“You look cute in my jacket,” he said.
“Well, it’s a very nice jacket,” I managed to say.
We continued to talk and banter in this manner for a bit. I didn’t want the night to end, but when I looked at the time and saw that it was nearly 11 o’clock, I knew what the right thing to do was.
“What is it?” he asked. He must have sensed my worry.
“I should be getting home,” I said reluctantly, taking off his jacket and handing it to him.
“Yes, of course. Let’s go.”
Again, he put his hand on the small of my back and guided me to the elevator.
Third time he’s touched me. I kept wishing there’d be another moment like that, but he kept his hands to himself all the way to the car after that.
On the drive back to my house, Colin’s phone buzzed again. I couldn’t tell if the caller was a board member because Colin was speaking in Japanese, leaving me in awe once more.
“How many languages do you speak?” I asked when he hung up.
“Sorry about that. I speak Japanese and Spanish fluently. There are a few others I can get by in and understand.”
“Impressive,” I said. “I can practice my rusty Spanish with you.”
“Cuando quieras, belleza,” he said. I tried to translate it mentally but was unable to.
“What did you say?” I asked.
“I see we have our work cut out for us. I said, ‘Whenever you want, beautiful.’”
Butterflies again. Everywhere all at once.
We were approaching my apartment, and he parked in an open space right in front.
“Yo no hablo mucho español,” I said horribly.
“Well, that didn’t sound too bad. There may be hope for you yet,” he said, getting out and coming around to open my door. He walked me to my front door.
This was it. My heart was hammering against the walls of my chest. Either he’d kiss me—or he wouldn’t.
I unlocked the door and turned toward him. That’s when his phone lit up again.
I wasn’t intending to snoop, but the name flashed clear as day—M Flame.
“Sorry, one second,” he said, and moved back toward his car.
I wondered what had happened to warrant a call this late at night from Maggie.
When he came back, he had a smooth smile on his face. “Forgive me. These members of the board of directors believe that I’m at their beck and call twenty-four hours a day, ready to hear any harebrained suggestion.”
I froze.
Board of Directors?What?
It had clearly said M Flame on his screen. It could only be Margaret Flame.
Maggie.
My boss and his subordinate.
