Page 112 of So This Is War
“Just means more morning trips for you.”
I tap my chin. “Hmm, decisions, decisions.”
He chuckles, and it’s an earthy sound straight from his barrel-like chest. “I do want to thank you, though, so I sent you a gift card to your email. Did you get it?”
“Uh, I haven’t checked,” I say.
“Go ahead and look.” Really confused by this change in behavior and the lightness in his eyes, I swipe out of our chat and go to my email, where I find a gift card from him to get a massage.
“You’re sending me to get a massage?”
“Tomorrow,” he says. “I booked an appointment for you and everything. Told them it’s all on me. Get what you want. But you have to be there around nine thirty. Hope that’s okay.”
“Yeah, I mean, I don’t have anything going on other than regular work.” I stare at him for a few seconds. “Levi, you didn’t have to do that.”
“I know, but I just wanted to show you that I appreciate you.”
“Well, thank you. That’ll be really nice.”
“You’re welcome.” He smiles, and ugh, it makes me feel even more guilty for what I’ve put him through.
And because my guilt takes over, I say, “And I’m sorry if I’ve been difficult or unsatisfactory. Just been going through some things, and I don’t think I handled it well.”
“You’ve been great,” he says. “More than great. No need to apologize, but I do need to ask you something.”
“Okay,” I say. “What is it?”
“Today, in the kitchen, were you crying?”
I glance away from looking at his handsome face and tug on the corner of my lip. Why is it so easy for him to read me? He barely knows me, and it’s like he can already see past my defenses. That connection is there, just like the first night we met.
“You were, weren’t you?” he presses.
“It’s nothing you need to concern yourself with,” I say, looking back at him. “And I mean that. Don’t bother asking me because I won’t say anything.”
“Okay,” he says. “If that’s the case, did your day improve?”
“Uh, yeah. It was okay.”
“Cool, yeah, my day was pretty good, thanks for asking.”
I smile. “Wasn’t aware we were gabbing.”
“Don’t you think you should gab with your boss? I am your only co-worker, after all.”
“I guess you are.” I shift to be more comfortable as I stare at Levi’s face. “How was your day?”
“Like I said, pretty good. Considered going down to the bar after the game tonight but wasn’t feeling it.”
“No?” I ask, feeling grateful that he’s not trying to pick someone up, but I guess, rather talking to me. “Why not?”
“Thought I’d give that Patty Ford girl another go-around since I was interrupted last time.”
“Why, Levi, isn’t that a little too intimate for a boss-assistant relationship?” I tease.
“According to you and the vibrator you packed me for my travels, nothing is too intimate. The more we know about each other, the better. You know . . . so you can meet all my needs.” The way he says that in such a dark voice sends a shiver right up my spine.
If I was still trying to drive him nuts with erotic torture, I might playfully talk about his needs being met, but I keep it clean. “Aw, you do listen to me.”
