Chapter 5
Putting Kenley in her place wasn’t nearly as much fun as he thought it would be. She didn’t understand the hostility he had bottled up for the last ten plus years. The resentment. How could she understand? She hadn’t been the one who’d broken his heart.
As much as he tried to remember that, seeing her made him bitter.
He’d hurt her feelings, and for what reason? Because she was attempting to make his business more profitable? Christ. That was her job.
“Damn it,” he muttered as his cell phone rang. Sidney. Just great.
“What the hell is your problem?” she yelled as soon as he said hello.
“So she goes crying to you because I didn’t like her idea?” It was a weak defense at best.
“I called her to check in, and I could tell she was upset. She didn’t cry, but it sounded like she was probably pretty close to it.”
The personal call he’d scolded her about would have been Sidney. Shit. He’d really made a mess.
“I didn’t mean to upset her.” He tried to defuse the situation.
“The hell you didn’t. You didn’t want to hire her, even though she was the best candidate. She’s obviously proving that to be true, and you don’t want to hear it.”
He deserved this and more. He had acted like a child. A bratty, selfish child.
“I’ll apologize,” he offered. He’d pretty much come to this conclusion before his sister had yelled at him.
“Why didn’t you like her idea? She told me about it and I thought it sounded great. You could work on things on the road so you wouldn’t be bogged down with paperwork when you came to the office. Who likes to have a mound of paperwork waiting for them?”
“I just—”
“You just didn’t want to like her idea so you came up with a lame reason to reject it. Simple-minded idiots do that, Zane. Are you a simple-minded idiot?”
“Not normally. I think I’m more a run-of-the-mill asshole right now.”
“You know what I think?”
“I can’t wait to find out,” he muttered, away from the phone so she couldn’t hear.
“I think you are being mean to this girl on purpose to make yourself feel big and bad because she intimidates you. That’s not fair. You were a shy kid in high school. I remember how much you struggled to fit in. But go look the hell in the mirror. You’re an adult now. A successful one. Your lack of confidence is not Kenley’s fault. Don’t punish her for something she didn’t do. Besides, it was a long-ass time ago, so get over it already. I don’t think your new niece would be very proud of you right now, Uncle Zane.”
“Ah, hell.” He hung his head. His sister knew just where to hit him. The kid wasn’t even born yet, and she was already being used as leverage against him. “Fine, I said I would apologize.”
“You should take her out for lunch.”
“I—okay. I will.”
“The next time I call this girl to check in she’d better tell me it’s the greatest damn place to work or I’m coming in there.”
“Yes. Got it. Bye.” He hung up and looked over the changes Kenley had made to their system with an open mind. It was pretty nice. With a big sigh, he went out to Kenley’s desk.
She glanced up, but didn’t make eye contact.
“Why don’t we go get some lunch?” he suggested, hoping it sounded casual.
“Should I take my things?” God, she was killing him.
“No. You’ll be coming back. Or at least I hope you will.”
She looked a little more relieved as she got in her drawer to retrieve her purse. She still wouldn’t look at him, but that was fine. He needed a few moments to prepare himself for the big serving of crow he was going to have to choke down.
He held the door to Porter’s Wharf and could have sworn he saw her cringe as she passed him to go into the restaurant. He’d done that. He’d yelled at her and made her skittish. He hated himself even more and he hadn’t thought that possible.
She didn’t know him at all, and so far her impression was that he was a nasty ogre.
It was still early for lunch as they were seated at an empty booth.
“Their burgers are the best. I swear my niece is going to come out a giant burger after all the ones Sidney has eaten since she’s been pregnant.” He tried to make a joke, but Kenley didn’t laugh.
“I’m not very hungry.” And he’d ruined her appetite too. Could he possibly feel any worse?
He set the menu aside and leaned down, trying to catch her gaze.
“I’m sorry about this morning. I’m not much of a morning person, and I was a jerk.”
She glanced up and shook her head quickly.
