Charming Co-Worker - Jeannine Colette Page 0,1
Even if he has zero filters.
“He’d be blind not to notice you tonight. You look good, kid.”
His eyes twinkle as he takes in what I spent hours on getting ready when I normally spend minutes. My blonde hair is pinned up in a chignon, and I have on more makeup than I usually wear. His eyebrows rise slightly at the sight of my party dress.
“It’s okay to say you’ve got a thing for the boss.”
I deny it every time, but if I’m going to take that leap to try to get Branson to cross the line in our relationship, then I might as well start fessing up.
I drop my head to my chest. “Okay, fine. I have the tiniest of crushes on Branson.” I raise my eyes to him and scrunch my nose. “Is that crazy?”
“You’re out of his league,” Hunter states, and I instantly want to punch him in his square jaw.
“Excuse me? I’m out of his league?”
“It’s the truth.” He takes a sip of whiskey, like he just told me the sky was blue instead of shattering my dreams.
I lift my chin and stare straight into his eyes. I lift a finger and point it directly at his face. “For your information, I’m a catch. I’m funny and cute, and people say I bake a raspberry cheesecake that’s better than sex.” Hunter nearly chokes on his whiskey, but I pay no attention and continue, “I’m organized, and I have a rescue cat. Plus, I’m the best damn assistant Branson has ever had. He’s told me that himself.”
Hunter clears his throat as he adjusts the tie around his neck. “Sorry. You could have stopped at sex. I’m sold.”
I groan in frustration and give him an eye roll.
Apparently, my reaction is comical to him because he lets out a deep laugh. “You’re cute as hell when you act like this; I’ll give you that. But most men don’t want cute.”
As if on cue, Janice comes sauntering over. She has on a silver fringe dress that’s cut low, making her boobs bounce out the top. Her fingers flutter over Hunter’s shoulder as she slides around to the front of him. “There you are, handsome.”
He takes her hand off his shoulder and holds it in his as he walks her a step back and looks over at me. “Janice, did you say hello to Katie?”
She turns to face me, giving me a closed-mouth smile. “Hey,” Janice says and turns her attention back to Hunter. “Look what I have.” She lifts a bunch of plastic mistletoe in her hand and holds it up in the air. “It’s bad luck to refuse a kiss to someone.”
In that cavalier style of his, Hunter grins, showing off his dimples, and then he leans forward and gives Janice a kiss on the cheek.
Her eyes flutter with a blush. “So PC for the office.” She giggles. “I’m just teasing. I actually came over here to grab you. The Accounting team is waiting to do a shot with you.”
Never the one to turn down a drink, he nods his head and then holds his arm out to me. “Would you like to join us?”
Janice shoots him a glare as I place my hand up in refusal. “I’m good.”
His head tilts with a concerned rise of his brow for just a second before he puffs his chest and gives his arm to Janice. She takes it and pulls him toward the bar, where I can see a group from the Accounting department waiting with glasses in hands.
“What do you say you and I get out of here early tonight?” I hear Janice tell Hunter in a sultry, hushed tone as they walk away.
It’s a bold statement, but maybe that’s what I need to do. I should be forward, confident, and available.
I take a drink of my whiskey, the burn feeling like liquid courage as I stare back at Branson and muster up the girl balls to go over to him and … what?
Maybe Hunter’s right. Men want women like Janice, not a Suzy Homemaker like me. I need a plan.
With a serious gulp, I finish my drink in one swig and place the glass on a nearby table. I pat down the pleats of the emerald-green dress I purchased for tonight’s holiday party. It was more than my budget could afford, but when Branson had told me last week that I had pretty green eyes, my heart had gone pitter-patter, and I haven’t been able to stop smiling at the