He laughed with me. “I have one in my trunk. I can put it on if it’ll make you more comfortable.”
I shook my head. “You look…different. Nice different. You definitely look nice without a tie.”
His dark blue button-down shirt was under a gray sport coat.Nice? He looked as if he belonged on the cover of a magazine. I almost laughed out loud remembering Grant called him GQ.
Except that it was true.
“You look lovely,” he said.
“Thanks,” I said, locking the door and hoping my face wasn’t turning red.
He opened the passenger door for me, and I settled in, running my hands along the dark leather interior. A new thrill coursed through me when he sat down next to me and his hand brushed the gearshift.
“You’re so much more relaxed than the other night. Well, more than any other time I’ve seen you,” I said.
“I was on the clock,” he said, putting the car in drive. “A vice president is professional at all times. Even when he’s dying to ask out the beautiful woman at his new job.”
“It’s a problem, isn’t it? The fact that you’re my boss?”
“Yes, that is something that I guess we should discuss, though I wasn’t going to bring it up on our first date.”
My pulse quickened at the sound of the words “first date.” Was that implying he was looking forward to a second date?
He continued, “HR would have us sign a consensual relationship agreement when we… if we… if this seems like it would continue.”
“Got it,” I said, my fingers fidgeting at the awkwardness of the topic.
“How about we talk about something else for now?”
“Yes!” I agreed.
“Perfect. Tell me about your family.”
The quick change was jarring, but it was easy enough to give him a description of a happy life before my dad passed away ten years ago.
“When I was seventeen, a month before prom and graduation, my dad was in an awful car accident. He hung on for a couple of months, and I guiltily attended my senior prom. My mom was at my graduation while he was still between life and death in the hospital. But finally, they told us there was no hope of recovery—that his brain had lost all activity. My mom had to make the awful decision to let him go. It was so hard for her, andit wasn’t until I told her that it was okay that she gave the order to take him off the machines.”
I didn’t mean to share that much, but with Colin, the words came easily.
“That must have been the hardest thing you’ve ever had to go through. I’m so sorry.” His voice was low and tender.
“It really was. For my mom too, for a long time. But she’s at a retirement community by the beach now, and her life is full of parties and friends.”
“And you?” His question opened up every insecurity I’ve had for the past decade.
“I had to be my mother’s support, but in the end, she’s been my everything since my dad died. I miss having her close and us doing everything together, but I visit her most weekends. My best friend lives in San Francisco. My life is more of comfy dinners at home, long walks in the evenings, small talk with acquaintances.” I was wary about bringing up losing all of my friends right after talking about my dad’s death.
“Hmm,” he said.
“Is that too weird?” I asked, self-doubt jumping down my throat and threatening to choke me.
“Doyouthink it’s weird?” he asked.
“Not sure. My mom’s always saying I should get out more. I see pictures of everyone out all the time.”
“Social media isn’t real,” he said sharply.
“I know it’s all highly curated,” I said, glancing over at him, wondering what had struck a nerve. “Is something wrong?