“You weren’t. I shouldn’t have tried to change things—”
“Kenley, I was a jerk. There’s no way around that. Let me apologize and take responsibility, okay?”
She nodded. “At least you didn’t fire me for sleeping with someone,” she said with a hint of a smile.
He jumped on the opportunity to continue the feeble connection.
“I’d have to be pretty stupid to fire you after seeing all the work you put into saving my company money. Fortunately, I’m only mildly stupid.”
The waitress came and took their drink orders and left.
“So did Sidney call and yell at you?” She tilted her head to the side as she watched him.
“She did, but I had already decided I was going to apologize before she called.”
“I’m sorry she yelled at you.” He looked at her and saw how much she meant it. His gut twisted yet again with guilt.
“You don’t have anything to be sorry about. I’m the one who messed up. I’m going to give your new system a try. After I got my head out of my ass, it seems like it might be a good move.”
Kenley was trying to keep from smiling. Her warm brown eyes sparkled as she pressed her lips together. Full kissable lips. He was staring at them. He could feel himself staring and couldn’t look away.
“What can I get you?” the waitress saved him as she put their drinks on the table and pulled out her green pad.
“Oh…uh. Did you decide what you’d like?” he asked, waiting for Kenley to go first. He was raised with some manners after all.
“I’ll have the chef salad without onions, please.” No onions? Was she going to be kissing someone later? He knew she wasn’t married. He assumed she wasn’t engaged because her left ring finger was bare. Surely she had a boyfriend. Maybe she lived with someone. Someone who didn’t want to commit to her. What kind of rat bastard wouldn’t commit to—
“For you sir?” The waitress was waiting.
“Oh. Cheeseburger and French fries.” He needed to hold it together.
The waitress nodded and walked away, leaving them to their awkward silence.
“So are we good?” He went ahead and asked.
“Of course. No problem.”
“If you have any other ideas, please don’t be afraid to share them. I promise I’ll react better the next time.”
“I was thinking a parrot might liven up the place,” she said.
He swallowed while he tried to come up with a diplomatic way to say, “Hell no.” A parrot?
Just then she burst out laughing.
“You should see your face right now,” she said, still laughing.
She was joking. With him. Like they were friends.
He laughed along, but inside his chest, his heart was waking up from a decade of slumber. Her laughter amazed him, her dimpled smile called him home. He was suddenly that stupid teenage boy wishing he had enough courage to ask out the pretty girl.
He was helpless all over again.
Exactly what he had been trying to avoid. He couldn’t do this. He couldn’t lose himself in this woman.
“Aw, shit. I just remembered, I have a conference call,” he said as an excuse as he stood to escape. He was a coward, but he already knew that about himself. Now he also knew he was a liar.
“Oh. I didn’t know.”
“No, it’s not your fault. It’s something I set up myself. I should go.” He tossed money on the table to cover their bill. “Finish your lunch and come back whenever. No rush.”
“Okay. I’ll have her pack up your food so I can bring it back with me.”
“That would be great. Thanks,” he called over his shoulder, already halfway to the door.
He couldn’t do this. He needed to find a way to keep their relationship professional, but every time he saw her or spoke to her he was both turned on and flustered.
She had to be his employee. Nothing more.
* * *
Kenley watched Zane walk across the street. With his shoulders hunched over from the chill, he looked smaller.
His rejection still stung a little, but he’d apologized. He’d even called himself a jerk. She would let it go and start over. She needed to find a way to win him over.
It would have been nice to finish their lunch together. Not that it would have qualified as a date, but sitting across from a big, sexy guy in flannel was as close to a date as she’d been in a very long time.
Instead he’d run out of there like he was going to get caught by his wife. She knew there was no wife or girlfriend. Sidney had graciously supplied that information during her first day of training.
When Kenley’s food came she looked over at the office, silently hoping Zane’s call would end quickly so he could come back.
That didn’t happen. It was probably for the best. She was wishing for things that couldn’t happen. Sure he was attractive. But he was her boss. That was the most important thing. After the way she’d lost her previous job, she didn’t want to set herself up for another miscommunication. She would have to rein in these lusty thoughts and keep their relationship strictly business. No flirting and daydreaming.
