He glanced at it, eyes widening. “I have to go. Consider this our meeting for the day. I looked over the posts you’ve readied, and I approve. I’ll have my assistant send out an email to that effect so it’s official.”
A moment later, he was gone, taking the air with him. Jay continued to study me as I busied myself with jotting down additional notes from our brief meeting.
“Gunnar’s the guy, isn’t he?”
“What?” I asked, my gaze rising quickly to Jay’s. I willed my cheeks not to flush, but I must have failed because Jay sighed.
“Are you two dating?” he asked.
I shook my head, deciding my best bet was to say as little as possible.
“But you want to be,” Jay pressed.
I bit my lip, but I hated lying, so I gave him a brief nod.
Jay’s shoulders folded in as he accepted defeat. “Dammit, Z. I really like you.”
“And I like you,” I assured him. “But I’m not interested in a relationship right now, especially one that has no chance of ever happening. That’s what my stupid crush is. Can we never mention this again?”
Jay’s face softened. “Yeah. I can do that.”
“Thanks. Because my mother is my full focus, like I said before.”
He gave me puppy-dog eyes. “If that changes, you’ll tell me?”
I smiled, but it was sad because I knew there was no hope for Jay and me. My mother would continue to come first in my life, and Jay, while nice, wasn’t the man who caused my heart to pound or my mind to create fantasies I both relished and abhorred.
Nonetheless, I decided it cost me nothing to be kind. “You’ll be the first to know,” I assured him.
Gunnar
On Wednesday, when I should have been focused on the financial reports that my assistant, Leon, had brought me, I jogged down the steps to the third floor, where the social media team worked. I’d done my best to steer clear of Zaila Monroe, but thoughts of her had assailed me as I slept, causing sexier dreams than I’d had since puberty. While shocking for a man of forty, and a little humiliating, they’d also left me more stimulated than I’d been in years.
I also had to admit that what I felt for her hadn’t waned; it wasn’t going to dissipate as I’d hoped. Zaila intrigued me, and I wanted more of that heady feeling. Craved it.
I stopped before I reached the open pen of long worktables and computers set up in the middle of the floor, where the various teams met to discuss and work through creative issues. While each of my employees had an office, the open setup in the center allowed for easy communication and had increased both productivity and creativity by double digits. The layout had proved to be a game changer for the Wildcatters, as well as the oil and gas business I still ran, though I did that mainly from Wildcatters headquarters these days.
I stood to the side in the hallway, out of sight as Zaila spoke with Tim, head of social media graphic design, who had two high school boys and a wife he adored.
My jaw clenched as Tim scooted closer to Zaila, speaking animatedly about a filter they both liked. I relaxed as I noted Tim’s focus was on the conversation, not Zaila. I struggled with the part of myself that wanted to beat my chest and claim her as mine, as the urge to at least check in on Zaila had overpowered my good sense already. Her enthusiasm was infectious, and I smiled as she gesticulated, Tim hanging on her every word.
An unfamiliar warmth spread through my chest—I’d experienced this more than once recently. I tried to push the emotion aside, reminding myself yet again that I was her boss and more than fifteen years her senior, but I couldn’t help myself. I basked in her glow.
As a result, I nearly jumped out of my skin when Jay Wilks, newly promoted to social media manager as of yesterday, tapped me on the shoulder. He held up a stack of paperwork.
“Here are the engagement numbers you asked for,” he said as he glanced past me, a sly grin tugging at his lips. “Zaila’s really settled in well, hasn’t she?”
I nodded, trying to keep my expression neutral. “She’s an asset to the organization.”
Jay raised an eyebrow. “An asset?”
I felt my jaw clench. “Yes. She’s smart and capable.”
Jay’s smirk widened, and I saw calculation in his eyes. “You two work well together. She seems quite…taken with your management style.”
Jay was fishing, probably because he was also attracted to Zaila. I didn’t have time for these games. They weren’t professional.
“She seems to fit right in here,” I said carefully. “Just as you are an asset to the Wildcatters office culture. I enjoyed your…interesting way of getting Zaila’s attention with the prank earlier this week.”
