Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 66184 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 331(@200wpm)___ 265(@250wpm)___ 221(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66184 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 331(@200wpm)___ 265(@250wpm)___ 221(@300wpm)
“I don’t know why I let this happen,” I say, mostly to myself. That’s not true, though. I do know why—these men are irresistible.
How most of the office feels about coffee—that’s apparently how I feel about them.
“I guess it’s because there’s a time limit. There’s an end date, and I’m only working here on a temporary basis.” I don’t know why I’m rambling about this. I seem to feel the need to justify my actions, even though I’m pretty sure the men don’t care about my lapses in moral judgment.
In fact, as I turn, Derek is waving off my words, completely unconcerned, but that doesn’t ease my sense of guilt.
CHAPTER 27
ANA
After only a brief followup conversation, during which Derek and Jansen were distracted by something other than wanting to have sex with me, they agreed that we could try out Bring Your Pet to Work Day once a week.
I poll the staff to make sure no one has allergies, do some pet proofing by securing cords and bringing in a few gates to block off areas like the break room, and draw up policies so that things will go smoothly.
Two weeks later, the first trial day arrives. As I expected, a lot of people are very excited to participate, and I wish I had a pet to bring in, but I enjoy meeting everyone else’s. Jackie introduces me to her adorable cocker spaniel mix, Imani has a young boxer, and Gloria’s buddy is a golden lab who lies at her feet all day.
Interestingly, the pet Charles brings in is a reptile, some kind of gecko that’s nearly the length of a standard ruler from head to tail. Thankfully, it spends the day in a tank he keeps at his desk. There are also two cats visiting the office, including one who seems perfectly happy wearing a rainbow-striped sweater that Kenzie, the cat’s owner, says was knitted by her grandmother.
There’s a buzz of excitement throughout the day that’s a welcome change, and it seems that even people who didn’t bring pets are getting in on the fun of it, petting the dogs and socializing more with their officemates. Productivity may take a bit of a hit today, but that’s just because of the first-day newness of it all. After more of these days take place, they’ll become more routine, while still being a nice benefit.
There are a few random barks during the day, but nothing too disruptive, especially compared to our retail manager, Rob, serenading the office with a sexually-explicit song.
After lunch, Jansen summons me to his office with a bellow. He’s rarely one to request a meeting, and his voice sounds a couple of levels above its usual grumpiness, so I hustle over there, concerned that something is wrong.
His door is open when I arrive, and he’s standing behind his desk, looking down at the floor with alarm and disgust.
“What’s the matter?”
“I need you to remove this animal.”
As I get closer, I catch sight of a bit of fluffy white fur, and I prepare to scoop up the little dog, which I recognize as belonging to one of the accountants. But as I round the desk, I see that the dog is very vigorously and enthusiastically humping one of Jansen’s pant legs.
“Oh my god!” I can’t stop the fit of giggles that overtakes me, and I’m bent over laughing, when Jansen roars at me.
“Ana! Do something about this dog.”
“I will … I will. I just need a minute.” Apparently, I’m not the only one who finds Jansen Bennett irresistible. “Actually, I feel like I should give you two some time alone.”
“Ana!”
Pulling myself together, I crouch down and call the dog over to me, then pick him up. As soon as he’s in my arms, he covers my face with kisses. “Hi buddy, who’s a good boy?”
Jansen huffs.
“Sorry to have to interrupt your fun, little buddy.” The fluffy dog squirms, trying to reach one of my ears with his busy tongue.
“What’s going on?” Derek strides in, taking in the scene.
“Jansen made a new friend,” I say.
“Make sure that dog never comes in here again.” Jansen shudders, looking and sounding like he’s just been assaulted.
I cock my head at him. “Oh, c’mon. Was it really that bad?”
He just grimaces at me before narrowing his eyes at the dog suspiciously.
Derek reaches out a hand as if he’s about to pet the dog, but pulls it back when the little fluff ball greets him with his tongue. “He’s quite the licker, isn’t he?”
“That’s not all he does,” I say, giggling again, remembering Jansen’s face when I first arrived.
There’s a knock at the door, and Kenzie, the social media manager, is standing there with her cat in her arms and a camera strap over her shoulder. “Hey, great, you’re both together,” she says to Derek and Jansen. “I’d love to get photos of you with some pets to post on our Instagram account.”