“Rachel, make sure the rest of the staff get some of those,” Neil says over my shoulder.
Once I plant my gaze on him, I can’t look away. Unlike this morning, he’s dressed like the CEO he is, wearing a sky blue button-down tucked into dark grey trousers, perfectly outlining his runner’s build. A crisp pair of Italian loafers replace the running shoes, and his long hair sits in a low bun at the nape of his neck.
Neil looks professional, like a man in power, but the smile on his face makes him approachable. Yet, there’s a level of respect his presence commands without being demanding or aggressive about it.
“Rachel, I’ll need those intake folders on my desk by the end of the day.” He levels a look at her that conveys the fact that despite the smile, he’s also a man about his business.
“I’m working on them right now, Mr. McKenna. Gloria will have them within the hour.”
Neil nods and then turns his gaze back to me. His smile increases. Without a word, he takes me by the arm. “We’ve been waiting for your arrival.” His voice could melt a frozen stick of butter.
I let my eyes drop to his lips, and the warmth that fills my belly reminds me of how hot I felt this afternoon sweating it up in my kitchen as I baked all of those cookies.
“I didn’t want to disturb you. If I remember correctly, Jackie says fall is a busy time of year for you.” Clamping my lips shut, I refuse to allow myself to go into my nervous habit of talking too much.
Neil nods as he continues to stroll down the long hallway that leads to the elevator, carrying us to his office, which resides on the third floor of this five-story building.
“It is, but we’re never too busy for a break,” he finally says once the elevator doors close behind him.
Why did I come here?I ask myself as I stare at the doors ahead of me. To my left, I can feel Neil’s ridiculously penetrative gaze burrowing a hole into my skull. I have to question if I’m imagining the tension flowing through us, or is it just coming from my end?
Maybe it’s awkwardness on my end because of the way I walked away from him this morning.
“I’m sorry,” I blurt out as the elevator door dings, and before I can think better of it.
Neil looks at me with furrowed eyebrows and steps off the elevator, extending his arm to hold the doors open for me.
“What are you apologizing for?”
“For the way I exploded on you this morning and then stormed off. That’s not like me. I behaved like one of my second graders.” Frowning, I lower my gaze, feeling slightly ashamed of what’d felt a little bit like a temper tantrum.
Before Neil can respond, we’re interrupted.
“Desiree Jackson, I was wondering if we would see you today,” Gloria, Neil’s administrative assistant, says.
My smile widens as she moves closer, extending her arms, embracing me in one of her famous bear hugs.
The floral scent of Gloria’s White Diamonds perfume permeates my nostrils, and my lips spread into a genuine smile. Typically, on this day, a smile doesn’t come easily to me, but between Neil’s presence, baking, and the familiar, friendly embrace of Gloria’s, a smile comes easily.
“I can’t believe it’s been a whole year since we last saw your face.” Gloria pulls back and cups my arms with her hands, assessing me from head to toe. “You look like you’ve lost a little weight. I hope those children or your customers aren’t running you ragged.”
I let out a small laugh. “I’m pretty certain I’ve gained a little weight this year, but thanks for not pointing it out.”
She sucks her teeth and rolls her eyes, reminding me of my grandmother when I was a child, and my mother would say something she didn’t like.
“Girl, please.” Pulling me in close again, she presses her face close to my ear. “You know, Mr. McKenna likes his women a little thick.”
I gasp and jerk back, staring her in the eye.Why would she tell me, of all people, something like that?
Grinning, she winks at me. “I’m headed down to the second-floor group therapy room. Got a session there in five minutes,” she informs the both of us as she moves around her desk and heads toward the elevators we just exited.
Gloria’s official title is the administrative assistant to the CEO and President of McKenna Rehab Clinics. However,unofficiallyshe still leads a couple of group therapy sessions per week, having more than two decades of experience as an addictions specialist and counselor.
“My office is this way,” Neil says, reminding me that it’s now just he and I.
Something inside of me braces as I follow behind him toward his office. He pauses, stepping aside to allow me to enter first. As soon as I do, I begin digging around in the large shoulder bag I brought with me for the tin inside.
A wave of satisfaction moves over me as I wrap my fingers around the silver and gold tin and pull it out of my bag. “These are for you.”
