- Margot -
ven though I was staying late almost every night, it was great getting to work more closely with Landon.
Unfortunately, seeing his creativity in action only made me want him more. And with every minute I spent getting further acquainted with his professional side, I feared I was moving farther away from getting to know him on a more personal level.
That being said, I knew I’d rather see him in his sexy suits every day than anyone else in their birthday suit. So I did my best to grin and bear it, trying not to blush too hard when he failed to explain away some moment of tension between us or when he surprised me with something sweet to eat or drink.
I swear to God, though, sometimes it felt like he was hell bent on feeding me everything except the one thing I was most hungry for. Him.
Anyway, when Friday rolled around, I noticed there was a going-away party kicking off down the hall as I finished my work for the week.
Party was kind of a strong word. It was just a few drinks and platters of finger food for some woman who was going on a three-month sabbatical to teach English in Vietnam. Still, it would’ve been nice to have been invited by someone other than her, since I knew she was only asking me to come on the off-chance I might chip in to help sponsor her holiday, which I wasn’t exactly desperate to do.
I’m not suggesting it wasn’t a good cause, but it was only a week ago that some other guy was asking everyone to sponsor his Kilimanjaro trek, as if bankrolling his bucket list was the least we could do. Gimme a break.
I was just getting into a rhythm with the hole puncher when I heard a familiar voice enter the supply room.
“You too cool for the party or what?” Landon asked.
I turned around as the door swung shut behind him. The sleeves of his work shirt were rolled up, revealing forearms that made my knees feel weak. “Not too cool,” I said. “Just too busy.”
“It’s six o’clock on a Friday, Margot,” he said, walking over to the table. “Surely whatever you’re doing now can wait till Monday.”
“Unfortunately, I can’t afford to get behind. This guy at work has been demanding a lot of extra stuff from me lately.”
His smile tugged towards his scar. “Sounds like a real tyrant.”
“Oh, he is,” I said, turning back to the hole punch. “A few days ago, he made me work over my lunch break.”
“Tell me more about this asshole,” he said, watching me as I worked. “Is he…handsome, for example?”
“He thinks so,” I said, not meeting his gaze.
“But you don’t?”
“It would be inappropriate of me to comment on that,” I said. “Just like it would be inappropriate of me to drink with the full-timers on a Friday night.”
“I see. So it would probably be inappropriate for him to ask if you want to blow this pop stand and go back to his place for a celebratory drink and a Cup Noodle.”
I glanced at him. “You don’t still eat Cup Noodles.”
“I eat more Cup Noodles than anyone you know, guaranteed.”
“Why?” I asked. “Ramen is for students and interns, and you’re neither of those things.”
“On the contrary, instant ramen was considered a luxury item when it first came out in Japan.”
I dropped my chin to my chest.
“And who says I’m not a student? You taught me a few things this week.”
I rolled my eyes.
“Not that I’m too cheap to buy you a legit meal. I’m happy to take you wherever you’d like to go.”
I sighed. “I admit some ramen sounds pretty great right now.” Almost as great as the thought of being in my footie pajamas. “But the celebratory drink is a question mark. What would we be celebrating?”
“Besides the fact that Ellen’s going to Vietnam and won’t be asking us for donations twice a day for the next three months?”
I laughed. “Glad I’m not the only who’s sick of that.”
“You’re definitely not the only one. But besides that, we should celebrate your sneaky ploy to get Dick’s attention.”
“Sneaky?” I put a hand over my chest. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Bullshit. You got sick of pouring coffees and letting people think that’s all you’re good for.”
“Can you blame me?”
“Not at all,” he said. “I was impressed, actually. I didn’t know you had it in you to be so—”
I squinted at him. “So what?”
“Foxy.”
I raised my eyebrows.
“As in foxlike. Like a fox.”
“Right,” I said, turning away to hide my smile. “I guess I’ll take that as a compliment.”
“Do.”
“How long have you suspected I did that on purpose?” I asked, sweeping the circular scraps of paper into a pile.
“Since you walked into the conference room and told Dick it was a playful accident.”
“Do you think anyone else knew I was lying?”
He shook his head. “No. You were pretty smooth.”
“Good,” I said. “And for the record, I’m not sick of pouring all coffee, just decaf. I mean, what is the fucking point, ya know?”
“I haven’t the slightest.”
“Me neither.”
“So what do you say to that drink?” he asked. “You do owe me one, and it’s about time you saw my place.”
“Yeah, but I’m supposed to buy you a drink. I can’t do that at your condo.”
“Agreeing to enjoy a drink with me is just as good,” he said. “It’s your company I’m after anyway.”
My lips curved into a smile. “My company, eh?”
“Yeah, but to be honest, sometimes I think I want a lot more than that.”
My heart skipped a beat.
“How’s that for inappropriate?”
I swallowed. It’s a start.
“Well?”
I took a deep breath. “I have a few more things to finish up here before I can leave,” I said, my heart racing. “But if you want to go back to the party, I can text you or something when I’m done.”
“Nonsense,” he said, putting his hand on my lower back. “I’ll help you, and we can both get out of here faster.”
“Are you sure? I feel bad asking you to do something so—”
“It’s no big deal,” he said. “Let me take over here, and you can get started with whatever’s next on your list.”
“Thanks.” I grabbed the papers I’d already prepped and crossed the room to get some empty binders.
“Hey, Margot,” he said after a few minutes of working away.
“Hey what?” I asked, keeping my back to him as I added another finished binder to the growing stack beside me.
“You know there’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you, right?”
“Yeah,” I said. “I know.”
And as a stupid smile lifted my face, I wondered if I’d ever have a chance to show him how much it meant to hear him say that.