Digging into my front pocket, I take out a printout of the email and hand it to her.
It takes her a minute to unfold it.It’s probably sweaty.She reads while I continue eating.
“Wait.You’re going to be Finn and Jasmine’s housekeeper?That rat bastard didn’t say a damn word to me about this!”
“Is he a rat bastard?”I’m worried, but it’s too late to get any details.Summer’s already jumped up, spun around on her boot heel, and returned to her table, where she’s talking to that guy.One of the behemoths.He looks over at me, and we lock eyes.His are a beautiful violet-blue color, and he has the same thick black hair as three of the other behemoths.
I can barely register what I’m looking at.His face is sculpted, like a work of art from a fancy museum.His eyes are rimmed with long black eyelashes and framed in black eyebrows, all to match his hair.
But his mouth is pulled tight as he studies me.
He talks with Summer.Reads the email printout.Then looks at me again, scowling.
He stands.Summer gives him a little shove and he’s headed my way.
IsthisFinn MacLaine?
I can’t breathe.I don’t think it’s a shellfish allergy either.I think this is my reaction to getting an eyeful of the sexiest male creature I’ve ever seen in person.
His back is perfectly straight as he moves toward me, the self-confidence rolling off him in waves.He looks like a guy who’s afraid of nothing.Which makes sense.He could probably take anyone and anything that comes his way.
But despite how huge and muscular he is, he moves gracefully.His suit fits him so well that he could be one of those businessmen sitting around a shiny conference table in a TV show about billionaires.
He’s getting closer.He’s completely calm and collected.Is everyone here as self-assured as Summer and this guy?If he’s the rat bastard, he’s a self-confident rat bastard.
I’m not sure how I’ll do in that kind of work environment.
Oh, no.I’m afraid he might speak to me, which means I may have to say something back.Quick, Emma.Think of something funny and sexy to say.Remember to speak English.Wait, English is the only language you know!Get it together!
I swallow and wipe my mouth with a napkin.Suddenly, I’m even more humiliated by my sorry appearance.This is not how I want to look when I meet the sexiest man on the planet, even if he might be my new boss.
“Hello?”He stops a few feet away from me, his head tipped in curiosity.
“Hello?”Wait—that was dumb.Not funny and not sexy.Just dumb.But mimicking him is all I can manage under the circumstances.
“You’re looking for me?”
“Am I looking for you?”
This is getting ridiculous.I can feel my face heat up like an electric stove.This is a problem of mine.I turn red when I’m embarrassed.And I get embarrassed a lot.
But not to this level.I feel flat-out ashamed.Which I’m guessing means my face has gone right past red and straight into purple.
Oh, geez.
“You’re looking for me?”he repeats, his left eyebrow shooting up.
“I don’t know you,” I say.This is logical, at least.Because I don’t know him.I have no idea who he is.Unless he’s Finn MacLaine.
“I don’t know you, either.I’m Finn MacLaine.”
“Oh.”I slouch in my seat and shut my eyes, hoping that when I open them again, this entire situation will be flipped on its head, and I won’t be dumb and socially awkward and I won’t lose a job I desperately need before I even start working.
Even better, I could turn invisible!Invisibility would be real handy right about now.
I open my eyes.
Nope.He’s still here and still gorgeous.I’m still here and an idiot.