With her lunch hour up, she carried his food and change back to the office.
She tapped twice on his closed door before she entered and set everything on his desk. He was still on the phone, and he waved to her in thanks.
When she went back to her desk she found an email from Zane asking her to book a flight to Milwaukee for the next morning. He was leaving already?
She swallowed and did as requested, sending him the flight itinerary and the rental car voucher.
From his office, he wrote back. “You’re the best.” With a sideways winky face. She smiled stupidly at the emoticon, and then shook it off so she could get back to work.
An hour later Paul came into the office with a happy grin. He was shorter than Zane, but more muscular. He headed for the bathroom to wash up. He was a sweet guy who loved talking about his fiancée.
“How’s it going so far?” he asked, drying his permanently stained hands on a paper towel.
“I think okay. Time will tell.” There was no way she’d go into the details of her morning.
Brady came into the office then and leaned on the edge of her desk. She hoped the furniture could support him. He was huge with muscles.
Sidney said he’d been in the military, not that she couldn’t have guessed that from his tattoos. Or the way he carried himself like a man who was confident in his ability to kill someone with his bare hands. Kenley found him to be a bit intimidating.
“Hey, beautiful,” he said. He was a big flirt, but she had to admit she did like being called beautiful. “How’s it going?”
Paul rolled his eyes behind Brady’s back.
“She’s doing a great job. We should let her get back to it,” Paul suggested, sparing her.
“You only think I’m doing a great job because you both got paid on Friday.”
Brady winked at her.
“Keep it coming, and we’ll get along just fine.”
“You’re easy men to please,” she joked.
“You have no idea.” Brady’s look turned more devilish than payroll humor. He raised his eyebrows in a way that made her stomach flip. Crap. Their innocent banter had moved to the next level.
He was still leaning against the corner of her desk, and his leg was all but touching hers as he bent closer to look into her eyes. Oh boy.
She licked her lips, and then realized that was stupid when his gaze moved to her lips. Did he think she wanted him to kiss her? Did she? No.
She’d hoped for someone sweet who would be gentle her first time out of the corral. She needed training-wheels sex. She couldn’t handle the ex-military playboy. He wouldn’t be training wheels. He would be top-fuel dragster.
“Brady?” Zane’s voice made Kenley jump as if she’d been caught doing something wrong. Brady didn’t move from his position as he looked up at Zane with an easy smile on his face.
She heard Paul mutter something that sounded like, “Now you’ve done it.”
“Got a minute?” Zane asked, his voice tight. Unfortunately she recognized this as his pissed-off voice.
“Sure, boss.” Brady winked at her as he straightened. “He’s sending me away tomorrow, but I’ll stop in to visit the next time I’m home.”
“O–okay.” Why did her voice sound so breathy? “Have a safe trip.”
“Will do.” He tipped his ball cap in her direction, causing her to swallow loudly.
“Brady?” Zane repeated.
“Right behind you,” he said with another wink at her. As he walked down the hall toward impending doom, she noticed he had a slight limp. Like a sexy cowboy from a movie.
Heaven help her.
* * *
Brady followed Zane down the hall, preparing himself for battle. Or for a convincing rendition of it. He’d seen the way Zane acted around Kenley and knew he’d never take a shot unless he was forced into it. Brady was going to help the process along.
“What the hell was that?” Zane barked as soon as the door to his office was closed.
“I think it’s called laying the ground work.” Brady shrugged as if it made perfect sense, and held in his grin. He needed Zane to believe he was really interested in Kenley.
Not that she wasn’t pretty. She was. She just didn’t do anything for him. Mostly because she seemed like the type who would want a commitment. A nice girl.
He didn’t do nice girls. He didn’t have the time or energy to put into a relationship.
“No. No laying ground work with Kenley.” Zane shook his head and pointed at Brady to make his point.
