I clench my jaw shut and straighten up as tall as I can, so that in my heels I’ve got about two inches on Bart’s height. It makes me feel slightly better, because he never liked it when I was taller than him. Then I step closer to him. He startles as I reach forhis crooked tie and straighten it, smiling serenely and giving it a little pat. I brush some of the lint off the shoulder of his suit, and he stares, dumbfounded, his jaw hanging unflatteringly.
“I assure you,” I say sweetly, looking down at him, “that I’ll be just fine.”
It’s a lie. But I’m all in now, on principle alone.
“I—you—” he begins, gaping like a fish. He stumbles back toward Mindy, putting a bit of space between us. Then he looks at the man behind the desk. “I—well, as you may know, Mindy and I have disclosed our relationship to HR,” Bart says quickly, and on his other side, Mindy nods. She’s shooting cute little daggers over at me now, because everything she does is cute and petite. “But there was a previous relationship with Aurora as well. Mindy and I are worried the three of us working together may struggle to be as efficient as necessary. That’s all.”
The man behind the desk hums, looking utterly unconcerned. Then his eyes find me. “Are you so unprofessional as to be distracted by working with them?” he says with a careless gesture at Mindy and Bart.
In the corner of my eye I see Bart’s head turn toward me; I even see the surprised expression at our new boss’s words, but I don’t look at Bart. “No,” I say, my voice flat and cold.
The boss nods and swings his feet down, straightening up and thumping the Rubik’s cube down on the desk, all faces now the same color. “That’s that, then.” He pins Bart with the most serious look I’ve seen from him so far, one of faint disgust. “Don’t bring me things like this again. I’m not interested in your personal affairs.”
Mindy seems to shrink, and Bart’s shoulders slump. “Of course,” he says. “Of course. Sorry about—sorry.” He stutters weakly into silence and turns to Mindy, wrapping one arm around her waist as though to present a united front.
I hope they’ll be very happy together. All other things aside, he really was a great kisser.
“Your assignment will go forward as planned,” the man says, but now he stands up. Bart and Mindy both watch his height unfold until he towers over all of us, a good several inches above me even in my heels.“With one change.”
We look at him, waiting, and he nods.
“I’d like to join this little group as well,” he says, and as he rounds the desk, a whiff of his scent finds me—crisp and sharp. He stops in front of the three of us, causing Bart and Mindy to step back slightly. I don’t, mostly because my pride won’t let me. His dark eyes flicker down to me as his lips curl like he’s a kid on the way to a carnival. “Some time out of the office is just what I need, I think.” Then he holds out his hand—to me and only me. “It’s nice to meet you, Ms. Marigold. I’m Roman Drake.”
ROMAN
This is goingto be fun, and I could use a bit of fun.
The woman standing in front of me will be the best part of this job. I can already tell. I don’t know why the universe favored me enough to put her in my path twice in twenty-four hours, but I won’t complain.
I barely got a glimpse of Aurora Marigold last night, because I was half asleep and in an admittedly unfortunate state. But I saw and heard enough to be intrigued, even amused. Seeing her again, and here of all places, might make this experience a bit less horrible than I expected.
Aurora shakes my hand when I offer it, her expression composed, her grip firm when she slides her hand briefly into mine. Then she steps back, nodding at me while ignoring Mindyand Barf—oops,Bart—completely. Her sleek ponytail flicks as she turns on her heels and sees herself out.
I watch her go with a barely concealed grin on my face. She’s beautiful, and she knows it; tall, curvy, with gorgeous hair and the kind of presence that undoubtedly intimidates some men.
Men like Bart, who stands cowering in front of me. It’s probably for the better that he chose Mindy. He wouldn’t know what to do with a woman like Aurora Marigold. He wouldn’t know how to make her happy.
I’m not sure I know either, but I bet I could figure it out.
“You can see yourselves out,” I say, waving at Bart and Mindy before rounding the desk and returning to my seat. “Close the door after you.”
They do as I say, and I’m glad to see them go. I hope they’re good at their jobs. I don’t mind that they’re dating, but I’ll care if it affects their work. I’m not going to be here long; anything messy needs to wait until after I leave.
When the two of them have gone, I pull up the employee roster and look up Aurora’s file. She’s thirty years old—five years older than me. She’s been at the company for a good long while, and although I don’t have a complete account of her time here, she seems to be good at what she does.
I close out of the roster and lean back in my chair, kicking my feet up on the desk once more. Then I loosen my tie. I snort as I remember Aurora fixing Bart’s tie with gentle, nurturing hands—and the way she stood up straight, just enough to be taller than him?
I want to see more.
A sigh escapes me as I look around my temporary office, a hastily put-together room. I didn’t feel comfortable working in my sister’s office, mostly because I don’t want to mess up the way she has things arranged. I wouldn’t worry about it if she hadn’t just had a freaking baby, but she doesn’t need one morestressor on her plate. So I set up in an empty room instead, with a cheap desk and a computer and a few file cabinets. It works for what I need.
My cell phone rings, and my body tenses, because I know who it is. When I pick it up and see my dad’s name, I’m tempted to set the phone right back down.
I don’t, because he’ll just call again and again until I pick up. Best to get it over quickly, so I answer.
“Hi,” I say, and I can’t quite help how dull my voice sounds.
“Roman,” my dad says in his typical stern, barking voice. “How is everything going over there?”
