted. Can we work, please? We need to go over the office budget for next year.”
Okay now I feel a little guilty that I wasted time getting here when he’s actually got work that needs to be done. Maybe he’s not the only one having trouble keeping our personal life out of the office. For the next half hour, he talks and I take notes. After working together for so long, we have a good rhythm and we finish the new budget and a few client pitch drafts for each of the three team leads. We take a break and Law rests his head on the back of his office chair.
“So you’re using GlowUp?” he asks in a deceptively soft voice. “What happened to your new boyfriend?”
“Nothing happened to him. He is a very nice man but I am keeping my options open. I have to evaluate the app to help the marketing team.”
“The marketing team,” he says bitterly.
“And to help myself. Maybe I’ll get lucky and find someone who wants the same things I want.”
“What you want doesn’t exist.” He still isn’t looking at me.
“I think it does. Honesty definitely exists. Loyalty is a little harder to find.”
“If that’s what you want then you’re walking the wrong way.”
“You’ll have to excuse me if I want to investigate that for myself. Men aren’t the best at directions. Besides that’s not all I want.”
His eyes fix on mine, the intensity enough to take my breath away. “You want late night conversations where you feel free to say anything. Evenings wrapped around a man who doesn’t want to be anywhere but where you are. You want adventure and excitement, safety and comfort, and everything in between. Most of all you want to know that you can let go and someone will be there to catch you.”
My heart bangs against my ribs. It feels like a warning.
It’s not just the husky tone of his voice as he spells out the secret wishes of my heart that break me. It’s the look in his eyes, like he’s aware that he’s the only man who has ever come close to giving me that.
“Don’t forget never-ending brunch,” I whisper. “French toast and bacon are a crucial part of my happiness.”
“I haven’t forgotten. Not a single thing.”
Someone walks by in the hallway and the sound of loud voices outside the closed door breaks the spell. I glance down at my lap, not sure why I suddenly feel like I’ve lost something precious all over again.
My phone screen flashes. After my earlier mortification I made sure to turn the sound off but I kept the notifications on. I pick it up and check the screen. The jaunty little GlowUp notification tells me that I have new matches waiting.
Law sits up in his chair, his eyes narrowing when he notices the phone in my hand.
“Good luck finding Prince Charming.”
Even though it’s tempting, I refuse to rise to his bait. Arguing about the merits of dating is useless and doesn’t solve anything.
While he watches, I tap the app to open it. Hmm. Just over the last hour, I’ve gotten three more matches. One catches my eye immediately. The guy is wearing a blue baseball cap and has decent biceps on display in a short-sleeved shirt. I click his profile and look it over.
“I don’t know about Prince Charming but this guy seems promising. A shy guy who likes surfing and rescue dogs sounds perfect for me. And he’s already asking for a date. I like a man who takes initiative.” I type a quick message back to “Shy Clint” telling him that I would love to meet up this weekend.
Law walks around the desk. He stands behind me as I finish typing.
“Are you done?”