“I didn’t touch her.”
He gave me a look.
“I didn’t touch her in front of you.”
“If you don’t count the very intimate dart-throwing lesson. And maybe if I ignored the way you looked at her, and she at you. And all that after the two of you disappeared into the bathroom together for way longer than it should have taken. And, let me see, were there any other clues? Oh yeah, that you were about three seconds from clocking Owen if he continued to flirt with her. Other than that, it was not obvious at all.”
Here I’d thought we’d been subtle.
“Does Thayle know?”
“I don’t think so. Didn’t mention it. So what did Marco not tell me?”
I took a deep breath and spilled. “He caught us kissing in the back barrel room. It was the first time, last night in the alley our second.”
“The alley. Classy. You do know how to wine and dine a girl.”
“She works for us.”
“Clearly.”
“I know it’s fucking stupid. But...” But what? I was an asshole, putting a girl over the well-being of our family business.
“As usual, you’re being way harder on yourself than necessary. Is it a good idea in this day and age to have a relationship with an employee? Obviously not. But clearly, she wants you as much as you want her. And she’s not permanent. Brooke is leaving next month. Right?”
“I guess.”
“Not that it wouldn’t be awesome to have her stay. She’s really good. Did I tell you...” Neo turned pensive, hesitating. “Never mind. Anyway, if she were, I don’t know, someone like Thayle who is full time, I’d say yeah, it was a huge problem. But cut yourself some slack on this. The woman is actually responsible for you taking a whole day off, the first one in, I don’t know, how long? Years?”
“You’re being dramatic.”
“Point is, like I said, we’ll have an outing. Get to know her in a non-boss, non-employee setting. See what she’s thinking.” He smiled. “And Thayle and I will be there to be sure nothing questionable happens.”
“Now Thayle is coming too?”
“I figured we’d ask her. Marco too, though I doubt he’ll want to peel himself away from his date.”
“If she’s still there.” Marco had a habit of not staying much beyond sex with the women he “dated.”
“It’ll be fun. I could use a day off too.” For all Neo’s lectures, he worked seven days a week more often than not.
Putting his coffee on the table between us, Neo pulled out his phone.
“What are you doing?”
“Texting Thayle. I’ll tell her we’ll meet her at the boat at noon.”
Between my house and Neo’s, we shared a small dock. Two boats, a pontoon and speedboat, plus a jet ski, went unused during the busy summer months more than they should. This would be good. Provided, of course, Brooke could make it.
Pulling out my phone, I texted her. Asked if she were interested in a boat day with Neo and Thayle. And then, knowing we’d been a bit tipsy last night and sober Brooke could easily realize this wasn’t a good idea, I waited for her to respond.
It was during that wait, in those minutes, that I knew.
I was totally screwed.
CHAPTERTWENTY-ONE
brooke