Rose: I bet guys in London are hot. Plus, think of the accent.She used a kiss emoji.
I rolled my eyes and sent back the emoji of money and tears. If only I could afford it. I was getting closer, but my savings account took a hit when a tree fell over in the yard during the last rainstorm.
Chapter Six
SCOTT
The office was sweltering.I shoved the window open, and it groaned in protest. I wanted to scream along with it. How had I convinced myself this would be a quick project? I looked around the office with its stacked cardboard boxes and filing cabinets. If my dad’s office was antique in its processes, Hillsdale was archaic. Harry didn’t even have a computer. Apparently, if he touched one, it got a virus.
I wiped a trail of sweat from my neck collar. I felt trapped and my life was rolling further off track. My suit jacket was too small and hot, but it stayed in place. I needed a good first impression with any potential clients. One accidental whiff of my underarms would not add to my professionalism. I should've put on an extra layer of deodorant this morning.
Today was my first official day without Harry and I wanted to ensure that everything ran smoothly. I walked around the large particle board desk and sat in the black office chair. It made a cracking sound as I leaned back. I quickly righted myself.
I looked at the blue folder on my desk. It was full of pages thatwere falling apart, sticky notes, and old letters. Everything was out of order, and I was pretty sure Harry must have used some sticker system. His desk drawer looked like an elementary school teacher’s. Every square inch of the table was covered with random papers, pens, and highlighters.What did he even use the gold stars for?
I flipped through the papers. This case’s start date was in 1985, surely it was closed by now. All I could make sense of was that it was about a cow named Betsy and some long-standing family dispute of ownership. The currentcustodyarrangementsplit milking days as they moved the cow, and now her calf Betsy 2, back and forth to each other's farm once a week so that the animal felt at home and safe in both places.
I thought my dad’s firm would help me in Hillsdale, but I'm beginning to wonder if nothing could have prepared me.
Marissa must have sensed my overwhelm through the door and walked in with a large cup of coffee. What were the odds she was the office assistant. Actually, it was a great question.What are the odds?
Small world. She had on the same jean jacket she wore at the corn maze. Her long brown hair was in a high ponytail and her cheeks flushed red.
Were we finally going to talk about things then? Mary/Marissa had avoided eye contact with me for the last two days, and I didn’t have the energy or brain space to pry. Keeping things polite and professional would be best between us anyhow. Thankfully, she had ended the possibility of a second date before it even began. It would look terrible if I just started here and was already dating the only other employee.
Looks like I dodged a bullet, but not the pumpkin.
“Good morning . . . Mary.” I drew out her fake name as I grinned to show her that I was playing. I couldn’t help but tease her a little. It seemed only fair with my bruised eye. The skin beneath it had gone from black and puffy to the color of mustard.
She closed her eyes and scrunched her nose. “About that . . .”
“Why didn’t you tell Harry the truth?” I smiled to let her know I didn’t mean any venom.
She shrugged her right shoulder. “I’m still not sure. I panicked I guess.” She walked over to my desk and sat on the corner. I glanced to the foyer. This would not look good if someone were to walk in, they would have gotten the wrong idea.
“Plausible deniability in case you tried to sue me?” Marissa handed me the cup of coffee with a sweet smile.#1 Bosswas printed on the mug. “Plus, you took me off guard a little.” She bit her bottom lip, and my gaze followed the movement before I glanced back at her eyes.
I grabbed the cup from her outstretched hand. “I’m not going to sue you. Besides, it would never hold up in court. I went into the pumpkin patch willingly.” I nodded to the cup. “Thanks.”
She nodded back but seemed far away in thought. “Why?”
“Why what?”
“Why did you help me after I was rude to you?” She tugged on her shirt. I remembered her doing it before; it must be a tell when she was uncomfortable. “I feel so awful. I can’t believe you got hit by a pumpkin. I should’ve paid better attention. Your eye is looking better though. You’re wearing a different suit coat. Did I ruin the other one? I panicked and I really don’t date, that at least wasn’t a lie. Even though that night was fun.”
Wow, she’s not beating around the bush. Marissa was spewing out everything she had held in the last few days.
“If you would’ve given me your real name, I might not have had to, but when you didn’t see the danger . . . I did what anyone would.” I set down the cup, avoiding the Betsy cow case.
“Probably notanyone.”
True, being a lawyer had shown me sides of the human character that I wanted to forget. “Well, my mother would've never forgiven me.”
Her eyes seemed to soften, and she gave me a small smile. “Start over?” She held up her hand to shake on it.
“Gladly.” I grabbed her hand. I was reminded of our size difference and the gentle way her hand felt in mine. The past sparks shot up my arm and I reminded them we were now co-workers. Worse, I was her boss.
She glanced down at my desk, shifting her weight further onto the desk. “Yikes, are you starting with Betsy?” She exhaled. “You’re going to need more coffee.” She slid off the desk. “And maybe chocolate, or are you more of a salty guy?”