“Are you saying you’re calling her? Because if you are, I’ll back off. But if you’re not going to make a move, I am. She’s hot as hell.” He made a move with his pelvis that made Zane’s eyes widen. Maybe it was a bit too much. Zane looked as if he might have ripped Brady’s head off if there hadn’t been a desk between them. Good, it was working.
“Have you ever heard of a little thing called sexual harassment in the workplace? If she feels uncomfortable, she can file a complaint and I’ll have to fire you.”
Brady swallowed, hoping it wouldn’t come to that. He needed this job.
“As a personal favor to me, I would appreciate it if you backed off.”
“I don’t remember owing you any favors.” Brady crossed his arms over his chest and cocked his head to the side. In truth, Zane had done a lot for Brady. Hopefully, one day Zane would thank him for this.
“Fine, then I’ll owe you one.”
Brady shook his head slowly, enjoying himself. “Dude, she licked her lips,” he explained. “You know what that means.”
“I’m sorry. I don’t. When I lick my lips it means they’re chapped.”
“It means a woman wants it when she licks her lips.” In some cases this was true. But not with Kenley. That was why flirting with her was completely harmless. She would never try to take it to the next level on her own. Casual office flirting was the extent of their relationship.
“And there is research to prove this?” Zane said doubtfully.
“I’ve done enough research to know.” Brady’s lips pulled up on one side. He was the devil. But it was for a good cause.
“I’m—okay. I’m calling her, got it? She’s mine.”
Gotcha. Now, he just needed to set the hook and reel Zane in. “Really?” Brady laughed.
“Yep.”
“And you’re going to act on it?” he challenged.
“I’m just waiting for the right time.”
Yeah, right. Like when? At his pace, he’d be working his moves with a walker. But this was progress. At least he’d owned up to it.
“All right. Good for you. I’ll back off.” For now, Brady added in his head. It wasn’t easy playing the part of badass when he was actually a romantic at heart. Unfortunately he didn’t have room in his life for romance. He had other responsibilities.
For now he would have to be content with casual hookups and office flirting.
* * *
Hearing the words she’s mine come out of his mouth had made Zane feel kind of lightheaded. If only they were true.
But saying it was the only way Zane could think to end the nightmare of a conversation. It had worked. Brady had given up. At least for now. The relief Zane felt with this news was pathetic.
Zane went home to pack for a trip that was unnecessary. He could have easily handled everything through phone calls and emails, but he needed to get away.
After his failed lunch with Kenley and Brady’s lesson on goals and lip licking, he came up with a strategy. If he could just stay out on the road, he might have a chance. And now, with her new system upgrade, she had given him the opportunity to do everything remotely. No need to come into the office where her presence would torture him constantly.
An even better idea came to mind. He’d been toying around with the idea of opening up another shop. He’d seen a place for sale in Ohio, on Lake Erie, that would be perfect.
It was a flawless plan, which could only mean it wouldn’t work.
Project Avoidance was interrupted by his phone. Weston Archer had been his roommate in college. While they were only about two hours apart, they rarely had the opportunity to see one another. They both worked too much to have a life.
“Hey. How’s things in Boston?”
“Good. How are you?”
“Good. What’s up?” Neither he nor Wes were big conversationalists, which made them great roommates, but made it difficult to keep in touch.
“I want to get a boat.”
“Sure. What size were you thinking?”
“Big enough that I could live on it for a few years.”
“Your mother still nagging you to take over the business?” Zane guessed.
“Yep. I don’t know what part of I’m happy she’s not hearing. Maybe she doesn’t care what makes me happy.”
Zane would have argued, but he wasn’t sure it wasn’t true. The woman’s priorities were out of whack.
“So do you really want to buy a boat?”
“My mother accused me of acting like an irresponsible playboy. I figure an irresponsible playboy should have a boat. The more pretentious the better.”
“Shouldn’t the irresponsible playboy also be either irresponsible or a playboy?” Weston was neither of those things. Despite all his money, he never acted like he was anything other than a friendly guy.
