Chapter Nine
Rena knocked on Gio’s door, then walked into his office without waiting for his answer. “Do you have a minute?”
In the middle of a phone call, Gio raised one hand, told the governor courting him to invest in his state to send him some stats, and hung up the phone. He stood and stretched. Unable to sleep the night before, he’d come back to his office and worked through the night—something he was able to do since so many of his contacts were international. Although he was tired, it was a good tired. Work had always done that for him. When nothing else made sense, business did. He looked down at his watch. “Eight o’clock already? Get Atwater on the phone. I read over his proposal. It’s promising, but some of his assumptions about our role in developing the area are way off. I’ll give him access to our lobbyists, but I don’t want our name linked publicly with his project. It’s not going to be a popular one.”
Rena closed the door behind her. “Before I do that . . . I want to apologize for last night. Luke called me after seeing you. I didn’t mean to embarrass you.”
“Forget it,” he said gruffly.
Rena walked farther into his office. “We’ve known each other a long time, Gio. I feel like I grew up with you as a second brother. I know you hate when I get personal at work, but I’m worried about you. Did you actually reallocate one of your security team to watch Julia’s apartment building?” She laid a hand flat on his desk, real concern evident in her expression. “What are you doing, Gio? This isn’t like you.”
Turning away from the concern in her eyes, Gio walked to look out the expansive office window. “I had to do something. The neighborhood she lives in isn’t safe.”
“Did she ask you for help?”
“Hell, no,” Gio said, running his hand through his hair. “She told me the area was fine. I offered her an out, but she wanted to stay there. I don’t understand her.”
“That’s because she’s not like the women you usually date.”
He rubbed his forehead in frustration. “Tell me about it.”
“Did you really ask her to go to the island wedding with you?” Rena said with a smile in her voice.
“How do you—” He shook his head in resignation. “Don’t tell me. I’d rather not know how you heard that. It doesn’t matter. She said no.”
“Which is fortunate for you, because you don’t believe in workplace relationships.”
“Exactly.”
“Want my opinion?”
He groaned. “Not really, but I’ve never successfully convinced you to keep it to yourself.”
“Go slow with this one. Take a walk with her. Share a coffee. Get to know her.”
“What happened to, ‘Stay the hell away from her? You’re not ready for a nice woman’?”
“According to Luke, that horse has left the gate. Just be careful with her, Gio. You could really hurt her.”
Looking out over the skyline, Gio listened to Rena’s footsteps retreating across the office, then the door opening.
“And take a shower. You look like hell.”
Gio closed his eyes for a moment and shook his head.
A walk?
It wasn’t what he was craving to do with Julia, but nothing else had worked with her thus far. He was willing to try anything. The small taste he’d had of her had only heightened his desire for her. He couldn’t look at his desk without imagining her there, half-dressed and ready for him. He could almost smell her soft perfume, hear the moan she made. He wanted to hear his name on her lips while she came for him.
He loosened his tie and threw it over the back of one of the chairs, then headed for the side door to his office. He did need a shower. A cold one.
* * *
Julia had spent the day debating if she should return to Cogent Solutions or not. After walking out on a night she was scheduled, there was a good chance she was no longer employed. She finally decided that no matter how awkward it was, she would keep going until someone told her not to. Landlords don’t care that you almost slept with your boss the night before. They want their rent.
And I’m not ready to go home yet.
She walked up to where Paul and Tom were sitting and asked, “Do you guys know if I’m scheduled for tonight?”
“As far as I know,” Tom said as he pulled out a schedule sheet. “Yep. You’re on the list. What happened last night? Mr. Andrade came down here asking for you. He didn’t look happy.”
Memories flooded back. Julia shook her head wordlessly at Tom. She didn’t like to lie, but there was no part of yesterday that she was willing to repeat. Thank God I didn’t actually sleep with him. I’m already a mess.
She turned to walk away and gasped when she saw Gio standing beside her.
“Let’s take a walk,” he said curtly.
Is this where he tells me that he can’t believe I didn’t realize I don’t work here anymore? Let him say it. I’ve done nothing wrong. Okay, I’ve done a few things wrong, but all of that was just as much his fault as it was mine. It takes two. “I don’t mind if they hear.”
At least then I know we’ll stay on safe topics.
He looked over at Paul and Tom, who were practically hanging over the security desk to hear what they were saying. They instantly sat down and looked away. “We can’t talk here. Come to my office.”
She stepped back and shook her head. “I’m already late for my shift.”
One corner of his mouth twitched as if he’d almost smiled. “I’m sure it will be fine.”
Hitching her purse higher on her uniform-clad shoulder, Julia said, “I need this job. If you have a security-related concern, I’ll be happy to discuss it with you—although I believe you will find Paul or Tom more knowledgeable. If I’m fired, you can tell me right here.”
“You’re not fired, but we do have something we need to discuss.”
It would be so easy to give in. She fought to retain some control. “If it’s a personal topic, I have a break at seven.”
His jaw tightened. “Are you serious?”
She raised her chin. “Yes.”
“Then I’ll see you at seven.” He turned and walked away.
Julia let out a long, shaky sigh.
Seven o’clock.
What does he want to talk to me about?
And how am I going to be able to wait until then to find out?