Page 36 of Love in the Time of Conversation Hearts

The man would’ve been perfect. There’s a reason Aubrey goes all googly-eyed over her neighbor. With a build like a superhero and the shaggy blond hair and beard to match, all he’s missing is a giant hammer.

Sturgeon purses his lips in thought. “Well, surely it won’t be that—”

“I can do it,” Adam offers.

“You will?” Sturgeon asks incredulously at the same time I grit out, “You can?” At least our boss’s disbelief drowns out the hurt in my tone. Or I’m hoping it does.

Uncertainty passes over Adam’s face as he scans mine. When he speaks again, it’s with decidedly less enthusiasm. “I mean, if Cora wants me to.”

The words buzz at the tip of my tongue: Over my dead body do I want you to. But I can’t say that. Not when all my boss sees is a perfectly eligible bachelor who is going to solve the problem I presented. Case closed, as far as he’s concerned.

I try to sound as pleasant as possible when I answer, “Sure. That’d be great. Thanks, Adam.”

He winces when he hears the way I say his name, which sounds unpleasant even to my ears.

Sturgeon claps his hands once, sharply, then glances at his gold wristwatch. “That’s settled, then. Anything else?”

I shake my head. “Nope.”

“Perfect.” My boss turns toward the door, unaware or uncaring about the tension that has suddenly made the air in the room too thin to breathe. Halfway over the threshold, he glances back at me to add, “Oh, and Cora, I trust you’ll be able to deliver a full report detailing your action plan for the beautification to my office by this time next week, then? I will need time to clean up the presentation for the council, of course, but I want your input since I’m sure you have lots to add following your little research trip.”

That’s not my job has never been in my vocabulary, but I’d be lying if I said the words didn’t threaten to slip out. Instead, I press my lips into a firm line and nod.

“Good. Play nice you two.”

With that, he’s gone. Adam and I are left to stare at each other, neither of us speaking. The silence grows from uncomfortable to unbearable. Finally, I pivot and march around the desk, giving Adam a wide berth, then take a seat and crack open my laptop. “If that’s all, I’ve got some work to do.”

Adam leans forward, bracing his hands on my desk. I wish I could say it did nothing for me, but I’d be lying. His broad shoulders strain against the light blue fabric of his sweater. His eyes are wrinkled at the corners, something like a grimace overtaking his otherwise flawless features.

“I don’t have to do it, Cora.”

I drop my gaze to the loading screen on the computer. Easier to resist him this way. It was my fault, anyway. I let myself catch feelings for him without thinking through what it would do to our working relationship, or what it might look like to our boss. “What’s done is done,” I say tersely. “You already volunteered. He’ll be expecting you to.”

I sense more than see his shoulders slump. His fingers curl into fists against the dark oak desk. “I was just trying to help.”

Regret laces the edges of his voice, but I’d do well to remember I haven’t made it this far by not protecting my own heart. “If there’s nothing else, I’m really busy, Adam. Lots to prepare for.” I drum nonsense into the keyboard, grateful he can’t watch it appear on the search bar of my otherwise blank screen.

He clicks his tongue, but accepts his defeat, slowly backing away from my desk. “Will I see you tomorrow?”

I shake my head but don’t look up. “You heard Sturge. I’ll be getting everything together.”

“Need help?”

“Nope.”

He sighs as he turns the doorknob. “Friday then?”

“Guess so.”

“Great.” Somehow, the word is filled with warmth, despite the cold shoulder I’m giving in return. “Enjoy your coffee, Cora.”

The door shuts behind him with a soft thud, leaving me cocooned in my own irritated silence. I stare at the screen for a ridiculous amount of time. At the cup from Sugar on Top for even longer.

But eventually, my resolve breaks. After a spin in the employee microwave, I do enjoy my coffee. Begrudgingly.