first man I’ve ever been attracted to. Based on what he said earlier, it is the same for him. That has to mean something.
“Lucky.” I swallow my bite of food. I look up to see Finn. His eyes bounce between Kevin and me. I give him a pleading look not to do anything crazy. We’re in the office. It would only give people another reason to think we shouldn't be together. “When you're done with your lunch I need you to come to my office. I need someone to watch the kittens for a couple hours.”
“Yes!” I say way too loudly. “Sorry,” I whisper.
He smiles down at me. “Think of names. We’ll bounce them off each other.” He turns to leave.
I look back to Kevin, who is staring at me. “End it,” he orders. His tone has completely changed. I thought he was nice, but now his true colors are coming out. B.J. says men are nice until they don’t get what they want. Then they turn into assholes. Especially when they hear the word no. “It’s for your own good. Everyone will think you're the office slut and are trying to sleep your way to the top.” My stomach drops. My eyes sting with tears.
“Thanks for lunch.” I grab my tray to leave.
“Lucky.” I turn around. “You’re a sweet girl. Don’t ruin that.” I drop my food into the trash, putting my tray up. I don’t want to end whatever is happening between Finn and me.
I want him. Maybe I could just have one night with him. One that I can cherish and have forever. I’m not so worried about what people will say about me. I don’t want anyone trying to drag Finn’s name through the mud. If I’ve learned anything in the past twenty-four hours it's that Finn is a sweet man. He is a little crazy at times, but so am I. We fit. No matter how much I try to deny it. Too bad I can’t make him mine.
Chapter 19
Finn
“Everyone’s enjoying themselves. You did a great job,” I tell the staff. Arranging a picnic outside of the office for three hundred people on short notice is no easy task but the admins pulled through. A lot of permits had to be pulled along with the booking of caterers, entertainers, and clean-up crews. Monica, Cesar, and Lucky were up to the task and now the entire O’Hare crew is eating, socializing and enjoying a good day away from the office while my floor is being redesigned into one large space to accommodate a new staffing position that I dreamed up the night before.
Monica beams. “My team is the best. We should probably get a bonus.”
“I agree.” I have not yet told Monica about my plans so a bonus in her bank account should soften the blow.
Cesar punches his hand in the air while Monica and Lucky jump up and down. Other employees drift over, happy at the opportunity to speak to the boss. I learn about marriages and babies and breakups. Some of them give ideas about improving systems that I hadn’t heard of before. Beside me, Lucky jots everything down while Monica and Cesar make sure everyone has enough food and beverage.
I grin at their happiness. What started out as a way to get close to Lucky during the day ended up being a great event. Even if Lucky weren’t here, this scene would warm me up. If anything, she pushes me to be better to everyone. Sitting up high with all the luxuries in life tends to make you forget about all the people that support you and make the engines of the business run smoothly. Once we get through the line of employees, I lead Lucky over to the food table.
“Fried chicken or pasta?” I ask, holding her plate.
“Pasta? No. Fried chicken,” she changes her mind.
“How about both?” I pile her plate and mine with enough food to feed an army.
“Are you giving out doggie bags?” she jokes when we sit down on the grass. “Because there’s no way I’m going to eat all this.”
“Someone has to feed the ducks.”
“I think they’re getting stuffed from the kids.” She points out a cluster of children leaning over a railing with a bag of bread dangling between them.
“Then, yes, there will be doggie bags.” And if the caterers don’t have them on hand, I’ll go to the store and buy some.
“This is a really nice thing you’ve done for everyone. O’Hare had a reputation for