Chapter Ten

“Lost in thought?”

Jackson glanced at his VP. “Sorry, did you say something?”

Will tossed the papers he was reading on the desk between them. “Rough week?”

He forced an easy, relaxed smile to his face. “One hand, you know,” he said, showing off his bound wrist. “I hate being at a disadvantage.”

Understatement of the year.

“Fair. I fractured my ankle once. All I can say is it will get better. Not even we can rush healing bones.”

“Thanks.”

“And besides, a little birdie tells me you have an extra set of hands to help you.”

He leveled an even stare at his VP. “Something you want to ask, Will?”

“I thought you said Lori was off-limits, and now you’ve moved her in.”

I said that? “She’s helping me,” he replied. “It’s strictly professional.”

Even if we might make out in kitchens every now and then.

“There’s good assistants, and then there’s this. I don’t know any EA willing to move in to be the hired help twenty-four hours a day.”

“You should see what I’m paying her,” he lied.

Will whistled. “I wish I’d thought of that.”

Buying Lori?

A curious rage burned low in his stomach but he forced himself to see passed it. “Had your eyes on her, did you?”

The other man shrugged. “Not after you told me to back off. But I’m not blind. She’s a pretty thing in her own way. And with breasts like hers, there’s a lot a man can forgive, if you catch my meaning.”

Too well.

“Watch it. This is an office and she’s your colleague, not some stranger to play with. Be professional.”

“A little possessive, aren’t you?”

Rein it in, Sinclair. “She’s my EA, and she’s damn good at her job. Why do you think I warned you off her in the first place?” he bluffed.

“All I’m saying is, if you decided she’s fair game, then the rest of us should have a chance, too.”

“I’m not sleeping with her.” Though not for lack of trying.

“Really? You’re slipping. Anything else get injured in that accident of yours?”

“I’m not going to take advantage of my employee.”

“Your loss. Then again, I guess you have an endless amount of options. Which cover model are you taking to the benefit dinner this weekend?”

He cleared his throat. “Actually, I’m going with Lori.”

Will burst out laughing. “Sure, she’s just your employee. Nothing strange is going on at all. I totally believe you.”

“The last thing I want to do is go to a benefit,” he said. “Especially a hand down. I’d rather take some pain pills and relax on my Saturday night. Sue me if I’m choosing the path of least resistance here. Lori knows the crowd and she knows me. She’ll make the evening easier and end faster. Show me a cover model who can do the same.”

“Then buy an extra plate for Lori and bring her along. You’ve done it before. Then you get both her expertise and a gorgeous model on your arm.”

“I don’t want a model.”

Will leaned back in his chair, his gaze sharp. “No. You just want Lori.”

“I’ve already told you—”

“Oh, I know what you said. But you’ve moved this woman into your home and are now taking her on a very expensive and public date. What are you up to?”

He rubbed his forehead. “I don’t know.”

“You told me you’d never approach her as long as she was your employee. You wavering on that no-dating-in-the-office policy?”

“No.” Yes.

“So then what is this?”

“She’s just helping me. That’s all. Can we get back to work now?”

“We’re talking about branding optics. This is way more interesting.”

“Have I ever shared the details of my personal life before?” he asked, taking a gamble that he was a private man at work.

Will sighed. “Sometimes you’re just no fun.”

Relief filled him. At least he wasn’t some jackass who liked to boast about his conquests at work. Mentally, he crossed off another attribute from the list of possibilities. Every conversation he had with every new person he met was one more piece of his own puzzle. Little by little he was building a persona of the man he’d used to be. Steady. Cautious. Ruthless when the business needed him to be.

Cold.

And apparently, he’d made a very conscious and public decision not to pursue Lori.

Why?

No matter how much he learned about his past, that one question plagued him.

“Well, I’m bringing a model,” Will said, clearly not finished with their conversation. “You can live vicariously through me and my date.”

“Can’t wait.”

“I hope we don’t have to stay long. These fundraising things get so tedious.”

“Most of the board will be going. We need our game faces on.”

Will scrunched his nose. “They’ve been around more often than normal lately. Anything you want to talk about?”

“No.”

Will was silent before saying, “There are rumors HynCor is making moves.”

“The only way they can rival us is if they merge with a larger organization and squeeze us out of the market. I’m not concerned,” Jackson lied.

Will studied him before nodding. “Fine. If you say so.”

“There’s nothing to worry about.”

“But we need to make a good show with the board. Even you with your injury.”

“It’s just a wrist. I can hold my drink with the other hand,” he said drily.

Will didn’t crack a smile. “You know I’m here to help. If you need some support to strategize, that’s why you hired me.”

“Just show up this weekend and charm the board.”

Will nodded. “Will do, boss.”

“And leave Lori the hell alone.”

This time a slow smile shaped the other man’s lips. “Whatever you say. You’re the man in charge, right?”

“Damn straight.”

It was his own fault he wished he could be anything else.

…

“Lori Carlow, you have some explaining to do.”

She glanced up to see a trio of women at the door of her office and sighed. “What’d I do now?”

The other women piled into the room, surrounding her desk. “You’ve been holding out on us,” one said.

“Yeah, we want the inside scoop.”

She leaned back in her chair. “About?”

“Last week you said goodbye to all of us.”

She glanced at the speaker. Curly blonde hair rioted around Audrey’s face. Next to her, Will’s EA Teresa folded her arms, waiting for an answer. Behind her was Lily, who worked with the head of marketing.

The assistants of the top executives stood in her office and every single one of them could smell a lie a mile away. They were sharp, or their employers wouldn’t keep them around. They were her were team as much as Jackson was.

And she couldn’t tell any of them the truth.

