One Night with the Boss (10 page)

“Just a quick peek?”

“Please don’t. My room is a mess and that’s embarrassing.”

“I’m shocked and appalled. Überorganized, a-place-for-everything-and-everything-in-its-place Miss Olivia Lawson didn’t tidy up her room?”

“Right? I have a reputation to maintain.” Her smile was forced. “And it didn’t seem necessary to straighten everything, since no one’s going in there.”

He couldn’t look away from the stunning vision in black lace and thought how much he’d like to be in her room, getting her out of that dress. Her hair was pulled into a simple ponytail and she wore a black velvet headband as the only accessory, which somehow made her more elegant. Almost more than his next breath he wanted to loosen her hair and run his fingers through the silk of it.

But this was
not
why he’d come here. It was confirmation of why he didn’t let himself feel this way. The business he’d worked so hard to build was going well and Olivia was an integral part of that. Everything in his life was clicking along smoothly and he wanted to keep it that way. That’s why he was here.

On top of that, she’d pulled a fast one and now it was his turn to have a little fun.

“So, you clean up the bedroom when Leonard comes for a visit?”

“Seems like the polite thing to do when one has an overnight guest.”

That was vague and not really an answer. So he asked more directly. “Has he ever been here to see you in your natural habitat?”

“No. He’s pretty busy. It’s hard for him to get away.”

“So you go to see him?”

“Oh, you know. It’s not easy to get anywhere from Blackwater Lake. The airport is so far away. Weekends are by definition pretty short...” She shrugged. “Aren’t you hungry? I’m starving. I’ll just get my coat.”

Not very smooth, Liv.
She pretty much sucked at lying.

Brady was about to challenge her flimsy explanation for not visiting Leonard, but she turned away and the electrical activity in his brain shorted out when he saw the back of her dress for the first time. And with good reason.

There was no back.

The lace formed a deep V, showing nothing but smooth, silky skin. At the top of a very long and sexy list of questions, not the least of which was how she would taste at that intriguing spot just above the waist, was what she was—or wasn’t—wearing underneath.

While he was attempting to jump-start rational thought, she’d put on her fitted black coat and grabbed a small satin clutch purse.

“Okay, I’m ready.”

“Good. Let’s go.” He put his hand at the small of her back to exit the apartment.

It wasn’t safe to be here alone another minute. If they didn’t get the hell out, he’d kiss her again and that wasn’t part of his plan.

A short time later they were seated in the five-star restaurant at Blackwater Lake Lodge. It was a weeknight, which, combined with the cold weather, explained the lack of a crowd. Only two other couples were there and Brady asked the hostess to seat them at the table in front of the fireplace, where gentle flames danced. He ordered an expensive bottle of wine, which he happened to know was Olivia’s favorite. A glass of the red for each of them had just been poured by their waiter, who left them with menus.

Brady picked up his glass. “I propose a toast.”

“Okay. To what?”

“You and Leonard.”

Her eyes narrowed slightly and her lips pulled tight, but she touched her glass to his. Without a word, she took a generous sip.

He studied her in the subdued lighting—the curve of her cheek, full lips, big eyes—and thought she was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen. And he wanted her bad. The challenge to focus on his mission was getting more difficult because the ambience in this place was far too romantic. It was like foreplay. He’d only chosen it because it was her favorite.

“So, do you and Leonard have a restaurant that’s ‘your’ place?”

“No.” She folded her hands in her lap. “He likes pretty much everything I do.”

“He sounds easygoing,” Brady persisted.

“He is.” Her smile was tense. “We get along extremely well together.”

“It doesn’t seem like you manage to carve out very much couple time,” he felt obligated to point out. “How does Leonard keep the romance alive?”

“It takes two.” She sipped her wine and didn’t meet his gaze. “Both people in a relationship are responsible for making it strong.”

“That’s true. And I have to hand it to you and Leonard for maintaining a loving bond. How do you deal with the long distance?”

“Wow, where to start...” She blew out a long breath. “We talk every day. Preferably Skype. Text a lot. You get a surprising amount of information that way.”

It wouldn’t work for him. Not long-term. He’d want to touch Olivia. Fold her in his arms. “Intimacy in the electronic age. Gotta love it.”

“Yes.” She picked up her menu and studied the items as if it was the most fascinating reading. “What do you like here?”

Way to change the subject, Liv.
It was probably time to back off. For now.

“Let’s see.” He glanced at the choices as he always did, but more often than not he came back to the same thing. “The filet. It’s better than I’ve had anywhere.”

