His next text takes a bit longer but when it comes I have to bite my lip to keep from squealing.
It's been taken care of. Tomorrow at 8:00.
I'll be there
And no masks this time. I have to see you.
I’ve been actively trying to think about what’s behind his golden armor. Now that it’s a possibility my skin starts to buzz.
Yes, Sir
I don’t wait for his reply as I shove my phone into my pocket and stride back toward Nolan’s door. Knocking twice and I push through with a new wave of confidence. My knees falter at the sight of him smiling down at his phone.
Nolan never smiles. But here he is mid-morning on a Monday grinning at his phone like a kid who’s about to be set loose in a candy shop. He only notices I’m standing in front of him after I clear my throat. His smile drops when he looks up. He sets his phone down and now I’m facing the detached and stoic man I’m used to seeing.
“Morning, Harper,” he greets, shifting his seat to roll closer into the desk. “How can I help you?”
I’ve got this. He can’t really say no and it’s not like it’s my fault anyway. “There was an issue with the rental company for the Cupid Ball. Apparently they double booked their stock and have canceled our order.” I’m ready with the solution and research to prove the twice-as-expensive vendor is the only option, but the way he’s staring at me has all my hard work and well thought out monologue jumbled in my head.
His gaze is piercing and attentive. I have to take a second to remind myself to breathe.
“I found a company that has almost everything we booked with the exception of the table runners, but I’ll take care of those personally.”
“Why do I sense another ‘but’ coming?”
“Because there is,” I reply.
The words seem to be stuck in my chest. Absent-mindedly, I tug on the plain gold necklace I have on, pulling thecharm back and forth. Nolan’s eyes lock onto the movement. He watches me with an almost feline interest.
I can’t help myself. “It’s double the price,” I say as I release the charm and slowly drag the tips of my fingers down my chest, running along the hint of cleavage I risked showing today.
Damn, maybe Midnights is worth the monthly fee if one night gave me the confidence to try and use my body to get my boss to spend money I know the town doesn’t have. It’s not the worst thing in the world, right? I’m sure there are government officials out there using their influence to get things much seedier than dinnerware for a party. Actually I know there are.
My hand falls to my lap, not willing to risk anything more. But he’s still watching me, fingers now pressing against his soft lips—I really hope it isn’t because he’s holding in a laugh. But I don’t think he is.Mankind, or rather men, has set the bar practically in Hell. Add in being exposed to men like my father and his friends at an early age, I’m feel as if I’m always waiting for the punchline to come at my expense. But with Nolan, I’ve never heard a negative word about me, or women in general, leave his mouth. He’s also the best looking of my father’s friends, which doesn’t hurt either.
“Nolan.”
He shakes his head free of whatever vortex he’s stuck in. “Sorry.” A look roams across his face for a moment as our eyes meet before he tears away from me. “It’s not a problem, make sure they send the invoice today and you can pay it.”
That’s it? My arsenal is chock full of arguments to get this done and I don’t have to use any of them?
“And you're okay with the extra cost eating into basically the whole budget for the recreation department for this month and next?”
He leans into the tilt of his chair and slips his hand behind himself. He brings his hand back out with his wallet, slips out a shiny black card and slides it in front of me. “Just put it on my card and I’ll fix the budgets.”
Now I’m more confused than anything.
“Isn’t this… I don’t know, collusion, or something?”
His smile returns. “I think they care more about using government funds to pay for personal expenses, not the other way around.”
The card is heavy in my hand, clearly made of metal and a limit so high it’d be impossible to max out, if there was a limit at all. “Are you sure about this?”
“We both know your dad would make it your problem.”
“Since when do you care about my problems?” The question slips out before I can stop it. If only a hole wouldopen and swallow me whole right now, save me from my own embarrassment.
The scowl I always assumed was a permanent fixture on Nolan’s face softens. “Is that what you think of me? That I don’t care about you?”
