“No.” She sucks her lips into her mouth, biting back a grin. “It was hard to miss the shock.”
“I thought I hid it well.”
“From others, maybe, but I saw it. When the attention shifted to Wes and your eyes flashed to mine.”
“I wasn’t expecting it. You never mentioned you were getting it cut.”
“I didn’t, and?—”
“Why would you?” My shoulders drop as I chuckle lightly. Like I told Paige, work has always been Keeley’s and my main topic of conversation, although before our kiss, we were definitely moving toward more personal topics. Now, we’re back to strictly work talk. Our conversations may have changed, but the support and comfort she gives me have never wavered. And I like to think that’s remained something she values from me too.
“Exactly.” Keeley confirms my thoughts. “We’re colleagues. Actually, we’re not colleagues. You’re the boss and my brother’s future father-in-law.”
Complicated as fuck is what I am.
Tension knots my neck while Keeley laughs as though she’s read my mind and finds it utterly ridiculous, except that’s the exact reason I never brought up the kiss again after it happened. Should we have had another conversation about it?Probably. But we’re both adults, and at the time we decided it was a one-off lapse of judgment during an emotionally charged moment, nothing more. So that’s how I’m treating it.
And she’s dating now anyway.
Keeley nods a few times before gesturing toward her office. “I’ve got some work to do. Did you need me? Other than to ask about my hair?”
“You never actually answered me.”
“Someone said I needed a change. Something new in my life. This is that, I guess.” She laughs to herself.
“Good. I like that. And I like the haircut. It suits you.”
She shakes her head as though I’m just trying to be nice, but she’s wrong. She’s more beautiful now than she was before and I didn’t think that was possible. She’s… Keeley. That’s who she is.Motherfucker.
“Thanks, Sal. I like it too.AndWes’s glasses.” She stares at me pointedly and I can’t stop the belly laugh that rumbles out of me.
“Yes, definitely. They were very striking. Me and my attention to detail.” Code for… I fucked up again and almost admitted that I care for Keeley on a deeper level than that of a colleague.
I may not care about what anyone thinks of me, but I wouldn’t want her to suffer because I couldn’t keep my mouth shut. Thank God for new glasses.
“Have a nice afternoon, Keeley.”
“Thanks, Sal. You too.” She hits me with a sassy grin as she walks into her office, and it stays in my mind long after she’s gone. My head is a messed-up place to be right now.
What the fuck is wrong with me?
Chapter Eleven
KEELEY
It’s late, so the stadium’s quiet as I spin around in my chair, putting my feet up on the edge of my desk. “Are you sure you don’t have another angle?” I ask Liz fromSports Unfiltered. “The team’s been through a lot. I’m not presenting this to Mr. D’Angelo unless I have your word.”
“Trust me. Heisthe angle. That man is fine with a capital F. Not to mention rich and powerful. People are intrigued.”
They want to do a puff piece on Sal, and I’m not sure he’s going to go for it.
“Okay.” I huff under my breath, imagining the look on Sal’s face when I fill him in. “I’ll try and catch him tonight. If not, I’ll put in the request tomorrow.”
“Thank you, Keeley. This will be a big win for me.”
“Don’t thank me yet. He hasn’t said yes.”
“I know. The thanks is for asking.”
