Page 26 of Maxwell

“Okay. Don’t stay too long. Seriously,” Jasmine said as she walked out.

“I won’t.”

Jasmine entered her office and sat behind her desk. Her pulse was beating out of control, and her stomach was oddly tight. Maxwell had heard her.

Not awkward. Not awkward at all.

Chapter Eleven

Jasmine looked up at the flickering T12 fluorescent tube above her head. Accompanied by a low buzz, it had been bothering her all afternoon. She decided to take care of it before she left, or the buzzing and flickering would drive her nuts when she returned on Monday.

In the large supply closet, she found the stepladder and a bulb. She set up the ladder in the middle of the hall and tested it for stability.

“Good enough,” she mumbled.

Stepping out of her shoes, she placed one foot on the lowest rung and started to climb.

“I know you’re not about to do what I think you’re about to do.” Maxwell’s deep voice arrested her movements.

Her pulse rate tripled at the sight of him standing to her right, hands on his slim hips. How did he manage to move so quietly? He no longer wore his white coat. Today’s outfit included dark pants, a white and charcoal tie, light gray shirt, and a vest over the entire ensemble that hugged his muscular torso. He had no right to walk around looking so sexy in a place of business.

“What do you think I’m about to do?” Jasmine asked.

“Climb that ladder, which is a bad idea.”

“I’ve done it before,” she informed him.

“You shouldn’t be up there. Get down.” He walked over.

Holding on to the top of the ladder, she rested a hand on her hip. “You don’t tell me what to do.”

He arched an eyebrow. “You didn’t have any problem taking instruction before,” he said in a low voice.

Oh no he didn’t. She glared at him, cheeks burning at the insinuation.

A self-satisfied smirk touched his lips. “Come down. Please. I’ll put in the new bulb.”

She refused to do what he asked out of sheer obstinance. “I know how to change a lightbulb.”

“I’m sure you do.” He didn’t move.

Jasmine sighed. “Fine.” She descended the ladder and stepped to the side.

Maxwell unbuttoned his shirt cuffs and shoved the sleeves up to his elbows, causing her to sigh internally as he became even sexier. As he climbed up, the material of his pants pulled against his muscular thighs and hugged his tight butt. She watched in silence as he replaced the old tube with a new one. When he finished, he returned to the floor.

“This is the part where you say thank you,” he told her.

Jasmine rolled her eyes. “Thank you.” Then, before she seemed truly ungrateful, she added, “Seriously, thank you. You didn’t have to do that. It’s my responsibility, not yours.”

He shrugged. “I don’t mind. Besides, I didn’t like seeing you climb up that ladder. Anything like that happen again, let me know, and I’ll take care of it.”

Chivalry wasn’t dead after all.

“Remember those words when I ask.”

“How many points do I get for this?”

“I’ll give you two.”