“Because it’s the weekend. I will have to punch an access code to enter the building, and there are cameras in the entrance. I can’t be that obvious,” she said, with a nervous chuckle.
He adjusted his sunglasses. “Good point. Listen, Ells, I really appreciate your help.”
“That’s the least I could do,” she said. Wasn’t that the truth? During the time Matthew had lived in New York, she had become friends with his wife Sandra, and both of them helped her come to terms with the end of her marriage. Talking about it was still hard—with anyone besides Dr. Hodge anyway—but if he had helped her face that new chapter of her life, why couldn’t she do the same? Objectively speaking… There was a possibility Devon was stealing. And even if he hadn’t, she had accepted the job to help Matthew in his pursuit of the CEO title. He was the best man for the job, wasn’t he? “How are things with Sandra?”
He flashed her a half-smile. “Not good. We’re doing couple’s therapy, but I’m not sure we’ll make it.”
She shrugged. “Oh man… I’m sorry. If she needs anything, I’m here,” she added, even though ever since she moved to Denver, Sandra had met her for coffee only a handful of times. It seemed she was always busy.
How could Elena judge her? The year before she filed for divorce, she had been half-alive, and not communicated well with family. A part of her had shut out the world like a terrified sea clam.
“Call me if you wanna talk. I wish you both the best,” she said.
He winked at her, and a gleam of hope hit his green eyes. “That makes two of us.”
If she hadn’t been treated like a walking vagina by her former husband, if he hadn’t been so sick, maybe their marriage would have survived too. She certainly enjoyed being married, she realized, worrying her lip. And she would again. Well, once she overcame her fear of trusting someone on a sexual level. That would be a great start.
“I gotta go mingle. Keep me updated on Monday.”
“Sure.”
He nodded, and headed to an area where his team had gathered to play ball. She kept glancing around, in both hope and dread of finding Devon.
“Come join us,” Janie said, and before she could think twice, her friend was leading her through the crowd, with a clipboard in hand and a hot pink whistleblower around her neck. “We’re just about to play tree hugger and I need more victims. This was kind of my idea, you know.”
“S-sure.”
Janie opened a bag with the corporate logo on it and grabbed a couple dark scarves from it. “You need to pair up with someone. I can’t play because I’m organizing, and a cute guy from Human Resources latched onto Holly,” Janie said, and handed her the two soft pieces of black fabric.
Wait, what?She glanced at the group of easily a dozen folks a few feet from them. Some took turns putting the blindfold on others, while a few laughed and joked. “What’s the game?”
“We’ll go over there”—she pointed at the forested area—“and you will touch and feel a tree, then your partner will lead you away. Then you will remove the blindfold and try to relocate the same tree you hugged.”
“Hhhmmm… Okay.” She placed her hands on her waist. “It all sounds great, but most peeps are in pairs already or doing other activities.” Any other activity sounded better than having a coworker lead her anywhere.
“I’m free,” said a deep voice behind her, awakening all her nerve endings.
Janie crossed something off her clipboard and smiled. “Perfect. Get her eyes covered then join us to the left. It will start in a few minutes.”
Elena turned around, the anticipation alone a dangerous venom skating into her bloodstream. The moment her gaze landed on his, a part of her softened into a warm bread pudding, straight out of the oven. Shit. What the hell was happening? “We don’t have to do this.”
He flashed her a smile. “I’m supposed to mingle with the employees,” he said casually.
“I don’t think we need any extra…mingling.”
He held her stare, and even though she wanted to will herself away from him, she couldn’t. Her body balked, and she was scared her treacherous, throbbing heart would spill out of her mouth if she choked out a word.
The sound of a whistle almost made her jump, and she glanced at the group. Almost everyone was ready, and Janie was in full-on recreational mode, no doubt enjoying being the one to boss everyone around. Crap. Leaving would probably be a bigger deal than staying.
“This is just a friendly game of trust. You trust me, right?” he mocked.
“Not one bit.”
“Good. That means you need to play. Turn around.” He gestured with his hand, and she did as commanded. He erased the distance between them, and again that dangerous energy twirled around her. She closed her eyes, licking her lips like she was about to eat an ice cream cone. Maybe dark chocolate gelato.
When he put the soft fabric on her, a delightful shiver coursed through her, and her skin prickled as if said ice cream had melted on her flesh. Or, maybe, it was just the man who was exponentially yummier than any icy treat. A sound yanked her from her reverie. It was the clearing of a throat, but she couldn’t know for sure if it had come from her or him. Opening her eyes, she could barely see the sunlight. Her eyelashes rubbed on the blindfold, and she realized then how vulnerable she was to him. Even when she couldn’t see him. Maybe even more so. She caught a whiff of his male scent, the lingering fragrance teasing her.
A game of trust. She could laugh at the irony—and almost did. A nervous chuckle escaped her lips before she could stop it.
“See? You’re having fun already,” he said, and her blood went on a low simmer.
She heard a few people talk, but their voices faded into the background. He guided the small of her back, his hand steady and strong. She was barely getting used to that super manly touch on her, when he clenched his palm around her wrist.
She halted.
“I need you to do as I say. I don’t want you to fall,” he said, his voice deeper than the Grand Canyon.
Sensations she usually didn’t pay attention to teased her senses. The smell of fresh tree sap, and cut grass pushed into her nostrils, just as real as the painful awareness of his hot flesh on hers. She followed his lead, and imagined others did the same, as low whispers and chuckles were heard against the sound of leaves cracking under her tennis shoes.
Yup. She better not fall. Especially not in love with the boss she was spying on.
