“Yes, but it’s lunch time,” she said. “You can take a break for an hour.”
Simon cleared his throat. Feeling ridiculous for some reason. “I don’t usually take such long breaks.” Damn it, it was his company. He didn’t have to explain this to his new PA.
“You’re kidding.”
“No, I work all the time,” he said. “Can’t keep still for very long. My brain won’t let me.”
“Oh. I remember.” Her face went all hot the moment the words escaped her mouth.
He gave her a funny look. “Remember?”
“I mean, I remember how that feels. The business. I get that when I’m heading to bed at night. Go, go go,” she stammered as her face flushed with heat. She really needed to work on her lies if she hoped to keep this up for three months or more. “The joys of being a workaholic.”
“You say that like it’s a bad thing.” He gave her a lopsided grin.
Damn, he looked so absurdly handsome. Plus, he was the type of man who probably had no idea the effect he had on women. Sure, girls started throwing themselves at him back in high school after his growth spurt, but Simon always seemed to be a mix of grudging and amused by the attention.
It was like he really had no idea what those blue eyes of his could do. One look alone had her body trembling. Burning with a need she thought she had buried so long ago. She had never burned with this kind of desire during her marriage to Gary.
And the desire wasn’t solely based on looks. What drew her to him was his mind. His intelligence. The way Simon looked at the world. The way he wanted to use his gift to make the world a better place.
There was something about the way he made her feel that she couldn’t shake. In the lobby earlier, he had told her that Heather had been the one to encourage his dreams. If only he knew that she was the Heather he had been referring to. Even as she was forced to keep up her lies it still touched her that, in some way, Simon attributed his success to her encouragement. His gratitude had warmed her heart, which surprised her.
“Hard work isn’t a bad thing,” she said finally. “But you said Dover doesn’t like people getting burned out from so much work.”
“That’s a policy for staff,” he said with a dismissive wave of his hand. “That rule doesn’t apply to me.”
“Do any rules apply to you?”
His eyebrow went up. “I don’t like playing by typical corporate or media rules, if that’s what you’re asking, Heather. Work is important to me. Slowing down isn’t an option.”
“Not even for a social life?” She knew she was probably pushing it by prying. Especially since Simon guarded his privacy. But she was so curious. So curious about what her high school sweetheart had been up to all these years.
“What are you asking?” His gaze held hers.
Damn. There it was again. That hunger that darkened his eyes and made her burn with need.
Air squeezed out of her lungs. She could hardly breathe. Those ice-blue eyes hypnotized her. Made every sane thought in her head vanish. It was crazy how enthralled she was in his presence. Somehow, she was going to have to shake the remnants of this high school crush if she had any hope of keeping this job. “I guess I was wondering if you have any friends.” That was a cop-out, but she couldn’t exactly ask her new boss if he had a girlfriend. “Outside of work.”
Simon laughed. “Friends? Who has the time?”
“Pushing the mad, reclusive genius angle hard, huh?” she asked playfully, trying to compose herself.
“Someone has to,” he replied. “But in all seriousness, I work this hard because for years I never thought I’d be here. Before Heather, nobody thought I could do anything. Let alone run a company like this. My parents weren’t very encouraging of me when I was growing up.”
Her heart ached for him as memories came flooding back. His parents could be downright cruel. There were times when Heather had witnessed it. Simon’s father had thought his intelligence was a waste, while his mother always told him that sports would lead nowhere. In their minds he was destined to work in a factory like his father, and nothing else. As it turned out, they were both wrong. With his talents, he had gotten a scholarship. Changed the course of his life, instead of ending up resigned and bitter like his parents.