“Medium rare,” they said together.

She laughed and added, “It’s my favorite, too.”

“To favorites,” he said and picked up his wineglass again. “You’re my favorite executive assistant and always will be.”

“You don’t know that, Brady. Whoever my replacement is will probably run circles around me. You’ll be sorry you didn’t let me go a long time ago.”

“Do you regret it? Staying here in Blackwater Lake, I mean?”

Her expression grew pensive and just this side of sad. “I’m not sure. Sometimes I wonder if it was just easier to stay. Status quo is safer than the unknown.”

“I know what you mean.” And he really did. Every time his life changed, it wasn’t a good thing. And he didn’t like seeing her melancholy, so he completely changed the subject. “How is your sister doing?”

“Breaking up with Greg was the best thing for her.” She pulled her gaze from the menu. “What you said to her certainly made an impression. One of the other teachers asked her out and apparently Greg didn’t like it. He tried to tell her he’d been hasty and suggested they try a reconciliation.”

“Apparently it didn’t happen?”

“She told him time was precious and she wasn’t wasting any more on him.”

Her happy smile scratched open a dark place deep inside him and Brady felt a little desperation leak out. “Would Leonard be jealous of you having dinner with another man?”

“That’s a good question.” She tapped her lip. “I’m pretty sure he’s not the jealous type.”

“He should be.” Brady couldn’t keep his voice neutral. No matter how hard he tried to make it teasing, intensity wrapped around every word. “If you were mine, I wouldn’t want you out with anyone but me.”

Chapter Ten

O
n the drive from the restaurant back to her apartment, Olivia couldn’t get Brady’s words out of her mind.

If you were mine, I wouldn’t want you out with anyone but me.

Of course he didn’t mean
her.
He was talking in general terms about any woman he was dating. But the intensity in his eyes...for a split second, it had felt as if he was speaking directly to her.

“It’s awful quiet over there.” With one hand, Brady turned the steering wheel and guided the car into a parking place right outside her building. “Is something on your mind?”

“Yes.” She met his gaze and resolved the lies she’d told were absolutely necessary to protect her soul. “I had a really nice time tonight.”

“I’m glad. Me, too.”

They sat there for several moments, smiling at each other. It would be so easy to lean in, let body language ask for the kiss she wished for. But she didn’t. She needed him to make the move so she would know he wanted it, too.

When he didn’t move, she opened the car door. “Thanks for dinner, Brady. It was great. See you in the morning.”

“Wait. I’ll walk you to your door.”

“That’s not necessary.” She was torn between wanting to spend every possible second with him and making a clean break. “It’s freezing out.”

“I wasn’t raised by wolves. A gentleman always sees a lady safely inside.”

“It’s right there.” She gestured toward her quiet building just a few feet away. “If the serial killer is inside, I’ll give you the high sign.”

“Nope. Not good enough. O’Keefe men have the highest standards.”

“That’s gentlemanly of you.” If he ever decided to make a commitment, the chosen lady would be very lucky.

She crossed her fingers, praying that he didn’t ask if Leonard walked her to the door. She was running out of evasive answers that weren’t out-and-out falsehoods.

Fortunately he didn’t inquire and she got out of the car and closed the door. No sense letting the warm air escape. He did the same, then met her on the sidewalk where they moved together up the path. Snow had melted during the day when it was sunny, but residual moisture froze when night fell. It was tricky navigating in four-inch heels and she slipped, would have gone down hard if Brady hadn’t caught her.

“Thanks,” she said breathlessly.

“You should have worn boots.”

“Not with this dress.”

“Yeah.” His voice was hoarse and he tightened his arm around her, nestling her securely against his chest.

The outside light beside her door revealed his expression, showing something like heat in his eyes. It could have been her imagination, but that didn’t stop the warmth sliding around deep down inside her. Then his head lowered, just a fraction. At least she thought so, because she was convinced that he would finally kiss her with full-on body-to-body contact, like that day in his office.

But she was wrong.

“Let’s get you inside,” he said.

Because he had the high standards of a gentleman, he kept his arm around her until they stood right in front of her door. “Here you are. Safe and sound.”

Except for her hope. It was in harm’s way and utterly defenseless.

“Thanks again for dinner.”

“My pleasure. Good night, Liv.” This time there was no doubt he lowered his head, because he gave her a friendly peck on the cheek. “See you in the morning.”

“Bright and early.”

