Paige
MY KNEE BOUNCES as I sit in traffic headed toward my new office. Today is my first day and I’m equal parts excited and nervous. Butterflies are swarming in my stomach and I feel slightly nauseous, but today is the start to something I’ve wanted for a long time.
My phone dings as soon as I pull into the parking lot. Grabbing it from the center console, I read the message.
Sean: Good luck today.
A small smile spreads across my lips, and the butterflies from earlier are fluttering for an entirely different reason. The fact that I’m having this reaction to his text isn’t lost on me, but it’s not something I’m willing to examine right now either.
Me: Thanks.
My eyes focus on the three bouncing dots that indicate he’s responding as I get out of the car.
Sean: Wanna celebrate your first day tonight?
Me: What did you have in mind?
I bite my lip as I wait for his response.
Sean: How’s dinner?
Rereading his text, I’m unsure of how to respond as I walk across the parking lot and toward the front door. For me, dinner is pushing the imaginary line I’ve created in my head for our casual arrangement.
Me: Dinner? That sounds like a date.
Sean: I don’t care what it sounds like as long as your legs end up over my shoulders by the end of the night.
I trip over my heel-clad feet and nearly bust my face. Once I’ve stabilized myself, heat travels from head to toe and focuses on my center. His sharp quips and inappropriate comments are nothing new. He’s done this since I met him, but now I can’t use my bitchiness as a defense mechanism to push him away.
Sean: Cat got your tongue, princess?
Another text comes through seconds later.
Sean: Be ready at 7. ;-)
I stare at the screen in my hand, opening and closing my mouth like it’ll help me form a response, but it does nothing. Realizing I need to get my head on straight and get to work, I shove my phone in my purse without responding and enter the building.
With a deep breath, I push all thoughts of legs over shoulders and Sean out of my mind and focus on making a good first impression.
“Ms. Stewart?” a man in the lobby says.
“Yes,” I reply.
He holds his hand out to me. “I’m David Sanchez.”
Accepting his offered hand, I shake it. “Oh, hi, Mr. Sanchez. It’s nice to finally meet you.”
“Likewise, but please, call me David. Now, follow me and we’ll get you an ID so you can get into the building on your own tomorrow.”
I smile, nod, and follow him through a set of double doors that open once he swipes his ID. As he leads me through the building, he gives me a little tour, showing me the breakroom, bathrooms, and where I’ll be working. We bypass my office for a room off to the side. We enter into what I assume is security headquarters. Computer monitors line one side and nerdy looking guys study their screens intently.
“Hey, Rob. I need to get Paige set up with an access ID.”
“No problem,” one responds without looking away from his screen.
A few minutes later, I’m handed my ID and begin to feel official.
“Now that’s taken care of, let’s get started,” David says to me.
I know I’ve been here all of twenty minutes, but I have a good feeling about it. David seems laid-back and approachable, which is the total opposite of my boss at my last job. He was always so grumpy and hostile. I hated going to him about anything.
Bank of the States works off of a totally different operating system than the bank I came from, so I have to start from the very beginning as far as training is concerned. My brain is overloaded with information as is my notebook from all the notes I’ve taken so far.
“Are you cross-eyed yet?” David asks.
“It’s definitely a lot of systems and procedures to learn, but I’m hanging in there,” I reassure. The last thing I want is for him to think I can’t handle it on the first day.
“Well, I can’t see straight, so let’s take a break.” He stands up and says, “Take fifteen, okay?”
I nod and pull my phone out of my purse before heading toward the breakroom to grab a cup of coffee. As I’m waiting for it to finish brewing, I unlock my phone to see two unread messages.
Lydia: Kick ass today!
Scarlett: Good luck today!
They both get the same reply.
Me: Thanks! It’s a lot to learn, but I really like it so far.
The aroma of black gold hits my senses, so I pour myself a cup of coffee and add some sugar to it. I stir it while staring off into space, thinking of the first time Sean and I met and how much he repulsed me.