“Right. I’m working on that.” Wes had dated a few girls in school, but he was far from being a player. “We’ll start with the boat.”
“There’s a boat show coming up. I should be able to find you something there.”
“Thanks. You can hang out up here when you deliver it.”
“Sounds good.” They hung up and Zane smiled, knowing he had another reason to get out of the office.
* * *
Kenley poured out the coffee from the day before and put a new filter in the machine. She didn’t drink coffee and before she started the pot, she contemplated if anyone else would drink it. The chances of her being completely alone in the office for the third straight day were pretty good.
She still felt bad about the poor older man she’d trapped for forty-five minutes when he stopped in to pay his bill.
The service guys in back assured her they didn’t need anything, not even her company. They had their own restroom in the shop, so there was nothing to bring them to the office.
At her last job people had stopped by her desk on an hourly basis to ask a question, pick up a report, or just to chat.
It had always seemed distracting. She never realized how much she would miss social interaction until she had none. Of course, even if Zane was in the office, it didn’t mean there would be social interaction.
He wasn’t one for interacting at all.
Zane had left last week for Milwaukee and, according to his last email, he was now in Baltimore. She’d called him a few times and left messages. He never called back, just responded with a brief text or email.
She understood the modern world didn’t require face-to-face or even verbal communication, but she did. She was going crazy. She almost thought about getting a plant so she had something to talk to. Maybe that was how it had started with Sidney.
The worst part wasn’t just that Zane wasn’t there physically. It was also the emotional distance between them. She’d really felt like they were getting somewhere at lunch—before he had to run off.
She’d sent him a few funny texts and emails, but his responses were all business. She couldn’t be upset by that, this was a business. But it was also sort of a partnership. It would be easier to anticipate his needs if she knew him better. Maybe in time.
“I’m going batty,” Kenley confessed to Vanessa the next week. Paul had stopped in, and a few of the other guys came in to pick things up, but they weren’t up for chatting. Brady hadn’t even flirted with her, which was odd.
“I also think I’m unattractive.”
“Why do you think that?” Vanessa laughed.
“The company flirt stopped flirting with me. He’s taken on a big-brother thing.”
“Wear something that shows off your boobs,” she suggested.
“First, I don’t want him to look at my boobs.”
“Why not?”
“Because he’s intimidating.”
“But you want him to flirt? I don’t get it.” Of course she didn’t. Kenley was losing her mind.
“I used to be flirtable, and now apparently I’m not.”
“Oh–kay.”
“Second, I don’t know when he will be in next so I can’t plan ahead to wear a shirt that shows off my boobs. I only have two boob shirts.”
“Ah. I see. Wow. I think I need to go so I can have a real conversation with my six-year-old.”
“I know. I’m pathetic.”
“I don’t think it’s you, sweetie. You’re still very attractive, even without showing your boobs.”
“Thanks.”
Kenley called Rachel next. It didn’t seem wrong to make personal calls during the day. She was able to get all her work done and still have extra time. It seemed she’d never had enough time before, and now all she had was time. No matter how lonely and boring it was working at the office alone, it seemed worse being in her apartment. She’d talked to two guys at the grocery store, but neither encounter had progressed to a date. Apparently the theory that single men came to the grocery store to pick up women was a myth. It seemed they just needed food.
This pattern continued into the next week and the next.
No sign of Zane. His only contact was electronic, professional and a huge disappointment.
She did have a visitor one evening while she was closing up. But not the kind she was hoping for.
The three quick taps on the glass door made her jump, and seeing the police officer didn’t help. She knew she hadn’t done anything wrong, but that didn’t slow her speeding heart as she unlocked the door and let him in.
“Can I help you?” she asked.
“Is Zane around?” He walked into the lobby and glanced down the hall expectantly.
“No. He’s not here. He’s out of town.”
“And you’re the girl who took over for Sidney?” he asked, looking her over with a friendly smile.
