After polishing off the meal and enjoying the weight of it in my belly, I floated over to the plotter, grabbed the drawing, and then spread it across the large desk in our office.
Mr. Carden stood and sucked in a deep breath. He lifted a scale ruler and his trusty red pen as though he were going into battle. He walked over to the desk beside me and leaned over it, placing his instruments down before spreading his long fingers wide, and for a moment, I wondered what it might feel like to be touched by him.
My heart rate skyrocketed.
What am I doing? What am I thinking? It was just a sandwich. Come on, Lily. Get a grip. Focus.
I was probably ovulating. And a handsome man handed me a delicious meal and expected nothing in return. I couldn’t be blamed.
Seconds passed and it was the longest he’d gone without making a correction. I glanced up at his face where a deep divot divided his dark brows as he stared a hole through the drawing. His wide chest lifted slowly, and before exhaling, he murmured, “I’m sorry about earlier. It wasn’t fair.”
“I messed up, so I deserved it. And if you give me a bad evaluation, I can’t even blame you, but please don’t.”
He shook his head. “It was an accident. I’m not going to bad-mouth you because of a spilled cup of coffee. Although I am mildly concerned about how much caffeine you’re consuming. The average person shouldn’t have more than four cups a day.”
I giggled, but for some reason, my eyes stung at the gentleness of his tone.
“I really am sorry about the yelling and the cursing.”
“You weren’t that bad…” I gulped as memories of Douglas’stantrums flashed across my mind, keeping me there like my very own horror house.
Mr. Carden paused, taking me in. When I didn’t say anything else, he continued. “I was a lot worse than I needed to be. Today was just… hard. I’ve had a strange day. Stranger weekend,” he continued in that low voice he used when he stepped out of being Mr. Carden and let me in to see what Lincoln might be like. He straightened, gnawing on his bottom lip, but kept his gaze on my drawing. “I was at my mom’s and out of routine, and then last night, I stayed up and didn’t sleep well, or at all, and…”
Something about the tension surrounding him let me know that if he were to say something more, he would say it softly.
“Are you okay?” I kept my voice quiet and took a step toward him, close enough to smell that citrusy scent that always radiated off him.
He gulped, his Adam’s apple bobbing. “I think it’s only fair, since we’re office mates and all, that you know I have ADHD, and probably some other undiagnosed things.” He shook his head, still studying the design. “Anyway, on some days like today, I struggle to find my focus, and it irritates me. I get mad at my brain, and you weren’t supposed to be on the receiving end. I’m usually better at it.”
“Oh.” I studied the dark stubble on his strong jaw, which was longer than usual. I worked my way up to the deep frown always in place above his glasses before settling on his soft, and simultaneously intense brown eyes. “I had no idea.”
“No one knows.” His focus was still stuck on the alignment, or pretending to be. “Well, Anders does… It’s why I have my own office. I’m easily distracted.”
I groaned and covered my face. “Working across from me, of all people, must be a nightmare. I’m so sorry. I’ll ask them to move me.”
“No, they’ll just put someone else here.”
“I feel like anyone else would be better,” I sighed. “I’m like a walking, talking strobe light.”
He chuckled now, and it may be the first I’d heard it. It was a deep laugh that stayed in his chest. That lopsided smile made an appearance, too, as his shoulders seemed to unwind. “Not untrue. You are possibly the most distracting woman I’ve ever come across.”
My heart skipped a beat.Distracting in a good way?I wanted to ask, but managed to stop myself at the last second.
“In the industry,” he added, clearing his throat.
“Oh.”
My appearance? My personality? Did I talk too much?
He leaned down until he was almost eye level with the end of the long desk. He narrowed his eyes, still reviewing my design.
“I could tone it down while I’m sharing an office with you,” I said.
“No, I don’t want you to do that.” He reached across the drawing. “I’ll be fine. I have to figure it out.” He cleared his throat again. “Since I’m sharing all my secrets with you today, I may as well let you know I’m meant to prove myself as a manager. I’m only ‘acting’ manager for now. They’re not convinced I can do it.”
Secrets? This was a new level.
“What? You’re, like, incredible.” As soon as the words escaped me, my face heated. Maybe that was too direct.
