Charming Co-Worker - Jeannine Colette Page 0,22

thing.”

I give him a reassuring smile. “The worst.”

I turn and see a taxi down the block with its lights on. I eagerly wave my hand. As it draws near, it pulls to the curb. I place a hand on the door and open it.

“Hey, Katie McGee,” he calls to me as I climb in.

I stop and turn around, my body on the inside of the door, his on the other.

He walks up and steps around to where I’m standing. He leans in and gives me a kiss on my jaw that runs a shiver down to my toes.

“Sweet dreams,” he says rather swoon worthy.

He steps back onto the curb and slides his hands back into the pockets of his overcoat.

I take a deep breath and sit down in the backseat. When the door closes, I tell the driver where to take me. As we head down Columbus, I look out the back window, at Hunter standing on the corner, watching me drive away.

I close my eyes and feel his lips against my skin.

If Hunter Johnstone doesn’t stop kissing me like that, I’m going to be in trouble.

Chapter Six

“I am going to miss you terribly this year. Are you sure you don’t want me to send you a plane ticket?”

I hold the phone to my ear as I talk to my mother. “Thank you, Mom, but I’m fine. It cost close to a thousand dollars to fly home last year, and we all agreed it was too much. You and Dad should go to Aunt Karen’s house. Say hello to Grandma for me, and I’ll be home in two weeks to have a real celebration.”

She grumbles as if she just doesn’t like the sound of it. “Okay. If you’re sure. I’d rather spend the money than have you all alone.”

As I walk down the hallway of my office building, I explain to my mom, “I’m really good. Honest. I made plans for Christmas Eve and I’m going to watch holiday movies all day on the twenty-fifth. Plus, I won’t be alone. Mittens will keep me company.”

“Just know, you and your brother are getting extra presents under the tree this year.”

“Stop it. I don’t want you buying me a single gift until the after-holiday sales go on. That’s the bonus to this plan.”

I hear the loving sigh she releases. “You know I love you,” she says sweetly, and it melts my heart.

“I love you too, Mom. And tell Dad I said the same. I have to get back to work.” I hold the phone in one hand and my files in the other. “Talk to you soon.”

She gives me air kisses through the line before we hang up. I hit End and then open the folder in my hand as I walk toward the copy room.

“There really is no comparison,” I hear Iris from Sales talking with Janice from Accounting inside the room.

“Well, you’re just biased because you hooked up with one of them,” Janice says as she flips her blonde hair over her shoulder.

I walk over to the copy machine and slide in a form to be duplicated. The icon on the screen says there’s no paper left. I open the nearby cabinet, where we keep supplies. We need to order more, so I have to get on my knees and reach all the way to the back to grab a ream.

I’m half inside the deep cabinet when Janice asks from behind me, “Katie, you be the deciding factor. Who’s hotter—Branson Ford or Hunter Johnstone?”

I hit my head on the inside of the cabinet.

“Are you okay?” Iris asks as I sit back on my heels and rub the top of my head.

“Yeah,” I reply. “You had a question?”

Iris folds her arms over her chest. “Branson or Hunter?”

I swallow as I consider her question. Well, one looks like a prince, and the other kisses like a villain. I can’t exactly tell them that though.

“That’s not an appropriate question for me to answer,” I say, grabbing the ream of paper and standing.

On my way up, I notice the clothing Iris has on—a long-sleeved hot-pink dress with a rather short hemline, showing off the fishnet stockings underneath. Yes, she wears fishnets to work. It’s risqué, yet everything is covered, so it complies with office policy.

I look down at my modest outfit. A dark purple cardigan over a white camisole, paired with navy-blue pants. It’s a smart look, and yet seeing her more salacious outfit makes me wonder if my wardrobe is a tad understated.

“Katie,”