Here we go.

“Jackson made me an offer I couldn’t refuse.”

The trio exchanged a glance. “Didn’t you say there was nothing he could offer that you’d accept?”

She shrugged. “I was wrong.”

“So, what was it? Are you making a hell of a lot more money than us now?”

“Yep,” she lied. “Good news, you’re all invited to hang out on my new yacht.”

Audrey dropped into one of the chairs at her desk. “I heard a rumor you two arrive to work together in the mornings now.”

“Plus, I’ve never known you to be very mercenary,” Teresa pointed out.

“Are you dating him?” Lily asked last. “Did it finally happen?”

Lori sighed, putting her computer to sleep to focus on her colleagues. “Jackson was in an accident,” she said. “It wasn’t serious, but his right wrist is fractured and he needs some help until he’s healed enough to take care of himself.”

All their brows rose as they spoke all at once.

“Accident?”

“Is he okay?”

“How did you get roped into that?”

She held up a hand. “Racquetball. He’s fine. And I offered.”

Lily chewed her lip before saying, “That sounds like a really bad idea.”

“I’ve had worse ones. Case in point, does anyone have a gown I can borrow?”

“You’re going to the hospital benefit this weekend?” Teresa asked. “I just had to confirm the airhead Will’s taking.”

“Hopefully I’ll win best conversationalist, then.”

“Why are you going?” Audrey asked.

“Jackson isn’t a hundred percent yet and he asked me for help. I wasn’t going to say no.”

“I think that’s the problem here,” Teresa said. “You haven’t been saying no a lot.”

If only you knew. “I want to help him.”

“Because you like doodling Mrs. Sinclair in your binders,” Lily teased.

Lori tapped her foot in annoyance. “Not quite. Look, I’ll revisit quitting when Jackson is well again. It’s as simple as that.”

“Is it?” Audrey said, her gaze shrewd. “Because the rumor mill has HynCor pinned as ready to make a move against us. You staying to hold down the fort for a while wouldn’t have anything to do with that, would it?”

She kept her face impassive. “If the rivalry is heating up, I haven’t heard anything about it yet. I doubt information like that would get passed to us EAs. Has Will said anything?”

Teresa shook her head. “I’m keeping my ears open.”

“Then let’s not worry until we know there’s something to worry about. Come on, guys, I need a dress, and I doubt accounting would let me write off a Gucci gown as a business expense.”

“I’ve got something that might fit you,” Lily said. “Jill took me to an event with her once and I had to look the part. I’ll bring it in tomorrow.”

“I’d offer, too, but I doubt mine would fit,” Audrey added, gesturing to her flat chest. “We’re not exactly built alike.”

“Thanks for the thought. I have a dress I usually use for things like this, but it’s super plain and best for blending into the background.”

Teresa cocked her head. “Why don’t you want to do that this time?”

She squirmed. “I’m not going as his assistant. At least, not publicly.”

Three sets of eyes swung to her.

“You’re Jackson’s date?” Lily squeaked.

“Again, he’s not totally healed and he wants someone at his side he doesn’t have to turn the charm on for. This isn’t a compliment, guys. I’m just the most convenient woman in his immediate vicinity.”

“Bullshit,” Audrey declared. “This is unprecedented and you know it. None of us ever got that chance.”

“Lily’s boss is a straight woman and Teresa is happily married,” Lori pointed out.

“You know what I mean. He’s being different than normal. Especially with you. This is great, Lori.”

“He’s not different,” she said.

“He said good morning to me yesterday,” Lily said. “I don’t think he’s spoken to me in years.”

“He asked Cami in accounting about her baby because he noticed the picture on her desk when he was down there,” Audrey added.

“And Will says he’s been a little shorter tempered with him than usual.”

“Will’s an ass, can you blame him?” Lori said.

“The point is something is up, and everyone can feel it.”

That is very bad news.

She’d been so sure they were pulling this off. In many ways, he was the man he’d always been at work. Decisive, intuitive, strong. But there was a new streak of kindness in him that needed to be put back in its box. Particularly where she was concerned. While her inner voice might applaud his championing of her this week, it was out of character. If these three had noticed, they were running out of time before the gossip mills started churning.

“No one is their best self when they’re in pain,” she tried.

“If this is Jackson in pain, then we need to make a pact to keep him injured from now on,” Audrey said.

The others nodded their agreement.

Unease filtered through her. “You like the new Jackson?” she asked.

“I’m not quite as terrified to walk into his office,” Lily said.

“Maybe he’ll rub off on Will,” Teresa added in.

“Whatever is going on, keep it up, is all we’re saying,” Audrey finished. “And if this is your shot to go from assistant to girlfriend, freaking jump at that chance.”

“Jackson doesn’t think of me that way.”

Lily laughed. “Have you seen how he’s been watching you lately? I had to double check where we kept the fire extinguisher during our meeting yesterday.”

“Embellish much?”

“I think our point is, wear some good underwear the night of the benefit. A girl should always be prepared.”

She tossed a pencil at Audrey. “Thanks for the pep talk. You guys can leave anytime.”

“Now, now, you know we’re rooting for you,” Teresa said. “I, for one, am thrilled you didn’t quit. I told you all you had to do was talk to him.”

Which is the last thing I’ve done.

“Thanks for the support,” she said. “I really do have a lot on my plate right now, though.”

“Say no more,” Audrey said as she pushed to her feet. “We want updates on your date on Monday.”

“It’s not a date,” she called as the trio headed for the door.

“Sure, it’s not.” Teresa gave her a wink before closing the door behind them.

It’s not. Even if I might wish otherwise.

And if what the girls had reported was correct, they had bigger problems than her wayward heart.