Chapter Eleven
Jane
“I don’t need you to do this. I really don’t.”
Doesn’t this girl know English? What can I say that’ll get through to her? This isn’t one of those situations where I say I don’t want her help, but I secretly want her help. I’m not like that. I just don’t know how to get her to see it. Not without telling her more, and that isn’t an option.
“I won’t hear of it,” Chloe insists, putting her hand on my shoulder. She isn’t looking at me, though. She seems like she’s lost in whatever plan she’s concocting.
“I wish you would at least try to hear it.” I twist my fingers together, my stomach knotting. Much to my frustration, it doesn’t seem to phase her.
She sighs, like I’m being purposefully dimwitted or something. “You’re not some little girl living on the farm anymore. You’re a city girl, living your dreams. Right?”
“Chloe, I didn’t grow up on—”
She reaches over and grabs my hand. “It’s time to get your feet wet, Jane.” She winks. “Along with other body parts.”
“Chloe!” I hiss. My face is flaming as I look around to see if anyone’s listening. No one’s even looking at us, but I still duck my head anyway. So far, my second day of work isn’t going any better than the first.
At this rate, I’m going to die from humiliation before the week’s out.
“Chloe, I’m serious. I’m not comfortable talking about this here—”
She waves her hand. “Come on, Jane. Everyone talks about it. You’ll get over it. Just like you’ll get over blowing your chance with Mr. Dreamy last night.”
She has a point. I might be a virgin, but I’m not sheltered. Everyone does talk about sex like it’s no big deal. I uncover my face. “You think so?”
“Yes! And those kinds of opportunities don’t come around twice.”
I open my mouth to ask her how she knows, but before I can get a word out, the man himself comes striding around the corner and heads straight for us.
Shit.
“Jane, I need you right now!” His voice is strident. No-nonsense.
Chloe glances at me. “Oh. Guess I was wrong.”
I can already imagine how she’ll grill me later. There isn’t much time to think about that, though, with Anthony bearing down on me. There isn’t much to think about anything, actually.
“Follow.” He waves me into his office without another word or even looking in my direction.
I grab the first notepad and pen my fingers close around and dash after him into his office. He stops and turns his back to his desk, leaning against it with a sigh. I close the door behind me and try to tell myself that my heart isn’t going a mile a minute.
“Is there something wrong?” I ask. I feel like I’m walking on eggshells. I want to ask him about yesterday. About the kiss and what it meant and how he walked me home but we shook hands and now I don’t know what...
I feel sick.
He shakes his head, then runs his hand through his hair. “No. Everything’s good. Too good, maybe.”
I frown. “Is there such a thing as too good?”
He cracks a smile, but it doesn’t reach his eyes. “You might be surprised.”
Okay, now I’m curious. And grateful for the distraction. “What’s going on? Can I help with something?”
His eyes meet mine for the first time. “Yes. I think you can.”
Oh, boy. Does he have any idea what he does to me? I should send him a bill for new panties.
Damn Chloe and where her mind has me going.
Just those eyes of his and the way his mouth quirks up in a knowing little smile as his gaze dips to my mouth. I want to know what he’s thinking. If he’s reliving that moment or regretting it. If he’s wishing he would’ve asked me for more.
Shit. I think he’s waiting for me to say something.
“Wha—what can I do?” Get it together, girl.
He rubs a hand over the back of his neck. “I landed my first account today.” His grin is downright boyish, and it takes me a moment to realize that he’s sheepish. Like he shouldn’t be proud of what he accomplished.
“You did?” A burst of pride goes through me, and not just because he’s my boss. Somehow, I know how much this means to him. He’s more than just the boss’ son, riding on his name and DNA.
He nods as he turns fully toward me. “And I have you to thank for it.”
I point to myself. “Me?”
“It’s Chambersmith.”
Everything clicks into place. “Oh...” I don’t know what else to say. He used my idea? He thought it was good?
He holds up a hand like he expects me to argue. “Before you get the wrong idea, believe me when I tell you I didn’t mean for it to turn out that way. I never considered using your ideas—not because they weren’t good, but because they were yours. Not mine. Only…well…” He trails off, and his eyes dart off to the side, away from mine, shame coloring his pride. “I didn’t have anything they wanted to hear. And I needed this. I really, really did. You have no idea how much.”
From anybody else, that would’ve been a line. From him, it’s the truth. I remember the way his father looked and sounded when he talked about Anthony. I can only imagine what their relationship is like. Or rather, I don’t want to.
He continued, “Anyway, like I said, I have you to thank. You saved my neck.”
I smile and shrug. “It’s the least I can do after you helped me out last night. I’m glad I could help.”
“Do you want to do more?”
I freeze. “What do you mean?”
“I mean, I need help. I might have hooked them and even reeled them in, but this write-up they want in two weeks is what’ll get them in the boat.” His eyes are wide, almost pleading. “I don’t know how to do one. I don’t know how to present this. I need your help.”
I’m thinking maybe I’m misunderstanding something here, so I ask, “I’m your assistant, right?”
He shakes his head, but then clarifies, “This is above your pay grade, I think—but not for long, if things go well.”
That gets my attention, but I temper the spark of hope inside me. “What’s that mean?”
He folds his arms and gets serious, showing me the businessman inside him. I have the feeling that if he would only get serious like that more often, he’d be unstoppable. That steely, determined look on top of his charm and charisma? Forget about it.
“Help me with this and I’ll get you an actual job here. Not just a paid internship that’ll end eventually, anyway. And not just a glorified secretary to make it look like I do something. You’re smart, and your first idea was a home run when you weren’t even trying.”
I start shaking my head before he finishes his sentence. I’d come here with the hope of working my way into a real position, but what he’s offering...
He takes a step toward me. “I think you’re a sure bet, Jane.”
I don’t know what to say. He’s putting a lot of faith in me, based on a single idea. Then again, what choice does he have? Who else can he rely on? His father? His cousin? Even in my short time here, I’ve heard about Jerrod, and none of it is flattering.
If I do this, it’ll mean spending time together, maybe more time than we normally would. That’s not going to get me to turn him down. The idea alone is enough to set my heart racing no matter how many times I tell myself to cool it.
Plus, a real job. One that will get me on the path to success a lot faster than what I’m on now. Who would say no?
“I’d love to.”
A wide, relieved smile takes my breath away. Does he have any idea how gorgeous he is? Of course he does. But I can tell he’s not trying to play me now. The man in front of me is the one I’d gotten a glimpse of last night.
“Excellent. Meet me tonight, and we’ll talk about it?”
Why do I need to meet him somewhere tonight? Still, I agree. I’d agree to meet him anywhere, any time. “Sure.”
“Nine o’clock? Same bar as last night?” And there’s that impish gleam in his eye telling me that he’s remembering what happened between us.
And not in a negative way.
Somebody set a bunch of butterflies loose in my stomach. “Okay,” I whisper.
And pray that I won’t live to regret it.