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COLIN
The rest of the weekend found me curled up at my place avoiding all social activities. I didn’t even want to go into the office on Monday morning, but I made myself get out of bed early, go for a run, and then grab a chai from the Cone before going upstairs to the office.
I had specifically gone out of my way to avoid any information on what Jaxon was doing. I’d assumed he’d left to go back to Seattle on Saturday. He’d mentioned getting me paperwork and an offer. He hadn’t said anything about how he would get it to me.
Yawning, I wiggled the key into the outer office door and glanced over my shoulder at the disruption in the office opposite mine. The stairs separated us and I froze as Jaxon walked out of the doorway, closing his door behind him.
“’Morning, Colin.” He waved at me and then started down the stairs as if it were perfectly normal for him to be leaving the office on a Monday.
“I thought you went back to Seattle.” I blurted out before I could keep my thoughts to myself. I needed him to go to Seattle. I couldn’t keep my focus, if he was here with his eyes and his smile.
“Oh, yeah, about that, I’m not.” He smiled, but paused on the stairs, his hand loosely resting on the railing.
“I can see that. I mean, why are you still here? I’m not trying to be rude, I just...” I really just wanted to know why he was coming out of a vacant office suite on a day when he was supposed to be at the bank sending me money. Saying any of that would definitely be considered rude.
Wow, plus, it sounded harsher than I intended, but I liked the simplicity of my life and having Jaxon around wasn’t keeping things simple.
“I figured if I’m going to be a partner, I should be here to help out. At least initially.” He smiled at me as if I should be grateful. I blinked at him and my mouth fell open.
What did I say to that? I turned fully to face him, stepping closer to the landing. “No, I just want you to invest. I don’t need...” Confusion tripped up my tongue. What did I need? I wasn’t sure how an investor relationship worked. What if this was the norm? I had no idea which left me feeling intimidated and a little awkward. I suddenly didn’t even want his money.
“Don’t worry. I already have a contract being drawn up. You’ll want to have your attorney go over. As soon as we have that figured out, the check will be drafted in minutes. You’ll get the money.” He sent me a cocky grin. “I’m not trying to buy you or make you uncomfortable –"
“I’m not uncomfortable.” I had to get that in, even though the assertion wasn’t necessary.
“Okay, well, if you’re not uncomfortable, then that’s good.” He moved up to the top of the stairs leaving the railing between us and not much space.
I didn’t move back, even as he was too close, because I’d just declared that I wasn’t uncomfortable. My pride didn’t need to be taken down another notch.
He lowered his voice and stared intently at me. “I don’t want to bug you, Colin, I really just want to make sure I’m available. Plus, there are some things we need to discuss regarding how the international market will work and some ideas I had to smooth those issues out.” He reached out and patted my shoulder, the gesture seemingly platonic but the touch sent a shiver through me.
What if my resolve wouldn’t survive his presence? I’d been alone for so long, my starved affections might not do well around him. If I wasn’t careful, he’d worm his way under my guard and I couldn’t emotionally afford that.
I nodded mutely and turned back to my office, then lifted a finger and turned back to him. “Why not just use my offices?” If he was going to be working with ClickandWed, then it made sense to work in the same space we did. No reason to waste resources. The thought of spending that much time together was more than a little discomfiting and I wished I could take back the suggestion.
He jerked his thumb over his shoulder toward the office he’d rented. “This one has an attached apartment. I don’t mind using the motel, but for roughly the same price, I can do this one and everything is right here.” He smiled at me, tucking a hand into a pant pocket.
“How long are you staying?” I wasn’t trying to be rude, but I had a feeling my state of mind depended on a goal date. Like, if I could make it until this day, then I could do it.
Something in his gaze shortened the distance between us. “As long as it takes.” What was that in his voice? A challenge? A promise?
I nodded tightly and rushed into my office, fleeing all the way back to the inner office I considered my home away from home. I flopped into my chair and stared morosely at the glossy surface of my desk.
The silent partner/investor plan I’d had wasn’t going over quite as I’d expected. There was more at risk than losing control of my company.
What was I getting myself into and was there any way to get out?