I had never, in my life, walked into an office full of people and been expected to socialize and work.

As a teenager, I’d taught surfing lessons down on the beach to tourists in the summer, and it rarely ever needed many words. In college, I hadn’t worked, something Dad had promised I’d never have to do if I went away to school. And after I’d come home, I’d studied, gotten my degree, and started my business. Sure, I’d had to go on some business meetings to gain clients, but that was usually one-on-one.

So entering Carson’s office and seeing a bunch of heads turn towards me was a little terrifying. I looked at the floor, at my gray flats stepping one by one onto the hardwood.

“Blake! Oh my God, I’m so happy you’re here, I can’t wait to go over everything with you!” Melissa comes bounding up and throws her arms around me.

And officially breaks up any tension that was sitting on my shoulders. “Hi, I’m excited too. I brought some new files for you to look at.”

She sweeps her hand around the room. “Everyone, this is Blake, our genius graphic designer you’ve all been raving about. And Blake, this is everyone! You can meet them later, but first, I brought donuts in for your arrival.”

She takes my arm, and I’m instantly a little bit more relaxed. I’ve never had a girl friend, but I could see Melissa being the kind of person who could bring me out of my shell. The office is the same since I saw it when I came to visit Carson here, but I now realize it has gotten an upgrade since I was last here over a decade ago, and it looks professional but still homey. Professional pictures of the island’s horses hang on the wall, and Mac computers line a certain wall with screen saver pictures of tourists on the jeep horse tours.

“Ugh, I walk in this kitchen and want to eat them all. Come on, sit!” Melissa grabs a plate and loads it with donuts from the famous local shop down the street.

I have to admit, the sugary sweet smell calls to my nose and when she places the plate on the table between us, I can’t help but reach for a vanilla.

“So how has your week been going? I feel like I haven’t spoken to you in ages.”

I swallow before talking. “It’s been good, busy with people getting ready for fourth quarter taxes. But I love this time of year out here. The cold ocean, getting ready for the holidays.”

Melissa nods. “Yeah, but I have to go home to New York for the holidays. Some day, I’ll get my big family to come down here. It’s just so peaceful down here, and I bet it’s even better out on Carova.”

I nod. “It is, but it can get lonely.”

“Well, at least you have Carson.” Her comment means to pry. “Okay, that was a horrible non-question. It’s just … you should know I’ve never seen him happier. And I like you too, so I’m happy for you guys.”

She’s too nice, I don’t know how to handle her. So I’m honest. “That’s really nice of you to say, and I appreciate it. We’re doing well, better than I ever thought we could be. But to be honest, I’m not … the most open person. I don’t have … friends. So I really want to be your friend, as stupid and childish as that sounds, but just bear with me because I’m a little awkward.”

Melissa smiles. “I talk enough for four people, so don’t worry, girl, our friendship will be a breeze. Okay, go see your man and then we will get to work. I have so many ideas for some new campaign ideas and I just know your input will be genius.”

She skips out of the room and leaves me by myself to wander the office. If I remember correctly, the office suites where the couple of executives sit are in the back, down another hallway, so I take it. The first one I find is empty and dark, as is the second. But when I reach the third door, I see light spilling into the hallway and hear a familiar voice.

“No, we need to track the pregnancy rates, because new horses are important. Okay … okay, get the tags on them, but gently. Just … don’t spook them, okay?”

Carson is talking to someone on the phone, and hearing him in business mode is kind of sexy. Peeking around the door, so he can’t see me, I observe him in his big black office chair. Sitting straight with one hand spread wide on his wood desk, his dark hair tousled like he’s been running his fingers through it. The first button on his shirt is undone, like he’s been fiddling with it, and his eyes are focused on something on the computer screen. He looks … commanding. It’s hot, seeing him in boss mode. I want to stand here all day just watching it, but I also want to walk in and have his eyes on me.

It’s crazy how much he makes my body react by just looking at me. I’d forgotten that in the years we’d been apart. Even now, as adults, he could make me go from normal to blazing hot in just seconds with a sweep of those chocolate pools.

I mouth the word “hi” as I walk into his office, and his eyes light up. Something crackles at our connection when I enter the room, and it’s the kind of intimacy that can’t be learned or found over time. With Carson and I, there has always been that innate something between us. Like it was put there at birth, and we were meant to discover it the first time we ever laid eyes on each other.

Dropping into one of the chairs across from him, I wait for him to finish his phone call. Three minutes later, he hangs up.

“I’m not sure it’s a good idea to have you in my office alone.” His smirk has me rising and crossing behind his desk.

“Oh, and why is that?” I sit on his lap in a bold move for me, and twine my arms around his neck.

He finds my hips and goose bumps race down my skin. “Because the boss is going to do some naughty things and that might not be acceptable for an employee.”

“Good thing I don’t work for you, I work for Melissa.” And with that, I silence him, slanting my lips over his.

As his tongue tangles with mine, I grind against his lap, fully aware that I’m quickly making him rock solid.

After a few minutes of making out like horny teenagers, Carson breaks it off. “As much as I want to take you right here on this desk, the door is open and I’m pretty sure these walls are paper thin. You look amazing though. Can you keep this on when I get to your house tonight?”

I give him one last peck and stand up. “I’ll think about it.” It felt fun to flirt and be lighthearted. “How is your day though?”

He sighs, but smiles. “Good, I’m getting more used to it everyday. It’s easier because of the staff we have, they save my job almost three times a day.”

Setting down my bag, I sit on his desk. “You don’t give yourself enough credit. You’re doing a really good job. Well, I’ll leave you to it, boss. I need to go be a graphic genius and make your business even better.”

“I tell her I love her and she gets all cocky on me. There is that wild girl.” He winks at me.

“I love you, too.” I blow him a kiss because I’m feeling silly.

Walking back to Melissa’s desk, I ask her if we can go into the conference room to talk. I don’t feel comfortable discussing ideas out here in the open where anyone can join in, and it’s hard enough just to be in this office full of people. Slowly, I’m getting more social, but I don’t want to push it.

For the next two hours, Melissa and I go through all of her ideas for next year’s marketing campaigns, and what graphics I can create to provide the association their biggest reach. We joke throughout the meeting, and I learn that Melissa is one of four from a big Italian family. She promises to show me videos from her Christmas at home, because I don’t believe that fifty people can fit in a three-bedroom ranch. I can’t imagine that much chatter.

“What are you doing for New Year’s?” she asks as we wrap up the meeting.

“I’m not sure, it is still two months away.” I laugh at her eagerness.

“Well, we do something with the younger folks around these parts, a house party of sorts. You and Carson should come. It’s a lot of fun, and there is no pressure.”

I didn’t know what Carson was doing for the holidays, hell we had just sorted out all of the issues between us, and I hadn’t wanted to bring it up.

“Maybe, that sounds fun. I’ll ask him.”

As I walked out to my car, plans with my boyfriend set for later, I literally patted myself on the back. Today had been a huge accomplishment.

Every day now, I felt more like my old self. More like the girl who was never afraid of anything, and could take any curveball the world threw at her.