“I’m serious, Pix. I can’t go to another meeting arranging myself.”
“Oh my God.” I wiped tears from my eyes. “How are you funny all of a sudden?”
“I’m always funny. I just don’t share it out loud,” he admitted, somewhat sadly.
I sobered a little and asked, “Why? Funny Jett is likeable.”
He stared at me staring at him. “People need a boss.”
“An approachable one. I told Steven today—”
“That reminds me.” He rubbed one hand over my cheek before he sauntered toward a hidden speaker. “Alice, tell Gloria to move Stevie’s desk.”
“What?” I exclaimed and then yelled up to the woman in the ceiling. “No, Alice. Do not.”
Alice replied, “Done.”
“Alice!” I yelled. “What happened to sisters over misters!”
“She only listens to the person she’s programmed for,” Jett chuckled.
“Why did you do that?” My hands went to my hips.
“I’m not interested in watching you stare at your ex and flirt with him all day.”
“You were willing to stare at us after you fucked me in Hawaii.”
“I wasn’t under the impression we would be continuing our relationship at that time.”
“So, what was your impression at that time? You just really wanted us on your team, right in front of your face?”
“Honestly?” he asked as if I wouldn’t want to hear his answer.
I nodded, waiting for the blow I knew he was about to deliver.
“I liked making you squirm and dismantling your little vision of a perfect life.”
“That’s really messed up, Jett.”
“Admittedly, I still enjoy it. You’re cute always, but when you’re pissed, you’re a brilliant flame of red and black or whatever the hell color you’re wearing that day.” He paused. “Or when you feel like that world is crumbling.”
I crossed my arms over my chest, trying to block out the flutter in my stomach. Jett didn’t know that most of the time my world was crumbling or that I was chasing time, fighting the clock, living around the possibility that I might not get a clean bill of health the next time I went to the doctor.
“What are you thinking?” he whispered.
“Nothing,” I replied way too fast and then changed the subject back to what was important. “Moving Steven is ridiculous.”
“Probably. But I need to maintain my productivity level, and I can’t do that if I’m glaring at you laughing at his shitty jokes.”
“Are you jealous?”
“I’m territorial.” He shrugged and sat down behind the desk I was starting to realize he used as a barrier between us.
“Do I get to be territorial?” I asked. “Because I know for a fact you and Gloria have a relationship.”
He harrumphed and avoided eye contact by having his blue eyes on those paperweights. “Had. Past tense. And she’s the best assistant I’ve ever had.”
“That’s fine. I’m not asking you to do anything about it. I just don’t think you need to do anything about Steven either.”