Chapter Sixteen
To my surprise,the office gossip about my relationship with Jordan ended quickly. There was some talk, some sidelong glances, but for the most part, no one seemed to care.
So much for my concern that the gossip would run rampant and make me uncomfortable.
I mentioned as much to Cynthia on Wednesday morning when she brought me coffee. She just laughed. “I don’t think people want to risk pissing off Mr. Hawke. No one wants to be on his bad side. Except maybe me,” she joked. “I don’t think I’d mind him turning those icy blue eyes on me and telling me I’m a bad girl.”
I just stared at her until she grinned sheepishly.
“Too far?” At my nod, she shrugged. “Sorry, for a second I forgot that you’re dating him now.”
I laughed softly and shook my head. “No, you didn’t. You’re just incorrigible.”
“Ha! You’ve been spending too much time with the Brit if you’re using words likeincorrigible.”
“Get out of my office before I have to fire you,” I replied. “Because I really don’t want to spend the next three months looking for my next assistant and another six training them to do what I need them to do, the way I want them to do it.”
Completely unfazed, Cynthia rolled her eyes. “Yes, boss.”
“Thanks for the coffee,” I called.
She lifted a hand in acknowledgment and closed my door behind her.
My cell phone rang a few moments later and I sighed, giving up on the idea of getting any work done for the moment.
“Woman, I feel like I haven’t seen you in weeks. We’re having lunch today, no arguments,” Chelsea declared. “I’ve already talked to Yancy and Grier. Lucy can’t come, so it’s just the four of us.”
I glanced at the clock. I had three hours to do six hours worth of work. “Chelsea, I’m not sure I’ll be able to swing it today, I have a ton—”
“No excuses. I’ll go down a little early and grab you something and you can eat and run, but the girls and I are dying for an update. I mean, we’re assuming things are going well because you’ve been locked up tight with your new man, but we want details.”
Knowing that she wasn’t going to let it go, I relented. “Fine. I’ll come down for a half hour or so and eat, but I really do have to keep it short.”
“Done. I hope you don’t mind talking with your mouth full because I intend to live vicariously through you. This stupid dry spell is making me consider joining that hook-up site. What’s it called? Tidbits?”
Laughing, I leaned back in my chair. “No, sweetie, that’s not what it’s called. And I don’t know what you’re talking about. What about that guy who asked for your number when you and Grier went out for drinks a few weeks ago?”
“Ugh. We went to coffee and he spent the entire time talking about his investments. Forget businessmen, I need a guy who uses his hands on a daily basis and knows exactly what to do with them.”
I laughed. “Jordan knows what to do with his hands.”
“You can tell me all about it at lunch. Go work so you can stay for the whole hour.”
After Chelsea and I hung up, I set a reminder on my phone to meet them downstairs at noon and got to work. When my phone went off a couple of hours later, I glanced up in surprise to see that it was a quarter to twelve.
I saved my work and grabbed my wallet out of my purse. As I walked toward the elevator, I saw Jordan talking to Scott Pratt, one of the founding partners. They both nodded at me as I walked by. Scott smiled, but Jordanwinked. I’d never seen him do that before.
When he saw the expression on my face, he grinned, shoving his hands into his pockets. I realized then that he enjoyed making my composure slip.
Master of the mind fuck.
That was what my colleagues called Jordan. He had a way with words and a quick, razor sharp mind that constantly surprised me.
Thinking of that made me shiver, but I was unsure why.
Master of the mind fuck.
The words swirled in my head as I entered the elevator and pressed the button for the lobby. I didn’t understand the reason the words were so unsettling to me. I still hadn’t figured it out by the time the elevator arrived at the lobby level and I squeezed out with the rest of the occupants.
