Page 52 of Barron's Second Chance
Duty Manager
"Ian," she addressed him. "Nice to meet you."
"Likewise. You lookin' for Barron?"
"Yes. Sorry, I tried calling and texting him but haven't heard back. I was wondering if he was in his office?"
"Yep! Been here a couple of hours. When he's engrossed in paperwork, he usually forgets to check his phone."
He tilted his head towards the hallway that led to Barron's office. "Go on ahead. He won't mind since it's you."
Tracey huffed, which caused Ian to turn a steely glare at her. "Can you fulfill table five's order, please." His tone left no room for argument.
She rolled her eyes before turning to grab a tray from behind her.
"Thanks, Ian," she said in the awkward silence, confused by Tracey's behavior but happy to exit the scene fast. "I'll head on back."
As Eden pushed through the double doors, which read"Staff Only,"she was hit by the memory of the last time she was here. When she angrily slammed these doors open, wishing they would hit Barron in the face.
She hoped this meeting would go a lot smoother than the last one.
Stopping outside his office door, she knocked with a confidence that she didn’t feel before pushing his door open when she heard his voice call out.
She poked her head in and was greeted with his back. He was hunched over his desk, typing on his computer. She took a moment to drink him in with his navy blue t-shirt, light hair curling against his collar, and tan arms flexed across the keyboard in earnest.
"Hi."
At her voice Barron whirled around in his chair, surprise and delight crossing his handsome features when he spotted her.
"Eden!"
He crossed to her and stopped before reaching his hand out and quickly withdrawing it back. She bit back a smile at his adorable awkwardness.
"I hope this is okay?" She asked as she stepped further into the small space, closing the door.
She tried not to notice how sexy and muscular his legs looked in his stone white shorts or how his heady aftershave filled her nose with pleasure.
"No! This is a nice surprise," he insisted.
"Would you like to sit?" He turned and grabbed his office chair before rolling it towards her. "Here, I'll take the stool."
Without waiting for her response, he grabbed the brown wooden stool he kept at the end of his desk, moving it closer to her before sitting down and regarding her with earnest eyes.
Not wanting to be the only one standing, she moved her chair a little further back from his before sitting. She could feel the warmth of his body on the seat he had just vacated, and she felt her face flush at the intimate sensation.
"Sorry to come here out of the blue. I did try calling and texting -"
He swore before reaching into the pocket of his shorts for his phone. "Fuck. Sorry." He stared at his screen as he swiped through her messages. "When I'm in the flow, I usually turn my phone on silent."
She waved the explanation away. "That's okay. I figured you'd be at work, so thought I'd drop by before I lost my nerve."
His brow furrowed as he pocketed his phone again. He kept quiet, giving Eden the floor to speak.
She spread her hands, unsure how to start.
"I'm ready to talk."
When he opened his lips and leaned forward, she stopped him. "I want to ask the questions, though."
