Totally Smitten (A Cozy AF Christmas 3)

1

Baker

“What’s wrong?” I ask Tara, my administrative assistant. She’s sitting at her desk with a pile of tissues around her. She’s obviously added more tinsel and garland since I left this morning even though I’ve told her over and over the office doesn’t need decorating.

She looks up at me as if she’s surprised to see me standing at the door. She must really be upset if she didn’t hear my dually truck pull up in front of our trailer. The walls in here are pretty thin.

“Nothing, I’m fine,” she tells me with a sniffle.

“I’ve never pegged you as a liar,” I tell her, always straight to the point.

She bursts out sobbing. “I’m sorry. You’re right. I shouldn’t lie to you. I’m upset,” she admits, holding up the wadded-up tissue in her hand as if that’s proof. She must not realize that the way her eyes are swollen red and her face is blotchy is a dead giveaway.

Tara Scott is one of the most dependable, hardworking, loyal workers I’ve ever had. Most days, I don’t know what I’d do without her. She comes in early, leaves late, gives me things I need for meetings before I need them. She’s a godsend.

Honestly, the only complaint that I could have for her is her incessant want to cover every bare inch of the office in holiday cheer at Christmas time. Other than that, she’s perfect.

I sit down in the chair across from her. I’ve sat in this chair a hundred times to dictate notes or to have her help me strategize something. But right now it’s different. I’ve never seen her upset, and to say it bothers me is an understatement. Tara is way too friendly and kind to be hurting. “Tell me what happened. What’s wrong?” I’m already thinking back on the day, wondering who could have been in the office and upset her. The visitors we get are usually the construction workers, but all of my guys know not to mess with Tara. They know she’s special to me. I’ve threatened them enough that it’s comical now when they come to the office. If I’m not here, they stand in the entryway with the door open. Tara doesn’t understand it. But she doesn’t need to. Not yet.

She takes a deep breath and sits back in her chair. I ignore the clock on the wall that just struck six pm and is playing a Christmas tune. I barely hold back the roll of my eyes and encourage her. “C’mon, you can tell me.”

“My date cancelled on me,” she half whispers, half sobs.

“Date?” I asked, surprised. Probably too surprised by the hurt on her face. I clear my throat. “I didn’t know you were dating anyone.”

Tara is pretty in a plain way. She wears big thick glasses that cover half her face. Her long brown hair is always up in a bun, and she’s curvy. Although I have to admit that I’ve always noticed how sweet her curves are and usually have to force myself to look away from them.

She’s old fashioned in a lot of ways and uses words that make her seem way older than her twenty-three years.

“I’m not dating anyone.”

Confused, I tell her, “I don’t understand.”

“I hired someone to go home with me… to act like my boyfriend. And well, he has the flu. They’re looking for a replacement, but with it being the holidays, they just don’t know…”

“Tara, slow down. You hired a stranger to act like your boyfriend? What if he’s a crazy person? A psycho. Anything. What were you thinking?” My anxiety just went up a notch, and I don’t know if it’s because she’s talking about dating or the fact she was going to take a stranger home with her.

She shrugs her shoulders, and I give her a pointed look. We know each other well enough that she knows I’m not going to just walk away from this conversation now.

She pulls her shoulders back. “My parents are worried about me and want me to move home–”

“You can’t leave,” I tell her immediately. I’m not her boss—well, I’m her work boss, but I don’t have any say on what she can and can’t do, or where she can live. But just her saying they want her to move causes me to panic. I’ve tried to hide my feelings from her, but now I’m thinking I did the wrong thing.

“I’m not. But they won’t let up. They are so worried about me. You’ve met my parents. You know how wonderful they are, but they’re worried, and I hate what I’m doing to them. I was selfish moving so far away, but I never thought they would be this stressed out about it. And I know they’re right. I’m here. Three hours away from home. I have no friends, no one to call if I’m sick or need something. Maybe they’re right. I just need to admit I lied to them…”