“Where’s Lydia?” I ask Scarlett as I go to order our drinks from the bartender. She points behind her. Leaning to the side, I see Lydia talking to a tall guy with dark brown hair and a smile that could stop traffic.
“Well, that’s interesting,” I say with humor in my voice. Lydia might be the most guarded of all of us. In fact, she even wears a fake wedding ring to push men away from her.
“Right?” We’re all staring at the two of them like we just saw a unicorn. She glances over at us, and we don’t even attempt to hide the fact that we’re gawking until she brings him over with his friend.
“Hey, gorgeous. I’m Sean,” his friend says to me as he stretches out his hand.
The first thing I notice are his blue eyes that shine even in the dim lighting. He shoots me a crooked grin that I’m sure melts panties all over the world, but I’m hip to his kind of games, and I’m not playing.
With an arched brow, I shake his hand suspiciously. “Paige.”
“Can I buy you a drink?”
I really want to tell him to beat it, but I haven’t seen Lydia look this happy in a while. So I take one for the team, play wingman, and entertain Sean while Lydia talks to her new friend. With a slight huff, I reply, “Sure.”
“So, what do you do for a living?” he asks as he hands me my drink. I hold back the eye roll that threatens.
“I work for a bank. I’m a financial consultant.”
“Nice, but have you considered selling hot dogs? Because you sure know how to make a wiener stand.”
My face screws up in disgust. “Seriously? You’re repulsive. How any woman would find you attractive is beyond me.”
His deep chuckle meets my ears. “Oh, come on. It was a joke.”
“Jokes are supposed to be funny.” I sip my drink and glance around for someone—anyone else to talk to. Unfortunately, all of my friends are engaged in conversations and all the nearby guys are eyeing women like they’re a piece of meat. So, looks like I’m stuck with Mr. Weiner for a while.
“I can give you funny if that’s what you want,” he whispers into my ear.
“No, thanks. If I want gutter humor, I’ll watch Ted or some other mind-numbing movie.”
I expect him to move on to someone more . . . willing. Instead, he surprises me by taking a step back and resting his elbow on the bar. His grin is wider than before and he looks amused. Why, I don’t know, considering I’ve gone out of my way to be insulting and prove I’m not interested.
He stares straight at me for several moments, making me uncomfortable, but I won’t let him know how he really affects me. I hold firm in my stance and refuse to break eye contact.
“I like you,” he finally states.
“Why? Because I’m so charming?” I ask sarcastically with my arms crossed over my chest.
“No. Challenging.”
“I’m sure with lines like that, women fall at your feet.” I bring my drink up to my lips and take a long pull.
“Come on, girl. We’ve gotta go,” Charlotte says as she pulls on my arm. I look beside her to see Scarlett swaying back and forth.
“Nice to meet you, Paige.”
With a backward glance over my shoulder, I’m met with the same confident grin as before. I should’ve known then I was in trouble.
My phone vibrates, pulling me from the memory. As soon as I see who it’s from, a smile takes over my face. And I kind of hate I have that reaction.
Sean: Did you know we’re like cocoa and marshmallows?
My eyebrows pull in together before I send a text back.
Me: How so?
Sean: You’re hot and I want to be on top of you.
I may have caved to his advances, but there’s one thing that remains the same; his awful pickup lines. It’s a Riley thing. In fact, that’s how his brother, Marcus, won Lydia over. The difference is his lines are funny and cute. Sean’s are crude and lame. However, I’d be lying if I said there wasn’t a small smile on my face as I stare down at the screen in my hand.
Me: You’re the worst.
Sean: I’m pretty sure I’ve heard you scream that I’m the best.
Thank God he can’t see me otherwise he’d know my cheeks were turning red and my center was throbbing. But he’s right. In bed, he is the best. I’ll never admit that to him though.
Me: I’ve got to get back to work. See you tonight.
Sean: Looking forward to it.
Normally, the first day of work flies by, but after my exchange with Sean, it moves at a snail’s pace. The only explanation is anticipation. And again, I hate my reaction to him.