Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 89666 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 448(@200wpm)___ 359(@250wpm)___ 299(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89666 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 448(@200wpm)___ 359(@250wpm)___ 299(@300wpm)
I reluctantly released his hand and studiously ignored the butterflies in my stomach taking flight, but it wasn’t working. Hearing him angrily defend Kaylan only made my heart race and dance in my chest. It wasn’t that he was a good, thoughtful boss. He was a good, thoughtful person. He cared about those around him. How could I not want to swoon?
“I don’t think you have to worry,” I said. “Arden delivered a rather astute and heartfelt apology just as you arrived. It sounded like he’d realized that he was talking out of his ass last night and was properly begging for forgiveness.”
“Good. Kaylan was happy with Arden. I don’t want to see him hurt.”
“Arguments are a normal part of a relationship. I think they’ll be able to get past this bump in the road,” I murmured as I pulled my phone from my jacket pocket.
“True. True.” Sebastian was silent for all of two floors before his shoulder bumped mine. “How many relationships have you ended because of an argument?”
I slid him a repressive look, but it had no effect on him. While Neil was the only one in the elevator with us and he likely heard stories from Carl, we still needed to act like professionals during work hours.
“Very few, sir,” I said stiffly. I’d been in very few relationships, and most of those had ended because I was cheap and boring. I wouldn’t be surprised if Sebastian came to the same conclusion.
We were leaving the office and crossing Fountain Square when Kaylan called me.
“You can return now. Arden and I patched things up,” he announced as soon as I answered.
“You’re happy with his apology? He was sincere?”
“Yes, yes. We both overreacted, but we talked it out and we’re good now. Arden is leaving.”
“I want you to go home as well,” I ordered. Sebastian stopped beside me in front of the tall bronze Tyler Davidson fountain and lifted one questioning eyebrow. I nodded to him and gave a thumbs-up.
“No, I’m fine. There’s work—”
“There will always be work. You’re exhausted and won’t be able to concentrate. Go home, get some sleep, and take a shower. Be back by one to help me with the summary reports for the board of directors.”
There was a moment of silence before Kaylan more hesitantly asked, “Are you sure?”
“Very sure. Sebastian is nodding in agreement as well. We’re going to grab some coffee and then be up. I’ll see you at one.”
Sebastian was chuckling at me when I ended the call. I narrowed my eyes at him and stated in my sternest voice, “He needs sleep. He and Arden are fine now, but Kaylan needs sleep or he’ll be useless all day.”
My boss straightened and gave me a sharp salute. “Yes, sir.”
I ignored his nonsense and stepped inside the coffee shop, thanking Neil as he held the door open for us. As Sebastian followed, I grabbed his arm and gave him a small pull to the left. The lunatic had his eyes locked on me instead of watching where he was going. One more step and his shoulder would have slammed into the doorframe. He didn’t even blink in reaction. I doubted he’d even noticed.
Sebastian leaned in close as we stood in line. “I love how you take such good care of the Courtland Enterprises employees. It’s incredibly sexy.”
I kept my eyes on my phone, praying he couldn’t tell that my ears were burning and that my embarrassment was threatening to stain my cheeks.
We spent a somewhat lazy hour in the café, sipping coffee and nibbling breakfast sandwiches as we discussed his schedule. Sebastian might have sat closer than necessary so he could look at my phone. And his thigh might have been pressed to mine, but it was purely innocent. There was no way he was doing it to torment me with his heat and gentle whiffs of his intoxicating cologne.
Regardless, I was grateful when we returned to the office and separated so I could catch my breath and clear my head in time for Justine Overland’s arrival. Of the various executives at Courtland Enterprises, she was one of my favorites.
Justine was the company’s Chief Innovation Officer, and she worked on creating new products for the company’s different divisions.
“There’s the hardest-working man at Courtland,” she greeted me like she always did.
“Just trying to keep up with the hardest-working woman,” I replied with a smile. Everything about her screamed free spirit, from her colorful clothes to her eclectic, orange-rimmed glasses to her jangly jewelry. It was barely nine in the morning, but her hair was already twisted into a messy bun as if she’d been in the office for five or six hours. And knowing her, it was entirely possible.
“Is he ready for me?” she whispered.
“Two minutes. We had our morning meeting in a coffee shop and returned only a short time ago.”