He didn’t reply.
Kelly took a deep breath and her head reeled at the oversized dose of Spencer’s mountain-fresh aftershave she inhaled. God, she had to get it together. He’d made her horny for three years. She could deal.
“I didn’t mean to be rude earlier,” she said into the silence, noticing his hand had again dipped into the drawer. She itched to stand up and see what the hell he was fondling but her thin grip on her composure kept her seated. “Think I’ve had too much caffeine. I’m jittery today.”
“We’ve been busier than usual lately and nerves fray. Especially when one has multiple pursuits to occupy their time.” He didn’t give her a chance to interrupt. “The Nook’s going to have an opening in upper management soon and I’ve had my eye on you. Or I did, before today. Frankly I’m not sure you’re ready to lead this store. And I’m not willing to make a mistake.”
She jumped to her feet, indignation trumping all good sense. “Because I snapped at you that means I’m not fit for management?” Suddenly it didn’t matter if she wanted to be in management or not. How dare he act as if anyone in that store cared more than she did? “Even though I immediately apologized?”
“Your temper doesn’t seem any more under control now than it did earlier, Ms. Crossman.” He shut his drawer with aclickof finality and snapped her folder shut. He might as well have stamped a big ol’Rejectedlabel on her forehead. “Perhaps we should discuss this another time.”
Don’t flip. Don’t flip. Don’t flip.
She nodded, affixing a perfectly angelic smile to her face. If he wanted subservient, he’d get it. Whatever worked to net her the ultimate goal. Whether that was a position in management or her hands on Spencer’s cock—or both—she wasn’t sure.
Her good sense warned her to avoid both possibilities. Sometimes sense didn’t win.
“Perhaps we should. Thank you for your time.” She turned to go.
“Just a moment.”
She glanced back, hoping he’d say something worthy of her fantasies.Come sit on my lapwould be a nice start.
“I’d like you to get started on that redesign of the romance section we talked about yesterday. Marcia recommends you,” he said when she didn’t respond.
“You said I could do it when I got time. With the two-day sale, I’ve barely had time to pee never mind artfully reshelve books.”
His benign expression revealed nothing. “You redesigned the café last year, did you not?”
The bright, cheery café that got raving comments from customers on a daily basis? Oh yeah, that was her work. She’d chosen everything from the glossy sepia photos for the pale green walls right down to the glass-topped tables bearing wicker baskets of Leigh’s lemon cookies. “Well, yes, but—”
“Your eye for design is well known around this store. Are you saying you’re incapable of fitting the redesign into your schedule?”
Even as she seethed at his imperious tone, she plastered on a smile. “Never said I was incapable, Spencer. Just that it will be difficult.”
“The sale’s over today. I expect you’ll be able to start the redesign tomorrow. If that’s a problem, come see me and we’ll find a way to make room in your daily duties.”
“What if I don’t want to do it?”
She knew she sounded pouty and didn’t care. She hated that he never seemed to see her as anything but another cog in the wheel. No matter how many department redesigns she executed or innovative ideas she voiced, he never saw her as anything but his goddamn day manager.
Yeah, he’d ogled her breasts for all of two seconds. He’d also given her a couple of hot looks. But then he’d gone right back to business as usual.
“I think you know the answer to that question, Ms. Crossman. And I don’t appreciate being baited.” He slipped her folder into a drawer, a succinct dismissal.
Get out of my sight.
Before the guy she’d so stupidly lusted after for years banged any more nails into her coffin of shame, she got the hell out of his office, booking down the hall so fast that she nearly ran into someone. She looked up and let out a relieved sigh as she took in her friend Caleb Parker slouching by the vending machine, hands shoved in the back pockets of his jeans.
Thank God for a friendly face.
“Hey, Kel. What’s with the frown?” he asked, moving forward to tap buttons and deposit a dollar and some coins. Out came a candy bar and he flashed a grin as he tore off the wrapper. The guy could make anything sexy, including taking a giant bite of chocolate and nuts.
Cale and his best friend Tony never failed to coax a laugh out of her. She’d eaten lunch with Cale today and the entire time he’d had her in stitches. He worked third shift stock and always had some story to regale her with. His favorite brand of stories involved sex, something he’d had more than his fair share of from all accounts. He didn’t brag exactly, but he also made it pretty clear he knew what he was doing behind closed doors.
In a perfect world, she would’ve wanted him and not her boss. He was single. Hot as hell.
And not for her.