“Yes. I’m Kenley Carmichael. The new girl.” She smiled up at him, though she wasn’t really new anymore. He was about the same height and build as Zane, but with sandy-blond hair and green eyes.
“I’m Officer Scott Porter.” He offered his hand and she reached out to shake.
“Are you related to the Porters—”
“Yes. My uncle owns the restaurant. Doesn’t the office close at five?”
She let out a sigh and looked at the clock that said quarter of six. “Yes. I got carried away and didn’t notice the time. I’m just going home to watch reality TV.”
“Yikes.” Scott winced. “We need to do something about that. I’ll check in the next time I have a night off and I’ll show you around.”
Was he asking her out? It kind of sounded like an order.
“Thanks, Officer Porter.”
“Call me Scott.”
“Okay,” she said, more because she was desperate for human contact than because she felt any real attraction to the policeman. He was cute enough and the uniform was hot, but she was more into T-shirts, flannel, and scruffy work boots.
She sighed as Scott stopped at the door on his way out.
“I didn’t notice a car in the parking lot.” New Haven was getting its money’s worth with this guy on the force.
“Right. I only live a few blocks from here. I walked.”
“It’s a little chilly.” He looked up at the dark sky. Two points for the incredibly perceptive officer. April was unpredictable and it had screwed her a couple of times. It was a good thing she’d purchased that ski jacket after all.
“I walk fast.”
“Be careful. I’ll check in later. We’ll do dinner.” Again, he wasn’t really asking, and since he had a gun, she just smiled and nodded.
“Okay. Thanks.” It was the best offer she’d had so far, so why not?
* * *
The next night around eight she was still in the office. She had some time to make up thanks to the cable repairman who did not show up in the four-hour window he’d given her.
Zane was going to be in the next afternoon. She wanted everything to be perfect. She still had plenty of time to demolish a half-eaten container of ice cream. The first half had met its demise the night before.
As she straightened her desk to leave for the night she received a text from Zane.
“Seriously?” she said to her phone as she read the message. He wasn’t coming home after all. “That’s just great.” She shut down her computer, grumbling the whole time.
The sound of someone coming in through the back door made her jump. She’d locked both doors at five when the business had officially closed for the night. The guys were gone for the night. Zane, Paul and Brady were all out of town. That only left the possibility of an intruder. Did Officer Porter have a key?
Breathing quietly became impossible as the sound of heavy footsteps came toward her. She picked up the only weapon she had available—a stapler—and prepared to bash in the intruder’s head.
Except the intruder was Zane.
They both gasped in surprise.
“What are you doing here?” they asked at the same time. He motioned that she should go first.
“I was finishing up some things before I went home.”
“Your car isn’t out front.” He almost sounded accusatory.
“Right. I walked.”
“From Madison?”
“No. I moved here. I live on the next street, two blocks down.”
“Oh.” He rubbed his forehead, obviously uncomfortable.
Something occurred to her at that moment.
“You just sent a text that you weren’t coming home?”
“Yeah. Uh…” He looked up at the ceiling. His expression could only be described as busted.
Kenley’s heart seized. She understood what this meant. He was avoiding her. All this time, while she was lonely and wishing he was there, he was probably in the same town, hiding from her.
She’d guessed he was never really on board with hiring her, but she thought he’d at least give her a chance. If she could only prove herself, maybe they would get along. Obviously she had been wrong. Her second theory for his avoidance was even worse.
Had he seen how infatuated she was with him? Had she made him so uncomfortable he was desperate to stay away? She wanted to disappear.
“I see. Well, I should go.” She put the stapler back on her desk and opened the bottom drawer to get her purse, her hands shaking.
“You’re walking home in the dark?” He gestured to the front window.
“I’ll be fine.” She started for the door and then stopped. “I wanted to make a good impression.” She shrugged and unlocked the door. This was beyond embarrassing. She used to be a strong woman, confident of her value as an employee, but thanks to Ruth she felt like a beggar, constantly trying to prove herself. And failing.
And now this man couldn’t even stand to be in the same office with her.