William inwardly smiled. She had his back even when she thought he wasn’t around. Which was a first for him.
“What I’m saying is that he’s never going to commit to you. I mean never.”
William stared at Joy as a depressing look appeared in her eyes.
“Don’t waste your life, Joy,” Bobby continued. “You deserve better than that.”
William’s heart dropped when Bobby said those words. Because he knew it too.
But he was going too deep for Joy. “Maybe we need to get back to talking about my job duties,” she said.
Bobby exhaled. “You can lead a horse to water.”
“And I’m not interested in drinking right now,” said Joy. “Can we keep it strictly business please?”
William should have felt good that she was at least heeding his advice, but he still felt concerned. And wondered how in the world was he going to ween off of her. Because he was definitely smitten with her too.
Instead of saying anything to either one of them, he left.
Bobby looked at Joy and smiled. “Just trying to be helpful. One big brother to his little sister. I’m just trying to warn you. That’s all.”
Joy frowned. “But warn me of what?”
“Of the ways of William Skeffington. I love the man, don’t get me wrong. He gave me this job when none of the Fortune 500 companies would give me an interview. But he’s still a man. A man who’s not looking for love or a wife or a family, or anything like that. Don’t give that man your heart, is all I’m trying to say. He’ll trample all over it.”
Joy considered him. “How would you know what he’ll do with my heart?”
“Past is prologue, Joy. Past behavior dictates future behavior. And besides all of that: It takes one to know one. That’s how I know.”
Joy was touched by that particular comment. And she could no longer dismiss his concerns. “I’ll try my best to keep my heart to myself,” she said.
Bobby smiled. “That’ll girl! You won’t be sorry.”
She was sorry already.
“Now about that spare bedroom in my house,” Bobby said.
Joy laughed. “You don’t quit, do you?”
“No ma’am, I do not.”
Bobby’s intercom buzzed. He slid his chair over to his desk and pressed the button on his desk phone. “This is Bobby.”
“Sir, is Miss Johnson still in your office?”
Bobby looked at Joy. “She is.”
“Mr. Skeffington wishes to see her. At his car around the back.”
That was odd to Bobby. But Joy had already jumped on her feet. She hadn’t seen William all morning. Not since he left her in the personnel office.
“She’s on her way,” Bobby said and released the button.
“I’ll be back,” Joy said as she hurried for the exit.
“Remember what I told you,” Bobby yelled after her. But she was already gone.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
