“Oh, just something I’m going to. I took pictures of all theoutfit possibilities.” She forces her way in and heads straight for the kitchen.
“Um, I’m going to go.” Clayton tries to whisper into my ear before sneaking out the door.
But Trish’s senses must be on high alert because she whirls around. “What are you doing here this early?” she squeals.
“Oh, he just had a question about something with the computer system I got set up for him.” I smile, trying to make my face completely casual, but I’m not sure it’s working. Trish can sniff out a scandal from a mile away, let alone something with her best friend.
She snorts. “Yeah. Okay.” She turns around, grabbing a donut and taking a large bite.
I turn toward Clay, who has one foot out the door. “I’ll talk to you later?”
The twinkle in his eye as he looks at my mouth tells me it’ll be sooner than I think, and I fight back a smile as I close the door behind him.
34
CLAYTON: NOW
“Mr. Daniels,I have a model rendering I need you to look over and give your thoughts on when you get a chance,” Marge says from her desk across the room.
“Again, it’s Clayton or Clay.” I pinch the bridge of my nose. “Send it to me, and I’ll take a look.” As soon as Marge started working here, she fit in. She’s made my life easier, but the only problem is how professional she is. It’s awkward showing up to work in jeans when she’s in a pantsuit. How do I tell a woman to tone down her wardrobe? The answer—I don’t. I’ve learned it's never a good idea to tell a woman how to dress.
“Yes, Sir.”
I sigh. This isn’t the first time we have had this conversation, and it definitely won’t be the last from the looks of it. Her design choices are similar to Rylee’s, which made it easy for Rylee to show Marge everything. They gushed over each other’s work, and I sat back and felt completely out of place in my own office. I wasn’t looking forward to Rylee not working here, but I knew finding someone more permanent was essential for keeping my customers happy.
Itake a sip of my coffee as Avery waltzes in the door. “Hello, beautiful people. Margey, you are looking exceptional today.”
I watch Marge turn every different shade of red as she tucks her chin, looking down toward her desk. “Avery, stop it.”
Shaking my head, I click on my mouse, deleting emails until I reach the ones I have to address. I miss seeing emails from Rylee, even if they were work-related. It felt like we were constantly talking, and now I’m struggling to find reasons to see her. Going to her house this morning was a spur-of-the-moment decision I made while I was half asleep. I had a dream about her, and when I woke up and she wasn’t in my bed, I threw on the first clothes I grabbed and headed for her house. Finding that she was well-rested was my own type of torture because it showed I was alone in not being able to get her out of my mind. Getting to feel her against me at the start of my day was exactly what I needed, and I want to figure out a way to make it a daily thing. We don’t have plans or an agreement for how often this benefits thing will work, but I plan to take full advantage of it.
Avery sits down in the chair across from me, folds his fingers, and places them behind his head. “So how’s bossman?”
“Busy,” I say in a clipped tone.
He smirks. “Clearly.” He clicks his tongue, looking around the office while I stare at my computer. “How’s Rylee?”
My eyes jump to him. What does he know? Rylee and I werefriendlyat the bar that night, but I haven’t told him anything that’s happened after. Especially not unless I want the whole town to know. He would probably shout it from the construction site. “Why?” I glance at Marge, wondering if she’s listening too. This is the problem with sharing an office, she’ll hear everything. I don’t know if I like that thought, especially since Avery says whatever’s on his mind, good or otherwise. A smile pulls on his mouth, and I know nothing good is about tocome out of his big trap. I fold my arms across my chest. “Don’t you have work to do?” I lift an eyebrow.
“That can wait.” He brushes me off. “You haven’t told me about Rylee.” He leans back further in the chair, putting his feet on the edge of my desk, crossing at the ankles.
My eyes narrow. “Marge, will you put an ad out for a new construction site manager? It seems I’m firing my current one.” Marge turns toward me, shock written across her face.
Avery holds his hands up and gets to his feet. “Alright. Got it. Touchy subject.” He chuckles as he walks toward the door. “I’ll get back to work, bossman.” He winks at Marge, and I grunt, turning my attention back to my computer.
“Um, Sir?” Marge asks quietly.
“No, I was not serious,” I answer the question I know she’s about to ask. She may be married, but I know she enjoys Avery’s flirting.
She smiles. “Thank you.”
The day crept along at a snail’s pace, and I’ve never been more ready to leave. My fingers thrum on the steering wheel of my truck while I wait for the light to turn green. My phone vibrates in my pocket, and I stretch my leg to fish it out. Seeing Rylee’s name flash on the screen, I press the green button.
“Hello?”
“Clayton?” Rylee yells into the phone.
My body tenses hearing her frantic tone. “Are you okay?”
