“Executive assistant, actually. The website said Mr. Stone needs a good one. And between you and me? I’m decent, but I’m hoping I can convince him I’m the girl tomorrow.”
Something crossed the man’s face I couldn’t quite put my finger on. Was it amusement, or was he trying to decide if he could chop me into little pieces and get away with it?
“I still didn’t get your name,” I tried with another smile.
“I didn’t give it. Do you drink coffee?” he asked.
“Um, actually, I don’t. My last ex said I was already almost unbearably peppy as it was. So I quit caffeine for him to try to be less annoying. Guess that wasn’t enough,” I added with a wince. “But I haven’t had a drop of the stuff in like six months.”
“You mean this is you without caffeine?”
“Pure and unfiltered. Did you still want me to leave, by the way? I have boundary issues. I’m trying to get better with that. So if you want me to leave, just say the word and I’ll get out of your hair. Otherwise, I may accidentally think you’re really enjoying my company and overstay my welcome.”
He hesitated, then looked me up and down from head to toe. I felt oddly aroused and uncomfortable from the attention. “Do you want that coffee or not?”
I chewed the corner of my lip. “Aren’t you scared to see me on caffeine?”
“I don’t scare easily,” he said simply. When the man walked back toward the counter where a coffee pot was waiting, I casually admired his ass. It looked firm enough that a blacksmith could use it as an anvil in a pinch.
Termite was practically vibrating in my hand. I had a feeling she was hoping I’d release her so she could go to town on him again. “For once,” I whispered. “You’re not the only one having to fight the urge not to hump someone.”
“How do you take your coffee?” he asked over his shoulder.
“Firm,” I breathed.
“Excuse me?” he asked.
I dragged my eyes away from his ass and laughed awkwardly. “Lots of sugar and lots of cream if you have it. I never really liked the flavor of coffee. I’m more of a sweetened milk kind of girl. Like Michael from The Office,” I added, then I realized a guy who reads newspapers probably didn’t watch The Office.
He didn’t ask questions before dumping a few packets of sugar and pouring some creamer into the coffee. He stirred it for me and brought it over.
I realized just how tall he was when he returned. The top of my head didn’t even quite reach his chin. I felt a little bit like a child as I looked up at him and reached my hand to take the cup. I was too distracted to look at what I was doing with my hand and our fingers brushed as I took it from him.
One little brush of his warm skin against mine was all it took to sound the “play time” alarm in my vagina region. I suppressed a little quiver of excitement and internally told myself to calm the flip down–I was trying to swear less, even in my own head.
I covered my little moment with a friendly smile and nodded my head in thanks. I took a sip and let out an accidental moan. “God. So good. Um,” I said after an awkward silence stretched between us. “Did you still want me to go?”
He considered me for an uncomfortably long time. “No,” he finally said. “As long as you keep that dog away from me.”
I tucked Termite closer to my side. “Consider her under lock and key.”
Termite let out a little groan as if she understood me.
I sat across from where he’d been sitting and set my coffee on the little table. The man got up to pour himself another cup since he’d spilled most of the other one on his shirt. When he sat back down, he sipped his drink and picked the newspaper back up.
“So,” I tried after a few seconds. “You’re a newspaper kind of guy?”
He raised his eyes to look at me for a moment, then went back to his paper.
“Kinda old fashioned. You know you never told me what you do here. Are you a security guard? Maintenance? A janitor–actually, is janitor an offensive term? Are you a cleaning specialist?”
He gave me that look again, like he wasn’t sure if he wanted to smirk or go full blown Dexter on me. “You said you’re applying for the executive assistant position. What makes you think you’re qualified?”
“Well, I’m great with people for starters. Except if they are easily annoyed. Those people tend to find me to be a little too much. But I’m good at reading a room. I can tone it down when I have to.”