She unlocked her door and stepped inside, watching him walk back to his car. He waved one last time, then got inside and drove away. Once again she felt as if her heart had been kicked to the curb.

The worst part was she couldn’t even get mad. It wasn’t as if he’d promised anything, but hope had a way of being knocked down and still getting back up. Now it was clear that tonight’s fancy dinner was just Brady being more subtle about convincing her not to quit. All it did was underscore that moving away from him was the only way to preserve her innate faith, hope and optimism. The only way to keep that part of herself from flickering out forever.

She didn’t want to be a dried-up, bitter old maid.

Her gaze fell on the message hanging from the stand in her clay pot. “Welcome friends, my backside.”

She was burning that flag before she moved to California.

* * *

The next morning Olivia was grumpy and tired. That’s what happened when you tossed, turned and dreamed of a kiss that never happened.

She pulled into Brady’s semicircular driveway and parked in her usual place. After exiting the car, she walked up the steps to the oval-etched glass front door. This was the same routine she’d had every workday for the last five years, but now her enthusiasm was just gone.

The time was fast approaching when her agreement with Brady would be fulfilled. Two more weeks until the employees who worked remotely would be in town. When that was over, she’d be out of there. Her replacement had been hired. Brady picked Shelly Shows, the lady in plaid who wanted to work closer to home. She was starting next week. Then Olivia would go.

It was a sobering thought and put her in a mood—one she had to hide from Brady. He would use it against her. There wasn’t a doubt in her mind about that, because she didn’t for one minute believe he had given in and gracefully accepted her resignation. That wasn’t ego talking, just that she knew him really well.

There was a security system beep when she opened the front door and stepped inside. He would have heard it, too, and would be waiting for her, ready to give orders and a list of things to do. With a heavy heart, she walked through the house and down the hall to the business wing.

She walked into her office and there was something waiting, all right, but it wasn’t Brady.

A bouquet bigger than a Smart car was sitting on her desk. Bright yellow, orange and purple flowers cheerfully greeted her and she had the most absurd urge to cry. There was a small white envelope with her name on it stuck into the plastic pitchfork thing that florists used to display the sender’s message. Probably she should see what it said.

She stepped in front of her desk and dropped her purse on top, then plucked out the white card. There was a happy face and it was simply signed, “Brady.”

How very sweet. And incredibly annoying.

Olivia looked at his closed door and headed straight for it as anger won out over squishy, tender feelings. She knocked once and opened it, not waiting for permission to enter.

She marched over to his desk and announced, “It’s not going to work.”

“What?” He pulled his attention away from the computer monitor and swiveled toward her. “Something’s not working?”

“Oh, yeah.” She jammed her fists on her hips. “Not working big-time.”

“Care to enlighten me?” He picked up the orange squeeze ball and his fingers crushed it into his palm.

She took grim satisfaction in the fact that she planned to give him an earful and a whole lot to think about.

“I’m not changing my mind about leaving this job. And there’s nothing you can do about that.”

“You’ve made that clear.”

“Have I?”

“Yes. I might be slow, but the message sank in that you’re moving to California to be with Leonard. I’ve accepted your decision.”

She heard the words but the tone lacked conviction and sincerity. “So why the bouquet?”

“I just thought you should know how I feel, and nothing says you’re appreciated like flowers.”

“And nothing says it’s not going to change my mind like the words
no matter what you do I’m not changing my mind.
”

“Oh.” He sat up straighter in his chair. “I get it. You think it’s a bribe to convince you to stay.”

“Of course I do.”

“It’s not. Trust me.”

“Maybe that would happen if I didn’t know you so well. This is so typical.”

“That’s harsh.”

“But true. You’d do almost anything to keep from having your routine disrupted.”

“I’ll admit that I was resistant at first. And it’s no secret that I dislike change, but sometimes that can’t be helped.”

She stared at him for several moments, not trusting the innocent expression on his handsome face. “So, why the flowers?”

“Just to let you know how much I appreciate all your hard work over the years.”

“I’ve never received flowers before.” This had incentive, persuasion, dangling carrot written all over it.

“Really?” His brows drew together. “This is the first time?”

It was a question without a good answer. If she told the truth and said no, he’d make some crack about Leonard being a slacker. “That’s not the point.”

“Seems like it to me. This isn’t the reaction I expected from you.”

“And what did you expect?” she asked.

“Maybe a heartfelt thank-you for the beautiful bouquet and sincere gesture of gratitude for all you’ve done for me and O’Keefe Technology.”

“You’re impossible.” That was the best comeback she could manage, because guilt for possibly misjudging him was starting to creep in.

“You cut me to the quick,” he said. “I just wanted to let you know that you’re my friend. Whether you’re here in Blackwater Lake, or living in California, you always will be my friend.”

His words made her feel slimy and stupid. The word
fool
also came to mind. Also
ungrateful.
After a sleepless night of thinking about the kiss she’d wanted from him and the one he’d given her,
friend
was not the word to sweeten her disposition.

* * *

For the rest of the morning, Brady had left her alone. But later in the afternoon she sat in his office, briefing him on details for employee-appreciation weekend. She had the high points jotted down on a legal pad and checked them off one by one.

“I’ve reserved a block of rooms at Blackwater Lake Lodge. The number is based on the RSVPs received with a couple extra on hold, just in case. Also there’s a deposit for conference rooms for Saturday’s workshops. I’ve contacted speakers whose focus is on wellness in the workplace.”

Brady got up and started pacing in front of the fireplace. “What about the awards dinner?”

“I’ve contracted with the manager of Fireside. The restaurant will be closed to the public that night for our private function. It will be the Lodge’s responsibility to notify their guests of any possible inconvenience and recommend other places in town for their dining pleasure. I’m sure the Grizzly Bear Diner will be happy about it.”

“No doubt. Any push back from the Lodge on this?”

She shook her head. “You make it worth their while.”

“Do I?” He stopped for a moment and raised an eyebrow.

“Yes, indeed.”

Brady was a really fair and astute businessman and everyone was happy to accommodate him. He was also a good boss, she thought, and felt bad for giving him a hard time about the flowers.

“Besides,” she continued, “it’s not a holiday weekend and traditionally slow at the Lodge this time of year. They’re happy to have us.”

Soon she wouldn’t be part of the “us.”

“It sounds like everything is under control. Thank you, Olivia, for agreeing to stay on and handle this for me.”

“Don’t mention it.” If she was being honest with herself, she would admit to being glad for the excuse to delay her departure a little longer. She stood. “So, if it’s all right with you, I’m going to leave a little early and go shopping. Someone has to buy those traditional gifts for banquet night.”

“What kind of stuff did you have in mind?”

“The usual for the honorees. Electronics. Everything from e-readers to phones, tablets and TVs.”

“You might need some help with it.”

She shook her head. “I’ve got the company credit card and Blackwater Lake Electronics will deliver everything to the Lodge for the awards banquet.”

In the five years she’d been here, not once had he considered that she needed assistance. He’d never questioned her ability to handle the job.

“Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine. Just wanted to make sure you didn’t mind that I leave a little early.”

“Not only do I not mind, I’m coming with you.”

She should have tried to talk him out of it, but all of a sudden, the chore she’d been dreading didn’t seem so bad. “You can get away?”

“Of course. I’m the boss.”

She just didn’t have the reserves to talk him out of it. “Okay. Let’s go.”

He drove to downtown Blackwater Lake, which was just fine with Olivia. She loved riding in his SUV. The sports car was fun, but in a guy way. She enjoyed the luxury in the bigger vehicle, especially the warmer in the butter-soft beige leather seat. The dashboard looked as though it belonged in a jet airplane and not for the first time she thought that people with money really were different. At least their cars were.

Still, with all his success, Brady hadn’t changed in all the time she’d known him. He was still the same good-looking charmer who would never notice her the way she wanted him to. If friendship was all she could have, she’d enjoy it until the day Blackwater Lake was reflected in her rearview mirror.

He pulled the SUV to a stop at the curb in front of the store on Main Street. Staring at the signs in the big window, he said, “It doesn’t get much better than this. A convenient parking place and a huge sale.”

“Kind of brings a tear to your eye, doesn’t it?”

“Just saying...” He grinned. “Okay, let’s do this.”

They exited the car and walked inside. Olivia knew the place was bigger than it looked from the outside. The interior was deep and filled with enough merchandise to make a geek’s heart go pitter-patter. Overhead signs identified the various departments: phones in front; tablets, readers and laptops in the center; televisions in the back corner where an area was set up with reclining chairs in front of a very large flat-screen TV and home theater.

Before Brady could beeline for it, the store’s owner walked up to them. Clark Gibson was somewhere in his late fifties to early sixties with gray hair and blue eyes. He was tall, trim and fit.

Holding out his hand he said, “Brady O’Keefe. It’s been a long time.”

“Hi, Mr. G.”

“How are you, son?”

“Good. Yourself?”